Mark Graham
Bio
I am a person who really likes to read and write and to share what I learned with all my education. My page will mainly be book reviews and critiques of old and new books that I have read and will read. There will also be other bits, too.
Stories (1800)
Filter by community
The Adventures of Lilly Nilly Pardon My French It's the Language of Ballet
What an introduction to the world of dance and the French language. Nancy Paris is the writer and illustrator of this children's picture book. This is the story of a little girl by the name of Lilly Nilly and journey in learning ballet as well as some of the French language. This is a beginning chapter book in a way. Nancy's drawings shows and tells what Lilly's ideas of learning what ballet is about somewhat. The sketches are drawn using crayons and made the pictures appealing to children. Some of the French language she uses could cause some misinterpretations but this story makes it fun. It is also a good story to create an interest in the world of ballet and learning a new language. Each of the short chapters gives each level each level that Lilly lives through from learning the basic skills needed to performing and even seeing and learning what makes a good friend using humor.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Stephen Seagull is Bad
'Stephen Seagull is Bad' is a children's picture book written by Dawn Lippiatt. Stephen Seagull teaches what is good and bad. Dawn Lippiatt has written this book about a seagull named Stephen to live up to what his father seems to think how a seagull should behave. Stephen wants to make his father proud. Will he do it? Dawn has written a picture book that is quite descriptive in and on various behaviors exhibited by the main character of Stephen Seagull. The artwork seems to give me the impression of watercolors or even the use of pastels to give the readers the sense of a seaside environment and how seagulls live and act around others. The use of boldface words for emphasizing various words was a good technical device for young readers to understand the story. It could also be a good story to share about various cultures just by seeing some of the human characters and how they look.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Freckle The child whose fear became her Superpower
We all have our own super power. We just have to find it somehow. 'Freckle The child whose fear became a Superpower' written by Erin Page and illustrated by Claudia Aaron. This is the story of a little girl named Freckles who is a person who becomes nervous and anxious over new situations that may occur. Her father gives her a way to deal and act out her feelings and how they make her feel safe.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Twas the Night Before Christmas
'Twas the Night Before Christmas' is a story poem that describes as the title states the night before Christmas and how Santa arrives and gives out the presents at one house. The poem is quite lyrical with the rhyming of the end words and very fun to read no matter how many times you have read this particular story. The pictures are vivid, well-detailed and just plain beautiful to look at no matter the season. It's hard to pick a favorite picture in this Clement Moore poem. If I had to pick a favorite or two it would be the opening illustration of the living room with the tree and the stocking hanging and then when the father throws open the sash and notices the new fallen snow. This is a must read.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
White Christmas
Irving Berlin's 'White Christmas' is another favorite Christmas movie that I watch every year at this time. This is the story of two friends who during World War II make a pledge to help each other after the war. They meet two sisters who need help who happen to be sisters of an old army friend. They all go to Vermont and find out it is owned by their old, retired Army General and they decide to help him. This is a movie that is quite enjoyable no matter how many times you have seen it and you will sing along with all the songs during the movie as well as the final song and, I hope, you will all know which song that will be. This is a movie that will make you remember all sorts of memories of the past you may have had. It is a Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney classic.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
It's A Wonderful Life
Just watched Frank Capra's 'It's A Wonderful Life' starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. This is the story of George Bailey and how he discovers that he has a wonderful life. George has his many disappointments through living his life from his childhood through adulthood, then he meets Clarence. This is a movie that makes me homesick for my hometown for it is set kind of where Jimmy Stewart was born and raised and I was born and raised just about approximately 25 miles south.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Anne Frank
I have read the novel of 'Anne Frank' many times from the standpoint of a high school student to a graduate student. The novel is a very poignant one that shows the reader how a young girl must grow up in a time of extreme hatred and living in very small areas. It is a very emotional read for anybody to try and fully understand what the characters had to live through in a difficult time in history.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Fods Future on Demand Secrets The Introduction
Mathew Osmond and Stephen Frazer has written and illustrated a children's picture book entitled 'Fods Future on Demand The Introduction'. These fods are quite the characters. This is a story that introduces the fods along with each of their various skills. They are from a far away solar system that is a place where they did not feel safe. They describe this and their own planet and what they were doing there and what they are suppose to do here. The artwork in this picture book is drawn using crayons that give this picture book a homey feel and one you will want to share with others. The beginning pages gives the inspiration they needed to complete this book and teach what parents do or may do to help others and maybe even themselves. In a way parents and teachers could teach various safety rules like thinking before leaping.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Judges. Content Warning.
Who really has the right to judge anybody? The book of Judges seems to me a story of good and evil. It is also the story of the various wins and losses of towns and families in learning to follow the rules of society. All the characters must learn how to solve their own issues and problems. If I read right it also has the story of Samson. One can learn that being a judge does have its ups and downs.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Ruth. Content Warning.
Women one day will rule and to me The Book of Ruth is the introduction to how women could be seen in today's world. Ruth as well as her mother Naomi knew what they wanted and needed to do to survive their world and that things and ideas do measure out in the end. This is a very short book but really interesting in its own way.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
Joshua. Content Warning.
I have been reading this very good book written by some very famous and maybe even some infamous characters in a way. Who remembers Joshua and the city of Jericho. Joshua was a leader that was picked to be a leader and dividing the various towns and families and who gets what land wise and in good order and to stay within their boundaries unless they have good cause.
By Mark Graham2 years ago in Critique
