***GUEST POST BY 4TH GRADE CRAIG***

In September, when Darla reviewed the excellent book, The Secret of Wellington’s Map, the PR folks for Planet of the Dogs contacted us and asked if Craig would be interested in reviewing it, since he’s the perfect age for the series. This is Craig’s first book review. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it, as much as I enjoyed the fact he finally got his nose in a book.

Planet of the Dogs, by Robert McCarty is a great book. This book is about two people from planet Earth helping the dogs on Planet of the Dogs to harvest their food. Then the dogs on Planet of the Dogs decide to help make peace on planet Earth when the Stone City warriors attacked Green Meadow on Earth.

My favorite character was a man named BIK (pronounced B-I-K.) I liked him because he was very active and caring for his friends and family.

My favorite part was at the end when they were in the woods and then the dogs started barking and then troops started chopping down trees and BIK told BIC — another captain — that he was in charge. Then BIK ran out to his children and he saw a crash site over a hill into water. BIK knew they could not swim, so he jumped down and saw two vicious dogs. He thought they killed Nikki and Nik, then he took a sword out of his picket and heard a deep voice say they did not kill your children they saved your children. He turned around and saw troops armed and then he booked across the river.

His children were there and they said, “We will give them back if you declare peace.” BIK reached in his pocket and took out a horn and blew it and then he said, “I declare peace.”

People my age who dogs would love this book. I recommend it!

Read about how Barking Planet supports therapy dog programs in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

What does passing the torch mean to you? Is it teaching? Passing traditions? Or good news about youth? Join us each week for Pass the Torch Tuesday.Former PTT posts.

This is my Pass the Torch Tuesday post for this week, as well as Works for me Wednesday.

Looking over the Chicago River.

When we prepared to go to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry during our recent trip, we had to check out of our hotel first, before making the jaunt to Hyde Park. While I waited in line at the hotel counter, I asked the kids to go over to the concierge to ask directions to the museum. We’d be taking a city bus and needed to know which one, as well as where to board. The kids also wanted to ride the subway and the L at some point during the day, so I asked them to go across the lobby to ask the concierge’s advice on this as well.

They were very polite and assertive in asking for directions, and the woman at my counter commented about how she’d never seen children so confidently approach the concierge like that.

I explained that we’re from the country and need to take every opportunity to learn the ways of the big city;))

The kids did a great job of asking directions and using their street map, but I listened in after I finished checking out, just to make sure we didn’t end up in the middle of Lake Michigan.

Works for me!
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This post is a part of the Carnival of Homeschooling this week. Please check out other fun ideas there!

The Chicago Childrens Museum was tons of fun.

Here the kids are playing jumbo-sized chess.
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I’m posting early today for Pass the Torch Tuesday, and sharing another way I’m trying to pass the torch — by learning history, together with my kids. My comments are in italics.

***D’s Guest Post***

(Here is the new and the old.)
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(Our ditch daisies won’t look like this again until July, though.)

Save-the-Earth Saturday posts:

Water
Clean Air
Recycle
Gaylord A Nelson
Introduction