July 2021 – Nonfiction Monday

July 26, 2021July 25, 2021

Flip! How the Frisbee Took Flight

Flip! How the Frisbee Took Flight
by Margaret Muirhead (Author) and Adam Gustavson (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: Fred Morrison is credited with inventing this classic toy, but for centuries folks have been flipping for flying discs. Ancient Greeks flicked discs, and beginning in the 1920s, college kids at Yale University were tossing pie tins.

Fred’s invention quest began in 1932 after tossing a tin popcorn lid around the backyard. For more than twenty years, Fred and his wife, Lu, tried and failed to perfect a flying-disc concept. Eventually they created what we know today as the Frisbee.

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Nonfiction Monday

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July 26, 2021July 25, 2021

Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood

Today at Wrapped in Foil we are highlighting Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood by Tony Hillery and illustrated by Jessie Hartland.

When Mr. Tony (Tony Hillery) spotted an abandoned lot across from a school in Harlem, he had an idea. Getting help from the community, he cleaned it up and invited children to help him plant a garden. Through trial and error a farm emerged.

The colors in Jessie Hartland’s illustrations reflect the journey of the story. The first few pages capture the gray mood of the abandoned lot. As things turn around, the background colors move through shades of green to a lively and vibrant mix. Lovely!

The benefits of gardening with children are many. From getting outside for healthy exercise, to learning patience, to appreciating the taste of fresh vegetables, gardening is a win-win-win activity. Harlem Grown is about making it happen. Share a copy today and you will be glad you did.

Be sure to stop by Wrapped in Foil where we have many activity suggestions and resources to accompany the book.

July 19, 2021July 18, 2021

Kids vs. Plastic

Kids vs. Plastic: Ditch the straw and find the pollution solution to bottles, bags, and other single-use plastics
by Julie Beer (Author)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: It’s in your toothbrush … your clothes … your earbuds. Chances are, you’re touching it right now. We’re talking about plastic! Plastic is absolutely everywhere and in practically everything we touch, from pens to water bottles to sports equipment. And a lot of it is used once and then thrown away. Unfortunately, it takes a REALLY long time for plastic to break down and it can be harmful to our environment, especially wildlife. But why and when did we start using it in so much stuff? And how do we stop?

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July 12, 2021

Plants on the Move by Émilie Vast

At Wrapped in Foil blog today we are highlighting Plants on the Move by Émilie Vast .

There are many children’s books about plant and seed movement, but this one is certainly unique. In a lot of ways it is from a plant’s viewpoint.

As the blurb on the back says:

Have you ever bent down to take a closer look, perhaps thinking that we don’t ever go anywhere? But we plants might surprise you. We’re more adventurous than you think…

The text is well-organized and informative. Émilie Vast categorizes the ways plants disperse into broad groups, like “Fly”, “Creep”, “Fall”, etc. For each group she gives step-by-step details of an example plant’s journey and life cycle. Once the pattern is established, then she provides a cluster of images of other species that use the same dispersal method, which helps young readers apply what they’ve learned.

The Illustrations are otherworldly and mesmerizing. They are crisp and clean images against a starkly contrasting white background.

Plants on the Move is a fantastic resource. It is perfect for budding botanists, young gardeners and nature lovers. Pop open a copy today!

Be sure to visit Wrapped in Foil blog for activity suggestions and more information.

July 12, 2021July 11, 2021

The Floating Field

The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field
by Scott Riley (Author), Nguyen Quang (Illustrator), and Kim Lien (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: After watching the World Cup on television, a group of Thai boys is inspired to form their own team. But on the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. The boys can play only twice a month on a sandbar when the tide is low enough. Everything changes when the teens join together to build their very own floating soccer field.

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Nonfiction Monday

It’s Nonfiction Monday!