Come On! We're Traveling to Poland Today! Yes, Carole Roman is Our Tour Guide!

If you were me and lived in Poland, you
would find yourself in Central Europe
in a country you called Pokska, but the
rest of the world called it the Republic
of Poland. People from Poland are called
Polanie. The name Polanie means people
living in open field.
The Kingdom of Poland was founded
in the year 1025.
The Polish constitution was written on
May 3, 1791, making it the first in Europe
and second in the world.
~~~

I was excited to visit Poland! I found I knew very little about this country. Or, of what I knew, I had not known of the connection to Poland. It is so wonderful to have the opportunity to teach your children about these countries, while young, with Roman's "Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World. Do give your children to learn about other countries and, hopefully, help bring our world's residents closer together...

Warsaw is the capital city which is built on the banks of the Wisla River, located in the central eastern part of Poland.

There is a legend that Warsaw got its name from a fisherman named Wars, who fell in love with a mermaid who lived in the river. Her name was Sawa. Because of this legend, there are many statues of mermaids in the city. There is a mermaid on the official city seal...

If You Were Me and Lived in...Poland
A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

By Carole P. Roman

Illustrated by Kelsea Wierenga

As you may have guessed, I think this series is a wonderful learning experience for all children...and we adults who are willing to admit we still need to learn about the world's cultures...

Of course, a fan of classical music like me had enjoyed Chopin's music for many years, not even thinking about where he was born...Shame on Me... Now I know about a number of great tributes to their most important and famous composer from the 1800s, including black stone benches spread around the city where you can stop during your tour, sit and relax, and even press a button to hear a sample of the Master's music! How cool is that?! I'd love to have the opportunity to visit this country!

And, of course, to meet some of the children...

If you are a boy, your parents might have chosen the name Marek, Filip, or Jakub. They could have picked the name Weronika, Ewa, or Karolina for your sister...

One part I especially appreciated was the inclusion of simple store-bought items, but provided in Polish...And then the writer asks the reader to match the words with their English version. A Great idea for beginning to learn another language. I think I got the match right...let me know if you do!

Now I want to share what I would most like to see: The Wielicza Salt Mine...

Your favorite vacation would always be to visit the Wielicza Salt Mine located on the outskirts of Krakow. Salt was mined there continuously since the thirteenth century up until 2007. It was one of the oldest companies in the world. Now it is a great tourist attraction. In the olden days, salt was essential for curing meat and valuable for trading. What makes this place special is the unique underground city completely carved from rock salt by the miners who worked there over hundreds of years. There is a chapel that is said to have the best acoustics of any other structure in Europe. That means when music is played there, it bounces off the walls to surround you in sound. Ancient sculptures stand side by side with new and modern carvings that have been added.

~~~

There's lots more to learn about Poland--like Copernicus, Children's Day, and more about what the children do for fun and exercise, and home life!

The color scheme for this particular book is sure to attract readers' attention. They are bright, brilliant and eye-pleasing...and the features of the characters and places has been exceptionally well done...Kudos to Kelsea Wierenga! This was a favorite for me, just because there was so much new to learn... What country have you most enjoyed visiting with our tour guide Carole Roman?

Do encourage your children to become totally involved with this series and look forward to each new country. For many of us, it is one of the only ways to visit abroad...and starting your children learning about the world is bound to help in moving forward into living and getting older!  Highly recommended!

GABixlerReviews

Review: Mazurka "Must" be Spotlighted in Gus LeGarde Mystery Marathon!



Mazurka:


A Gus LeGarde Mystery


By Aaron Paul Lazar








Lazar is the first—the very first author who forced me to go to the back of the book to find out about a character. I didn’t read anything; I just made sure the name appeared again—I didn’t want to grieve if I didn’t have to! Ok, I’m giving away a little by saying that, so I’ll stop and just add that Aaron Paul Lazar’s characters in this series are so wonderfully created that I’ve become attached to them!

And no wonder! Would you believe that he changed a Honeymoon Trip into a Fantastic Mystery (for readers, that is)? I didn’t know whether to be irritated or excited!

You probably realize that Mazurka has now become my favorite in the Gus LeGarde series. They do indeed keep getting better, but I absolutely loved this one!

Gus and Camille are now married—you’ll see a wonderful rerun of the wedding near the end of the book—what a clever idea for sharing this important moment in such a unique. touching way! Gus and Camille had decided to first stop in Paris and then on to Vienna for their honeymoon. But since that early decision there had been a slight change.

Siegfried’s great aunt had requested Sig come to Germany—her health was bad and she had asked for a visit. If you’re following the series, you will know that Sig is the twin brother of Gus’ first wife who was now dead. Sig had also been Gus’ best friend so when he became his brother-in-law, he had moved to live on their property. As you may also know by now, Sig was hurt in an accident when he was twelve. Although he still has moments of brilliance, especially related to math, and has learned to drive a car and other things, his mental capabilities had been limited at that time. Interestingly, he had reverted to speaking the German he had known as a child and was quite comfortable in planning a visit with his relatives.

Sig wasn’t quite sure that he was not interfering with the honeymoon, but Gus and Camille both loved Sig and assured him he was welcome. Except...none of them could have realized what was awaiting them!

From all over the world, with one even on the plane with Gus’s small group, young men who were referred to as neo-Nazis were planning major terroristic maneuvers. So while Gus, Camille and Sig went to their hotel in Paris and began to tour, a major leader of the Nazi group also arrived. It was during their first shopping trip that the leader spotted Sig. With long blond hair pulled into a ponytail, Sig’s tall body stood out in any crowd, so as he waited outside for Gus and Camille to come out of a shop, the Nazi leader, thinking he was talking to a local German man, yelled out to Sig.

That was the worst thing he could have done. For Sig didn’t quite understand what was happening, but he did know that the Nazis had killed many of his family,  Sig was part Jewish and he screamed that back to the man. Instantly a fight began and during that fight Sig was seriously injured and one of the young men accidentally killed the leader, while aiming for Sig.

But to the young rebels, they didn’t care who had pulled the trigger. Sig, and Gus and Camille who had by then joined Sig were at fault. Revenge was what came after that!

The excitement, danger, and anger against the group who were imitating the old Nazi regime affects everybody in various countries, but only a few know of the chase after Sig, Gus and Camille. Sig has made it into Germany where he will recuperate, while Gus and Camille decide that it is all right to proceed to Vienna, although that, too, proves to be wrong. While there, they hear that a bomb has destroyed the home where Sig was staying!

Against the fear and hatred that is stirred by this terrorist group, Lazar as placed a beautiful family intrigue. During the time that Gus and Camille are still in Germany, his great aunt shares a precious secret that has been handed down from generation to generation and now would go to Sig. At the same time, she is joyous to learn that her niece had a daughter about whom she have never heard—an important fact since the secret was to be handed down through the female side of the family. Sig was the one who quickly mentioned that it should go to Freddie who had received the formal name that was part of the story—Fredericka. This story in itself is worthy of its own short story and I commend Lazar for making it so realistic and beautifully presented within the overall novel! Indeed the title reflects this family heritage and fits so well within the overall theme of the Gus LeGarde Mystery series.

Aaron, you are getting better and better and I can’t wait to read the next in this series, as well as all of your future books! Aaron Paul Lazar has officially been added to my must-read favorite author list! I loved Mazurka...but I truly do recommend you begin at the beginning of this series. As mentioned above, the characters are so important that you just must meet them long before Mazurka “happens!”

Book Received Via
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G. A. Bixler