The Triumphant Tale of the House Sparrow

The Triumphant Tale of the House Sparrow

Author: Jan Thornhill

Publisher: Groundwood Books Ltd

Published: 2019-11-15

Total Pages: 45

ISBN-13: 1773062913

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“The content encourages us to reflect upon and evaluate the relationship between human beings and animals. This book leaves us with admiration for this feisty bird and hope for our world.” — Friends Journal Behold the most despised bird in human history! So begins Jan Thornhill’s riveting, beautifully illustrated story of the House Sparrow. She traces the history of this perky little bird, one of the most adaptable creatures on Earth, from its beginnings in the Middle East to its spread with the growth of agriculture into India, North Africa and Europe. Everywhere the House Sparrow went, it competed with humans for grain, becoming such a pest that in some places “sparrow catcher” became an actual job and bounties were paid to those who got rid of it. But not everyone hated the House Sparrow, and in 1852, fifty pairs were released in New York City. In no time at all, the bird had spread from coast to coast. Then suddenly, at the turn of the century, as cars took over from horses and there was less grain to be found, its numbers began to decline. As our homes, gardens, cities and farmland have changed, providing fewer nesting and feeding opportunities, the House Sparrow’s numbers have begun to decline again — though in England and Holland this decline appears to be slowing. Perhaps this clever little bird is simply adapting once more. This fascinating book includes the life history of the House Sparrow and descriptions of how the Ancient Egyptians fed it to the animals they later mummified, how it traveled to Great Britain as a stowaway on ships carrying Roman soldiers, and how its cousin, the Eurasian Tree Sparrow, was almost eradicated in China when Mao declared war on it. A wealth of back matter material is also supplied. Key Text Features map glossary references resources further information Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.3 Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.7 Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.3 Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.3 Explain the relationships or interactions between two or more individuals, events, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text based on specific information in the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.6.2 Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.


The Sparrow's Tale

The Sparrow's Tale

Author: Amy Shapiro

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2015-04-13

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 9781505893748

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Johan Onvlee and Amy Shapiro show how the practice of T'ai Chi transforms real lives, through true stories drawn from a century of combined experience. Tales of Jo Onvlee (Johan's father and Amy's first T'ai Chi teacher & co-author of two I Ching books), plus tales from Amy's time with John Chung Li and as a teacher herself, show how this ancient Chinese art enhances health, relationships and one's outlook. Includes photos, instructions, plus appearances by a magical sparrow, and "Embrace Tiger" by Jo Onvlee. REVIEWER COMMENTS: "This book, The Sparrow's Tale, is a lovely and elegant story of how Tai Chi changed people's lives around the world by improving their mental and emotional health. But, it is so much more than that. It is a spiritual journey into the depths of these profound internal arts, on how they enable us to relax out of the way of our hidden power and limitlessly expanding energetic nature, so that this true nature can shine through us -- and in effect, change the world for the better. WOW! But, even beyond that, it offers brilliant practical ways to help students open their eyes to this energetic nature of our being, that can be profoundly beneficial to any teacher of any style of Tai Chi or Qigong. Thank you Amy and Johan for this unique and brilliant contribution to the Tai Chi and Qigong family--and for your own journey that has made a better world for all of us. We hope everyone reads this book. It will inspire them, and expand their view of these arts beyond the physical benefits, to something truly life altering on all levels." -- Bill Douglas, and Angela Wong-Douglas, Founders of World Tai Chi & Qigong Day, 2009 Inductees to the Internal Arts Hall of Fame in NY, and best-selling authors of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi & QiGong."


The Sparrow

The Sparrow

Author: Mary Doria Russell

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Published: 2008-05-27

Total Pages: 450

ISBN-13: 0345510887

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A visionary work that combines speculative fiction with deep philosophical inquiry, The Sparrow tells the story of a charismatic Jesuit priest and linguist, Emilio Sandoz, who leads a scientific mission entrusted with a profound task: to make first contact with intelligent extraterrestrial life. The mission begins in faith, hope, and beauty, but a series of small misunderstandings brings it to a catastrophic end. Praise for The Sparrow “A startling, engrossing, and moral work of fiction.”—The New York Times Book Review “Important novels leave deep cracks in our beliefs, our prejudices, and our blinders. The Sparrow is one of them.”—Entertainment Weekly “Powerful . . . The Sparrow tackles a difficult subject with grace and intelligence.”—San Francisco Chronicle “Provocative, challenging . . . recalls both Arthur C. Clarke and H. G. Wells, with a dash of Ray Bradbury for good measure.”—The Dallas Morning News “[Mary Doria] Russell shows herself to be a skillful storyteller who subtly and expertly builds suspense.”—USA Today


A Sparrows Tale

A Sparrows Tale

Author: Lisa J. Mitchell

Publisher:

Published: 2018-11-06

Total Pages: 40

ISBN-13: 9781730975479

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Autumn is at it's end and winter is knocking on the door. The weather is getting colder. What do our feathery friends do at this time of year? Join Mummy Sparrow and here babies as they fight the cold and go on a journey to find food.


