Nonfiction Monday

Elizabeth Warren’s Big, Bold Plans
by Laurie Ann Thompson (Author) and Susanna Chapman (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Discover the inspiring story of Senator Elizabeth Warren and her lifelong commitment to working hard and advocating for equality in this picture book biography written by one of my former students.

Elizabeth Warren always has a plan. As a child, she wanted to help others by becoming a teacher. When discrimination forced her to surrender that dream, she found another path: She became a lawyer. Then life changed again, and Elizabeth became a professor of law–and she didn’t stop there. No matter her job title, Senator Elizabeth Warren has always worked to ensure that people with more power help those with less.

Snippet:

See how the author and the illustrator created the book.

Nonfiction Monday

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

The Naturally Creative Workshop is free to all June 21-July 17, 2020.
Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

May 11, 2020

The Nest that Wren Built & Two More Bird Books

Cindy and Lynn: Spring! The birds in our yards are busy building nests and the Canada Geese are already swimming by Cindy’s house with their goslings in tow. Here are some books to read while you watch the nesting activity in your neighborhood.

Lynn: At first glance, Randi Sonenshine’s debut picture book, The Nest that Wren Built (Candlewick, 2020) might be easy to underestimate. Don’t! This lovely book in its brown and cream tones is truly outstanding and, like its small subject, full of surprises and energy.

Sonenshine’s poetic text is in the style of The House That Jack Built and it is a real pleasure to read aloud with a familiar cadence, wonderful word choices, and rhymes that flow naturally with nothing forced. The story is of two Carolina Wrens who build a nest and raise a family and I was so impressed with the amount of information that was incorporated into the story. Wrens are a real favorite of mine and I learned so much. Who knew they decorate their nests with snake skins to scare away flying squirrels intent on robbing the nest? I have observed female wrens dismantling the nests the male built to attract her but I had NO idea that the male builds sometimes as many as 20 “dummy” nests and that after the female makes her choice, the pair re-build the nest together.

Anne Hunter chose a warm soft palette of colors for her ink and pencil illustrations and they are exquisite. Lovely to look at, the drawings are also full of details that reinforce the text. Hunter captures wrens so well with their sassy, bossy fearlessness and the illustrations of the babies just getting ready to fly are adorable.

Excellent back matter includes an illustrated glossary and a page of additional facts about wrens. A perfect choice for a STEM classroom and one that would make a great writing prompt as well.

Visit Bookends Blog for the rest of this post with two more bird books to Nest-le in with! We’ve changed blog locations since posting with Nonfiction Monday last. Please update your link to our new site, BookendsBlog.net. Thanks!

May 11, 2020May 10, 2020

Families Write with Mario and the Hole in the Sky

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet
by Elizabeth Rusch (Author) and Teresa Martinez (Illustrator)

Booktalk: The true story of how a scientist saved the planet from environmental disaster.

Mexican American Mario Molina is a modern-day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. Growing up in Mexico City, Mario was a curious boy who studied hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth’s protective ozone layer. Mario knew the world had to be warned–and quickly. Today Mario is a Nobel laureate and a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His inspiring story gives hope in the fight against global warming.

Step 1. Read aloud
Listen to the author’s read-aloud video.

Step 2. Think aloud
Talk about the book. Have you ever been ignored or misunderstood when you tried to explain something important? What happened the last time you tried to solve a big problem?

Step 3. Write it down
Write your own story about solving a big problem.

Hear the illustrator read the book in Spanish.

See a list of Families Write posts.
Need help guiding your young writer?
Use these age-appropriate writer’s workshop tips.

Nonfiction Monday

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

The Naturally Creative Workshop is free to all June 21-July 17, 2020.
Copyright © 2020 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

May 4, 2020May 3, 2020

Women’s Art Work: More than 30 Female Artists Who Changed the World

Women’s Art Work: More than 30 Female Artists Who Changed the World
by Sophia Bennett (Author) and Manjit Thapp (Illustrator)

Booktalk: This collection celebrates the creativity of women in more than 30 biographies, investigating their practices and exploring their contributions to the art world. Readers will learn about a diverse group of innovators like Frida Kahlo, Cindy Sherman, Ana Mendieta, Lubaina Himid, Cao Fei, and the Guerrilla Girls. From early pioneers to today’s most radical creators, these women have overcome obstacles, broken boundaries, and enriched our understanding of what art is and can be. With a glossary of art terms, a timeline of major milestones, and sidebars, this highly illustrated book also features original interviews with living artists–including Yayoi Kusama, Lorna Simpson, and Rachel Whiteread.

