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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Family-friend children's literature, October 31, 2009
Finally, a children's fiction series about homeschoolers that is fun, educational and family-friendly. Each book in the series relates the adventures of the Wright family as they travel the U.S in an RV. Fifty books are planned, one for each state.
These are easy-to-read chapter books that entertain and educate similar to the Magic Tree House series, but without the magic. As you read each book, you'll experience adventure, humor, and positive family values, qualities that are not often found in today's children's literature.
In this first book, Arizona, your children will learn about Arizona, bats, and minerals as they follow Nadia and Aidan Wright deep into a desert cave located in Arizona. Weird noises, mysterious objects, and "freaky awesome" bats will definitely keep your children's interest; and when they are done, they'll be asking for the next book in the series!
Be sure to visit the Wright on Time Web site to read Nadia's Blog, read biographies of the characters, and learn which state will be featured next in the series.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I Know a Little About this Subject!, January 22, 2010
The Wright on Time books follow the adventures of Aidan, 7, his sister Nadia, 11, as they and their parents travel from state to state, homeschooling as they go. Each book takes place in a different state, so the entire series consist of 50 books! Well, it will anyway. As of this writing only two books have been published. I was sent the first book, Wright on Time: Arizona, so that I could read it and give you my opinion. The second book, Wright on Time: Utah, has also been published. Several more are in the works.
The family explores a cave in Wright on Time: Arizona. Aidan is fascinated by the bats, while Nadia hopes to find some unique gemstones. As you read along, you are not just enjoying a story, you are learning right along with the family. I think it's a great idea, and I think it's great that the books show homeschoolers in such a positive light.
There were a few things that I would have liked to have seen different. First, the parents in the book are referred to by their first names. Call me old-fashioned, but I still prefer that my kids call adults by Mr. and Mrs.
Second, and here I go sounding like an old lady again, but I do not like the phrases Aidan uses throughout book. He was always saying, "Freaky cool!" and "Freaky awesome!" I know, I know, it's like saying "freaky" and "awesome" only together, but every time I read it, I thought of the way people always use the word "freakin'", which I hate, and, well, it just bugged me! LOL (Just a heads up in case you are an old fogey like me!")
Third, they left me hanging! I mean, really! They found this mysterious thing in the cave and I wanted to know what it was, and now I have to read the second book! Tricky, I tell, you, tricky! (The author says you can read the books out of order, but if they do this in all the books, I'd suggest reading them in the order they are written.)
So, what is my final take? Well, first names and freaky aside, I still liked the book. I mean, it was a fun, quick, read, and a great way to sneak in some learnin'. :)
Or you could just go across the country in an RV!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent New Series for Homeschoolers!, November 24, 2009
Meet the Wrights - a fictional family of homeschoolers exploring the U.S.A. by RV as they `road-school' their way across the nation. Wright On Time: Arizona, the first in the series, finds author Lisa M. Cotrell-Bentley seamlessly blending mystery, suspense, and adventure with a thoroughly educational exploration of cave rock formations, bat habits, minerals, desert climate, acoustics and much more.
Think the Magic Schoolbus series of educational chapter books, but for homeschoolers, and much better. Rather than presenting educational facts in `chunks' or obviously lecture-style explanations, learning opportunities are woven into the dialogue, interests, and discoveries of the characters. As a matter of fact, the very writing style mirrors the philosophies of the delight-driven, lifestyle led method of education that the Wright's use to much success with their children.
With the boy/girl gender split in the Wright family, there's a good balance of themes and interests to appeal to both groups of readers. Aidan, the family's exuberant seven-year-old, can't wait to see the bats he hopes to find deep within the desert cave. Nadia, a research-driven 11-year-old, is fascinated by the prospect of mining for minerals and hopes to find some malachite (her favorite).
In keeping with the characters' ages, children between six and 12 will likely be the most drawn to the series, but our entire family enjoyed Arizona as a read-aloud -- even my three-year-old and my husband were kept engaged by the short, fast-moving chapters and cliff-hanger chapter endings that kept the pages flying. This is the first book my six-year-old has wanted to savor: "Let's only read it every few days Mommy. This book is so exciting, and when we only read a little at a time - it's even more exciting!"
From a design perspective, the Wright on Time series has it all together. Bright, full-color cover features wonder-filled artwork from illustrator Tanja Bauerle who also supplies the opening illustration for each chapter. It was her work on the interior title page, and the beautiful drawings on the Arizona reference page and map that the book opens with that I knew I was in for a treat.
I don't judge books by their covers, but the care and detail that have been given to producing the flagship title of the series are much appreciated. The interior cream-colored pages that make reading easier for children, the careful layout, the glossary, the facts about Arizona -- it all adds to what is already an exciting, suspense-filled story.
With 50 books planned for the series (one for each state), we're looking forward to following the Wright family across America in their road-schooling adventures. In fact, I'm hoping they might continue their journey by taking a quick trip across the border to explore the provinces of Canada! We denizens of the far white North can always hope.
If you're homeschoooling, you won't want to miss this new series. In the words of our oldest, it's, "...perfectly great, and fantastically perfect." Or as Aidan would say, "Freaky Cool!"
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