Joel Swagman (Reviews / TESOL)

Thursday, February 05, 2026

First There Was Chaos: Hesiod's Story of Creation by Joel Priddy: Book Review

(Book Review--Greek Mythology, Comic Books)

No started post for this book. It only took me about 20 minutes to read the whole thing, so there didn't seem any point in announcing that I was starting it.

(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)

First There Was Chaos: Hesiod's Story of Creation by Joel Priddy: Book Review

My review of Theogony by Hesiod translated by Norman O. Brown: https://youtu.be/dIp5Kf6eT70

Related Playlists:

Book Review Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x7dao6py7ODX_PkUvrAEch7

Books I Read in 2026: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x7YYl7seud9ov0n6dtdHzvj&si=iMERlWtiF0Rq2-uy

Hesiod Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x72TMSa6sx452mecsjOuuUn&si=hNTQb6ZjJVmquCwO

Greek Mythology Playlists: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x5IDSN7E3MWlyZ2a4i_SlkQ

Graphic Novel Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x6NMoYW6CBw6Qj_cqK8DIeb

Wednesday, February 04, 2026

Theogony by Hesiod translated by Norman O. Brown: Book Discussion

(Book Review--Blogging the Canon, Greek Mythology, The Classics)

Started: January 27, 2026

(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)

Theogony by Hesiod translated by Norman O. Brown: Book Discussion

Links to stuff mentioned:

* The Iliad by Homer: https://youtu.be/BwJBerNrwIY

* The Odyssey by Homer: https://youtu.be/KykQ5rtaPh0

* Enheduana: The Complete Poems of the World's First Author: https://youtu.be/HOBVuEcxqFs

* Starting: Before the Muses: An Anthology of Akkadian Literature Edited by Benjamin R. Foster: https://youtu.be/GntFy0nIRPA

* The Book of Genesis: https://youtu.be/hQ3kOiHfHkI

* Enuma Elish: https://youtu.be/xSY_h8helQo

* The Myth of the Plow: https://youtu.be/fmKzO-E47t0

* Bulfinch's Mythology: https://youtu.be/GNhGwoDHOiQ

* Hesiod's Theogony - The Greek God Family Tree (partially) Animated: https://youtu.be/XWyH1YhO9dY?si=z9Fqk7w49DisMdMl

* The H. G. EVELYN-WHITE version online: https://www.theoi.com/Text/HesiodTheogony.html

Related playlists:

The Classics Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x53EsuWSZ-z0uFGL_0Jl6F1&si=LW7xfNpbrJVxsWts

Book Review Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x7dao6py7ODX_PkUvrAEch7

Books I Read in 2026: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x7YYl7seud9ov0n6dtdHzvj&si=iMERlWtiF0Rq2-uy

Hesiod Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x72TMSa6sx452mecsjOuuUn&si=hNTQb6ZjJVmquCwO

Greek Literature Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x5XDvOBMuaj0mxsLGrUoOyG&si=BKw4ChauPFbZ3o_C

Preclassical Greek Literature 800-500 BC Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x7IFM9pT9z7Oc3ELV2mEz_N&si=beCpSRbhiIRz32Oo

Greek Mythology Playlists: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x5IDSN7E3MWlyZ2a4i_SlkQ

I was able to read this book thanks to the Michigan statewide state-wide interlibrary loan service called MeLCat, which may be in danger thanks to a Presidential executive order. If you, like me, enjoy using MeLCat, contact your local representatives and let them know.

Wowwww this is a dark and disturbing report: https://t.co/tjpXp40Nr1
— Jeremy Konyndyk (@JeremyKonyndyk) February 3, 2026

Tuesday, February 03, 2026

Insects and Arachnids Vocabulary

(TESOL Materials--Animals)

* Milo's Tiny Friends (for insects)--Created from this chat here (Made using Google Gemini Storybook)

* Slideshow (for insects): slides, pub (I used this slideshow to present the vocabulary, and also to do a board race)

* Grab the Card for insects: docs, pub

* Kahoot: Insects

* Anaya’s Eight-Legged Friends (for arachnids)--created from this chat here

* Slideshow for arachnids: slides, pub

* Flippity quiz show: docs, pub, playable link

* quizlet: Insects and Arachnids

[Note: This vocabulary is based on the vocabulary from pages 118 and 119 of Oxford Picture Dictionary for the Content Areas. But I believe this material could also be used independently for any lesson on animal vocabulary, so I'm posting it here.]

A fashionably late new year new me tag! (2026)

This tag was created by KevinTowleReads‬: https://youtu.be/H8jvQase9y4?si=GTbe0YGDWvviq9mu

I was tagged by Derek Green: https://youtu.be/nR1aIIKSQVw?si=LAvNTzNbc8sU247o

Here are the prompts

Prompts:

1. (Fears) What is one book from your 2026 reading goals that scares you?

2. (Patience) What is the one book on your 2026 reading goals you want to start immediately?

3. (Growth) What book last year pushed you to reflect and/or grow as a reader?

4. (New Paths) What is one author you plan to try for the first time in 2026?

5. (Self Care) What is one book and/or series you revisit for comfort?

6. (Forging Ahead) What is you favorite debut book or first book in a series you read last year?