Sparrow Girl

Sparrow Girl

Author: Sara Pennypacker

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Published: 2016-08-04

Total Pages: 40

ISBN-13: 1368004385

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Ming-Li looked up and tried to imagine the sky silent, empty of birds. It was a terrible thought. Her country's leader had called sparrows the enemy of the farmers--they were eating too much grain, he said. He announced a great "Sparrow War" to banish them from China, but Ming-Li did not want to chase the birds away. As the people of her village gathered with firecrackers and gongs to scatter the sparrows, Ming-Li held her ears and watched in dismay. The birds were falling from the trees, frightened to death! Ming-Li knew she had to do something -- even if she couldn't stop the noise. Quietly, she vowed to save as many sparrows as she could, one by one...


Silver Sparrow

Silver Sparrow

Author: Tayari Jones

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2020-02-19

Total Pages: 368

ISBN-13: 1786077973

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A breathtaking tale of family secrets, from the international bestselling author of An American Marriage AN OBSERVER BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR A SAINSBURY'S MAGAZINE CHRISTMAS GIFT LISTING A GUARDIAN 'BEST BOOK OF 2020 TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT PUBLISHERS' A BOOKSELLER SMALL PUBLISHERS 2020 TOP 20 A Most Anticipated Book for 2020 according to The Sunday Times, the FT and the Guardian 'My father, James Witherspoon, is a bigamist.' SECRETS Dana and Chaurisse are sisters, bound together by the life-changing secret of their father's double life. LIES Only one of them knows the truth. When they do finally meet and form a friendship, the fragile balance of ignorance and silence that has kept James' secrets safe for so long threatens to explode. HOPE This soulful story of friendship and sisterhood paints an unforgettable picture of the messy knots that bind families together, from the prize-winning author of An American Marriage.


Felicity~ a Sparrow's Tale

Felicity~ a Sparrow's Tale

Author: Loralee Evans

Publisher: Loralee\Evans

Published: 2014-10-24

Total Pages: 184

ISBN-13: 9780692306918

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Tales of adventure and danger have thrilled Felicity since Augustus, her ivory-billed woodpecker friend, taught her to read as a little nestling. She adores the tales of heroes and heroines who forge ahead in spite of all odds, and who always seem to succeed no matter what. More than anything, Felicity wants to be brave and selfless like them. But adventures are in short supply, especially for someone who's just an ordinary sparrow. Until the day an unexpected visitor shows up at her tree with an unusual request...


A Tale of Two Sparrows

A Tale of Two Sparrows

Author: Bettina Danielle

Publisher:

Published: 2014-11-29

Total Pages: 46

ISBN-13: 9781503244436

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We occasionally see sparrows in a variety of places such as trees, parks, attics, and even stores. When moving, they always seem to be in a hurry. Where else do they go? What are they doing? Why do they seem so busy? How is it that we see them on more than one continent? Do they use technology? In this chapter book series, author Bettina Danielle provides fanciful answers to those questions, and others, with refreshingly lighthearted stories. The stories take the reader on a fun exploration of today's world from a sparrow's perspective. Written especially for children, the series is an entertaining way to exercise a child's imagination, increase vocabulary, and increase knowledge of the world. And, with the eBook editions on a touch-enabled device, looking up new words and places can be as easy as holding a finger on a word. This first book of The Modern Sparrow series centers around a young, single, hard-working, and level-headed sparrow who decides to go on a vacation for a change. That decision leads to a series of big events in the life of this little bird! Sharing the story with a child leads to opportunities to teach them about true friendship, true love, personal responsibility, family responsibilities, and about places they've never been.


Flight of the Sparrow

Flight of the Sparrow

Author: Amy Belding Brown

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2014-07-01

Total Pages: 370

ISBN-13: 0451466691

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From the author of Emily's House comes a “compelling, emotionally gripping”* novel of historical fiction—perfect for readers of America’s First Daughter. Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1676. Even before Mary Rowlandson was captured by Indians on a winter day of violence and terror, she sometimes found herself in conflict with her rigid Puritan community. Now, her home destroyed, her children lost to her, she has been sold into the service of a powerful woman tribal leader, made a pawn in the ongoing bloody struggle between English settlers and native people. Battling cold, hunger, and exhaustion, Mary witnesses harrowing brutality but also unexpected kindness. To her confused surprise, she is drawn to her captors’ open and straightforward way of life, a feeling further complicated by her attraction to a generous, protective English-speaking native known as James Printer. All her life, Mary has been taught to fear God, submit to her husband, and abhor Indians. Now, having lived on the other side of the forest, she begins to question the edicts that have guided her, torn between the life she knew and the wisdom the natives have shown her. Based on the compelling true narrative of Mary Rowlandson, Flight of the Sparrow is an evocative tale that transports the reader to a little-known time in early America and explores the real meanings of freedom, faith, and acceptance. READERS GUIDE INCLUDED