Robo-Motion: Robots That Move Like Animals
by Linda Zajac (Author)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Booktalk: On spreads pairing photos of robots with the animals they mimic, you’ll discover robots that race through water like fish, run like cheetahs, jump like a kangaroo, swarm through the sky like honeybees, and more!
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It’s Nonfiction Monday!
Copyright © 2021 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
Green Kids Cook: Simple, Delicious Recipes & Top Tips: Good for You, Good for the Planet
by Jenny Chandler (Author)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Booktalk: With over 50 easy and adaptable recipes and special feature spreads on the environment, simple ways to be more eco-friendly, and a few fun crafting projects, this book teaches children how to cook in the most environmentally sound and sustainable way.
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It’s Nonfiction Monday!
Copyright © 2021 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
Feast Your Eyes on Food: An Encyclopedia of More than 1,000 Delicious Things to Eat
by Laura Gladwin (Author) and Zoe Barker (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Booktalk: Explore the journey from farm-to-table, tasting your way around the world from the comfort of your home. Celebrate the variety and abundance of more than 1,000 delicious things to eat from all over the world!
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It’s Nonfiction Monday!
Copyright © 2021 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
Day of the Dead
by Lori Dittmer (Author)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Booktalk: This kindergarten-level introduction to the Day of the Dead covers the holiday’s history, popular traditions, and such defining symbols as marigolds and skulls.
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It’s Nonfiction Monday!
Copyright © 2021 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
Halloween and Day of the Dead Traditions Around the World
by Joan Axelrod-Contrada (Author) and Elisa Chavarri (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Booktalk: Explore Halloween and Day of the Dead traditions from around the world, including All Saint’s and All Soul’s Days, the Day of the Dead, and other celebrations.
Snippet: Festivals of the dead such as Halloween happen around the world. In the United States, Halloween celebrates all scary things. Other festivals of the dead are for remembering lost loved ones. Many festivals mix these ideas.
It’s Nonfiction Monday!
Copyright © 2021 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
Looking for a new picture book biography? Look no further than Secrets of the Sea: The Story of Jeanne Power, Revolutionary Marine Scientist by Evan Griffith and illustrated by Joanie Stone.
Jeanne Power was born in France, but moved to Sicily with her husband in 1818 when she was 23. Formerly a busy seamstress, she was likely not used to staying at home. To pass the time, she began to study the animals and plants of her new surroundings. The ocean intrigued her the most, but how could she observe what was going on in the water? Build one of the first glass-sided aquariums of course!
During her studies, Jeanne Power concentrated on the paper nautilus, which is a type of octopus. At the time, no one was sure whether the nautilus borrowed the delicate shells they carried from other creatures or whether they grew them. Jeanne Power figured out the answer. It wasn’t always smooth sailing, but she was able to publish her findings.
Matching the compelling story, Joanie Stone’s beautiful digital illustrations, from the bubbling water of the end papers to last pages of the text, reflect the vibrant blue palette of the ocean Jeanne Power loved so much. Gorgeous!
The back matter is extensive, including notes about “Jeanne’s Life and Legacy,” “The Paper Nautilus,” information about “Marine Biology and Conservation,” a “Note on Historical Research,” and a “Bibliography.”
As the compelling story of a remarkable woman, Secrets of the Sea would be a great choice for a science unit on oceans or for Women’s History Month. Explore a copy today!
For our full review and activity suggestions, visit Wrapped in Foil blog.
Copyright © 2021 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.
Secrets of Navajo Code Talkers
by Rachael L. Thomas (Author)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Booktalk: In wartime, unbreakable codes help armies win battles. And what better code than an advanced language. The Navajo language was key to the success of the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II.
Read how Navajo Marines risked their lives to translate secret messages during World War II. Learn what makes the Navajo language ideal for encoding messages and the special vocabulary the code talkers used in battle. Finally, try your hand at translating messages yourself.
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It’s Nonfiction Monday!
Copyright © 2021 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
The Ultimate Art Museum
by Ferren Gipson (Author)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Booktalk: Visit the world’s greatest museum without leaving your home through this imaginary art museum — a survey of world art for middle-grade readers, curated in collaboration with a global team of experts and educators.
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It’s Nonfiction Monday!
Copyright © 2021 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
How do we stop climate change?
by Tom Jackson (Author) and Dragan Kordic (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound
Booktalk: The middle grade book uses a visual thinking technique called ‘mind mapping’, where complex ideas are broken down into a clear flow of visual information. The ‘mind map’ connects the information, making it easy to grasp so readers can understand climate change and take practical actions to help protect the planet.
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It’s Nonfiction Monday!
Copyright © 2021 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.
Today at Growing with Science blog we are featuring What’s in Your Pocket?: Collecting Nature’s Treasures by Heather L. Montgomery and illustrated by Maribel Lechuga, a set of mini-biographies of nine scientists.
When children collect and sort items they find in nature, they are learning important STEAM skills. In this book you will meet a boy who collected rocks and beetles, another who collected seeds and seed pods, and a girl who slept with earthworms under her pillow. Keep reading to find out which famous naturalists and scientists these curious children grew up to be.
They’ve created collections
They’ve made discoveries.
They’ve changed the world of science.
Maribel Lechuga’s vibrant illustrations perfectly capture each child’s wonder and surprise at the new things they stumble on.
The back matter gives a more complete biography of each of the people featured in the text, plus a charming note from the illustrator about how artists also appreciate and observe nature. In her author’s note, Heather Montgomery explains the need for collecting responsibly. She also gives some important rules for respecting nature, respecting your family and community, and for protecting yourself when you gather from nature.
What’s in Your Pocket? is a delightful celebration of the collections made by youngsters who became famous scientists and naturalists. It is sure to inspire the next generation to make their own discoveries. Check out a copy today.
For more information and STEAM activity suggestions, see Growing with Science.
Copyright © 2021 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.