7. (Goals) Do you have a specific reading goal or challenge for the year ahead?

8. (Breaking Walls) ***Bonus - Do you have a none book-related goal for 2026 you wish to share?

9. (Teamwork) Tag Others

Here is my 2025 Reading list: https://joelswagman.blogspot.com/2025/12/2025-reading-list.html

I tag:

@jimsbooksreadingandstuff

@Bucky749

@mindysbookjourney

@danecobain

@WilliamsLibrary

Tag Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x68GfUHYtDeSJLo6gwRKIID

Monday, February 02, 2026

Miss Nelson has a Field Day by Harry G. Allard Jr. and illustrated by James Marshall

(Graded Readers)

After having had success with the first book in this series, I discovered my school library had copies of one of the sequels.

My students liked this book, for the most part. Although they got a disproportionate amount of amusement out of the fact that the word "pussyfoot" occurs in this book. Which made it a bit difficult to refocus them.

Supplementary materials:

Kahoots: I found this Kahoot for this book. It contained some questions which weren't applicable to my students, so I copied it and made my own edit here.

Indochine: Movie Review

Links to stuff mentioned:

Growing Up as a French Teenager in Phnom Penh: https://web.archive.org/web/20140322015123/http://www.khmer440.com/k/2013/04/growing-up-as-a-french-teenager-in-phnom-penh/

Roger Ebert's Review: http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/indochine-1993

This is part of my so-called "Scripted Review" series, in which I make a Youtube video based on an old blogpost. For more information on what this is and why I'm doing it, see HERE:

https://youtu.be/HgneyXvRI04

and HERE: https://joelswagman.blogspot.com/2018/12/vlog-scripted-book-reviews-i-ramble-on.html

In this case, the old blog post is here: https://joelswagman.blogspot.com/2014/01/indochine.html

Related Playlists:

Movie Reviews playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x6N06WoIoV2fLb6xRYrepTk&si=EDHi2_Y41ACLnCmA

Scripted Movie Reviews playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x49ts8TV1DbXQo8zN_e65us&si=_gzqGAmaz337NVCP

Scripted Reviews Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x5BKcEIufNKlS58JHU_glyL&si=Pje0KQqIqOgWGGUI

Movies I Saw in 2014 Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x4WRnfM_TDQClWj8OOCg9f_&si=Uu6SYX9o1qm1Ndhc

2 Stars Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x6YM_g241Td4ro4GwuaOLsn

Sunday, February 01, 2026

Vocabulary for Physical Education / School Playground

(TESOL Materials--School Vocabulary)

* A Fun Day Outside--Created from this chat here (Made using Google Gemini Storybook)

* Slideshow: slides, pub

* Coloring Sheet: docs, pub

[Note: These are all materials that I used to supplement the lesson Physical Education p.48-49 from Oxford Picture Dictionary Content Areas for Kids, and the specific choice of vocabulary in the storybook and other materials is influenced by that lesson. But I believe this material could also be used independently for any lesson on school vocabulary, so I'm posting it here.]

The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy Volume 20: 1961-1962: Book Review

(Book Review--Dick Tracy)

Started: January 14, 2026

(This is my first time reading this book, so according to my new rules, I'm doing this as a video only review.)

The Complete Chester Gould’s Dick Tracy Volume 20: 1961-1962: Book Review

* My review of the first Dick Tracy volume here: https://youtu.be/SNIiK2H_ggs

* My review of volume 13 here: https://youtu.be/TFSI6SRDA_E

* My review of Volume 15: https://youtu.be/ib5tKpYTeT8

* My review of Volume 16: https://youtu.be/5D_lW0psQdM

* My review of volume 17: https://youtu.be/ga1P1J0YaMs

* My review of volume 18: https://youtu.be/vkB-_o_H8EM

* My review of volume 19: https://youtu.be/BDjBp4H-dbg

Related Playlists:

Dick Tracy Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x7MsTIqdx2oSof-kvNCbeVj&si=f151y-QuLV7qPeB9

Graphic Novel Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x6NMoYW6CBw6Qj_cqK8DIeb

Book Review Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x7dao6py7ODX_PkUvrAEch7&si=EJ7CG8iO9IouNaYY

Books I Read in 2026: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOY-0V_l_9x7YYl7seud9ov0n6dtdHzvj&si=iMERlWtiF0Rq2-uy

This Week in Booktube: February 1, 2026

(These are the Booktube videos I watched this week. As always, I encourage you also to check out each of the videos I've linked to down below. Support Booktube. And let me know what you've watched this past week.)

Google document: docs, pub

CPL Radio Books of the Week - January 27th, 2026

Reading This Life Fight Fascism With READING BOOKS

Michael K. Vaughan New History of the DC Universe

Steve Donoghue: Epic Comic Book Wednesday: The New History of the DC Universe!

Bookish What Does and Doesn’t Matter

William's Library 41st Birthday Hangout

Randy Ray Why I Chose a Life with Books

Bethanne Bruninga-Socolar You Can't Touch My Hair by Phoebe Robinson

Jeff Palermo Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov - BOOK REVIEW

EarnestlyEston Foundation's Edge by Isaac Asimov - Book Chat

Derek Green History nerd reads Conan the Barbarian!