Hi Friends!
Another wonderful PPBF day! How are you all? Let’s start OK?
Title: Secret Cave – Discovering Lascaux
Author/ Illustrator: Emily Arnold McCully
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux NY 2010/ Historical Biography
Themes: Historical Biography, Prehistoric France, Art, Cave paintings
Appropriate Age: 7-11 / grade two through grade six
What the Jacket says: In 1940, in the south of France, Jacques, Jojo, Simon, and Marcel decided to explore a deep hole in the ground, hoping for buried treasure. What they found inside was more precious then they could have dreamed. After squeezing through a narrow tunnel, the entered a cave, and the light their homemade lamps revealed the true treasure: walls covered with images of cows, bulls, bison, horses, and reindeer, all painted by early human thousands of years ago. The boys could have kept their find a secret, but instead they told experts on prehistoric art of their discovery, and they became guides to the cave and its spellbinding power.
This is a story of four daring boys who brought to the modern world the more than 2,000 paintings and engravings of Lascaux, perfectly preserved for nearly 17,000 years and now recognized as stunning examples of the very beginning of art.
First Three Sentences: Jacques Marsal’s teacher, Monsieur Leon Laval, collected prehistoric bones and stone tools from the countryside around where they lived in Montignac, France. Jacques was fascinated by them. He liked to imagine the first true humans, who had lived when wooly Mammoths, bison, and reindeer roamed the craggy hills he knew so well.
Resources: Here’s a good teacher guide from the School Library Journal. :
Here are archaeological sites to look at:
For a fantastic video to look at before reading look here:
Why I love it: Perfectly imagined, this true story is a hit of bravery and courage. The boys had to save the art from the Nazis during the invasion and other true stories in this picture book. How they tried to keep it secret is laughable when kids are involved. And then when they told their teacher, he didn’t believe them at first. Luckily they had remembered to take photos. There is a map of the cave in the inside cover and shows how it was hidden for so long.
Please join other bloggers in Perfect Picture Book Friday over at Susanna Leonard Hill’s site to see other fun books. http://susannahill.blogspot.com/p/perfect-picture-books.html
For more links to Perfect Picture Books, a collection of bloggers who contribute at Susanna Leonard Hill’s site, click here.
XXOO
See You On Tuesday!
I’m still in Texas having a great time. This is why this post is so short due to little time for internet activities and posting. I’m actually quite proud of the fact that I have anything up at all. This due to the wonderful fact of prescheduling while still in VA before traveling. Way to go, ME!
Oh, I really like this choice a lot! I love the story about how they hid it from the Nazis during the war. This is an excellent find! Great resources — kids like archeological sites.
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Yes, Kids love archaeological sites and this is a kid friendly book. McCully really outdid herself when she wrote this book and illustrated it.
I just found out today that a friend of mine from the Round Hill Writers group had lunch with her once at the Shenandoah Children’s Literature Conference like the one I went to. Wow was all I could say. 🙂
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What a fascinating story, Clar. . .yay for kids!! Enjoy your time in Texas. I’m jealous.
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Thanks, Jarm.
I made a mistake when I scheduled this. It looked like I would still be there but I got home around six thirty last night after sitting in airport all day for a three hour flight. I was exhausted though. Been selling and autographing books at the Carver Holiday Bazaar today. Lots of Christmas goodies are on sale. 🙂
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I love this story and book. Enjoy Texas.
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Thanks, Joanna.
As I told Jarm, I am actually back now and have spent the day selling and autographing at Carver Holiday Bazaar. When I scheduled my posts it looked like I would still be in TX but not in actually. I miss my sister already. 🙂
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How cool! I always learn so much from these PPBF selections!
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Yes, It’s true isn’t it, Julie. All you ;have to read is the review and one learns so much. I love it. Love PPBF!
Thanks so much! 🙂
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This is a book I, as an adult, would love. I find the story of the Lascaux caves fascinating. I’m sure kids would too. Glad you had a nice time in Texas, a state I have yet to visit.
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Thanks, Darlene,
You will love this book. I just love those picture books that introduce something new to me like this one did. I knew about the Lascaux caves but did not know the story so this was a true find. 🙂
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Wow! What a great adventure story! i’ll have to check this out! Hope you’re having fun in Texas! I am!
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Thanks, Reading!
You will like this book! It is a true adventure story.
I had a ball in Texas! 🙂
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A very interesting book, Clar! Interesting they managed to keep it secret so long. Can understand why they were not believed when they did end up telling about it. Good thing they had taken photos. Great story. Glad you had a great time, Clar.
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Thanks, Diane!
Yes, and that finally their teacher believed them.
Yes, I had a blast in Texas! 🙂
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Fascinating, Clar! What a terrific-loping book! And I love the cave painting of the little prehistoric horse 🙂 Thanks so much for adding this one to our list!
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Your welcome, Susanna! 🙂
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Great choice Clar! I’m with Sus. Love that painting. I cannot wait to add this one to my collection. Excellent resources too. I hope you’re well. xoxo
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Thanks, Robyn.
So glad you liked it. XXOO
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Oh, I always loved the story of how these caves were discovered!
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Thanks, Andrea.
Yes, It is fascinating isn’t it? I love it too. 🙂
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I’m so glad you reviewed this. I’ve been looking for interesting non-fiction that are not strictlly biography. Thanks.
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Thanks, Joanne!
Yes, this a true nonfiction book and not a biography but remember you can always ask your children’s librarian to help find what you are looking for in your local library. They love helping. 🙂
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Lovely book. And in awe you are posting while traveling. Hope you have a great time. I love Texas!
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Thanks, Stacy.
So glad you could stop by and comment. I appreciate the kind words. 🙂
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Sounds wonderful. I hope you’re having a great time. I live in Texas!
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Texas is so large I have to ask. Where do you live? Is it anywhere near Dallas? Rockwall, the smallest county is where I was. Do you know about it? It is about one hour from Dallas.
Wouldn’t it have been great to get together? Maybe next time I visit my sister.
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I do know where Rockwall is. My sister lives in Denton which is north of Dallas. I live around 3 hours west of Dallas in Abilene. That is probably about 3 1/2 hours from Rockwall. It would be fun to get together 🙂
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