Anastasia Suen – Page 12 – Booktalking #kidlit

Larry Gets Lost in Washington, DC

Larry Gets Lost in Washington, DC
by John Skewes (Author, Illustrator), Andrew Fox (Author)

Booktalk: When Larry gets separated from the family by the scent of a yummy treat, he searches DC for his owner Pete. Along the way, Larry discovers the city’s greatest landmarks and learns about the city’s—and the nation’s—history. Larry makes friends along the way, but will he find Pete and be reunited with the family?

Snippet:
Such a big, fancy yard,
With a house painted white.
Would he find his friend here?
Larry hoped that he might.

This week’s Poetry Friday Round-up is hosted by A Teaching Life .

I Wish I Had. . .

I Wish I Had. . .
by Giovanna Zoboli (Author), Simona Mulazzani (Illustrator)

Booktalk: In this lyrical book, a child describes the skill and the beauty possessed by various animals…

Snippet:
I wish I had the eyes of a blackbird
to see every blade of grass
growing in the meadow.

The Reluctant Time Traveller

The Reluctant Time Traveller
by Janis MacKay (Author)

Booktalk: If Saul and Agnes don’t do something their den will be destroyed. But the title deeds that could save it were lost in 1914. Good job they know the secret of time travel! Still, is travelling back in time to a world on the verge of war really a good idea? When Agnes disappears Saul has no choice — he can’t let her go to the past on her own. 100 years before their own time, Saul and Agnes meet a brother and sister, servants at a big house where a sinister visitor is expected. Together the new friends try to uncover the mystery but Saul and Agnes know time is running out.

Snippet: I had been here before — in the future. Playing hide and seek. It had only been yesterday for me, I think, but already time was feeling too messy to be sure. I shuddered, thinking how the house was ruin then, with craggy bits still standing — like this room. Different time, same place.

From Butterfly Wings to…Display Technology

From Butterfly Wings to…Display Technology
(21st Century Skills Innovation Library: Innovations from Nature)
by Josh Gregory (Author)

Booktalk: Have you ever noticed that is it more difficult to read an electronic display screen when you are in bright sunlight? Find out how butterfly wings inspired the invention of new digital display technology that solves this problem.

Snippet: The development of this remarkable new technology began when an engineer named Mark Miles read an article about the way butterfly wings reflect the sunlight in a special way. This reflection is what creates the wings’ bright colors as the insect flutters through the air on a sunny day. Miles realized that this process could provide important clues that might help him create a better kind of display technology. He knew he would need to not only re-create the butterfly’s wing structure using available materials but also find a way to make his invention change colors on demand.

It’s STEM Friday! (STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

All Through My Town

All Through My Town
by Jean Reidy (Author) and Leo Timmers (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Meet the people in your neighborhood in this rhyming walking tour of the community.

Snippet:
Rising, waking
Bread is baking
School bus honks its horn

This week’s Poetry Friday Round-up is hosted by A Teaching Life .

Batman Classic: Winter Wasteland

by Donald Lemke (Author), Steven E. Gordon (Illustrator), and Eric A. Gordon (Illustrator)

Booktalk: When Mr. Freeze and the Ice Pack bring a blast of villainous cold to Gotham City, it’s up to Batman to break the ice. With a little help from Wonder Woman and the Flash, the World’s Greatest Detective will stop these criminals in their icy tracks. (Level 2 beginning reader)

Snippet:
On a nearby rooftop stood
two other members of the Ice Pack,
Captain Cold and Killer Frost.
“We’re sending Gotham back
to the Ice Age,” said Captain Cold.

Space Taxi: Archie Takes Flight

Space Taxi: Archie Takes Flight
by Wendy Mass (Author), Michael Brawer (Author), and Elise Gravel (Illustrator)

Booktalk: It’s not every day a regular kid like Archie gets to wake up at midnight. But today is Take Your Kid to Work Day, and Archie is finally allowed to ride along in his dad’s taxi cab. He has been waiting eight years, eight months, and eight days for this moment to arrive.

But he’s about to discover his dad is no ordinary cab driver…In fact, he drives an intergalactic space taxi! All night long, he shuttles aliens from one corner of the universe to another. And being a space taxi copilot is no easy task: Archie must steer them into wormholes, keep them from crashing into planets, deal with a very unusual cat…and save the universe from an evil mastermind!

Snippet:
“Dad!” I shout. “Can you please tell me what is going on? I thought you were a taxi driver!”

“I am, son. Now this is gonna feel a bit strange, but trust me, you’re totally safe.”

I tighten my grip on the arms of my seat. Dad presses a red button and . . . BANG! BOOM! KA-BLAMMO!

Playing Pro Football

Playing Pro Football
by Paul Bowker (Author)

Booktalk: Playing professional football is a dream for many—but it’s also a high-pressure, grueling job. If you’re the pro player on the field, millions of people are scrutinizing your every play, expecting you to make your blocks, outsmart your opponents, move the ball to your end zone, and score. To play at 100 percent on Sundays, you are constantly preparing for the next game—practicing, lifting weights, going to meetings, or watching video. Throughout the year, you must also maintain your fitness through proper workouts, rest, and nutrition. Playing in the pros is an incredible challenge. But for those who suit up on Sundays, the journey is totally worth it.

Snippet: Getting to the NFL is one thing. Staying in the league is a whole other challenge. The NFLPA lists the average NFL career as approximately 3.5 seasons. The best and most consistent players often stay in the league much longer. However, many careers are cut short by injury and ineffectiveness. Athletes such as Peyton and Eli Manning who last for many years in the NFL must dedicate themselves to the sport. After all, football is their full-time job. They must stay fit, They must continue to improve and perform well. And, importantly, they must stay healthy. A badly timed injury or a poor performance can end one’s career in an instant.

Nonfiction Monday