Snippet:
DORIS SALCEDO:
Born 1958

In the vast Turbine Hall of the Tate Modern, a long, dark scar runs along the floor. It is all that remains of an extended crack that was made in concete: a work by Doris Salcedo called Shibboleth. Like a rift made by an earthquake, it was designed to be a simple, stark reminder of the impact of grief and loss.

Shibboleth I 2007 Doris Salcedo born 1958 Presented by the artist, White Cube, London and Alexander and Bonin, New York 2008 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/P20334

Nonfiction Monday

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

April 27, 2020

April 2020 Carnival of Children’s Literature Call for Posts

Hello, friends!

You are invited to add your blog post about children’s literature to our end-of-the-month carnival round-up.

For the April 2020 Carnival of Children’s Literature, we’re looking for blog posts about children’s literature written by parents, educators, librarians, and children’s book authors, illustrators, and reviewers.

After one of our hosts approves it (yes, there will be a time-delay so we’re not posting spam) this end-of-the month carnival round-up will link back to your blog so everyone can read your post!

When children’s book author and (Here in the Bonny Glen) blogger Melissa Wiley hosted the very first Carnival of Children’s Literature in February 2006, it was an end-of-the month round-up of blog posts about children’s literature written by children’s book authors, illustrators, and reviewers as well as parents, educators, and librarians. The Blog Carnival software created the links (back to each blogger’s site) AND saved all of them in one place that everyone could see.

In 2010, Melissa handed the hosting duties over to me. Fast forward ten years. Last week I realized that my search for software that worked like our original (and now broken) Blog Carnival software was in something I used everyday — Facebook! A Facebook “Community” page can create the links (back to each blogger’s site) AND save all of them in one place that everyone can see.

Leo the Library Lion (and Carnival of Children’s Literature mascot)

So with Leo (our Library Lion mascot) and the help of my wonderful #kidlit blogger co-hosts: A Field Trip Life, Good Reads with Ronna, Randomly Reading, and The Book of Life, we are rebooting the #kidlitcarnival on April 28. Can you join us?

April 27, 2020

Secrets of the Loon

Time to celebrate tomorrow’s book birthday of Secrets of the Loon by Laura Purdie Salas and Charles Dayton.

Loons are water birds that live in lakes in northern North America in the summer where they dive under the water to catch fish and other small swimming animals. They are known for their haunting calls that travel great distances over the water and for their striking black and white plumage.

According to a recent interview with Chuck Dayton, Secrets of the Loon started with his amazing photographs of loons taken over years spent at a family retreat on a lake in Minnesota. He wasn’t, however, used to writing for children, so his editor brought fellow Minnesotan and prolific children’s author/poet Laura Purdie Salas on board to write the main text. The combination is a winning one.

The main story, which is written in rhyme, follows the life of a loon named Moon from hatching to taking off for her first migration flight. Dayton’s original text is included as four pages of back matter, revealing some amazing facts. For example, loons have heavy bodies, which makes it hard for them to lift off out of the water. Once in flight, however, they can fly faster than a cheetah can run. Wow!

Secrets of the Loon is a must-read for budding ornithologists, especially ones who live near lakes where loons live. It is also a treat for the rest of us who wish we could visit a cold lake and listen to these amazing birds. Dive into the book today!

For the rest of the review and related activity suggestions, visit Wrapped in Foil blog.

April 27, 2020April 26, 2020

We Are Power: How Nonviolent Activism Changes the World

We Are Power: How Nonviolent Activism Changes the World
by Todd Hasak-Lowy (Author)

Booktalk: In an age when armies are stronger than ever before, when guns seem to be everywhere, how can people confront their adversaries without resorting to violence themselves? Through key international movements as well as people such as Gandhi, Alice Paul, Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, and Václav Havel, this book discusses the components of nonviolent resistance. It answers the question “Why nonviolence?” by showing how nonviolent movements have succeeded again and again in a variety of ways, in all sorts of places, and always in the face of overwhelming odds. The book includes endnotes, a bibliography, and an index.

Snippet: History is more than wars and violence.

In fact, history has more often been forged through conflicts of a different sort, when huge numbers of people banded together to fight and sacrifice for their side, without ever joining a conventional army or resorting to violence. Incredible individuals–who were not politicians or generals–led these movements.

Nonfiction Monday

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

April 20, 2020April 19, 2020

World’s Best (and Worst) Creepy Critter Jokes

World’s Best (and Worst) Creepy Critter Jokes
by Jessica Rusick (Author)

Booktalk: How do fleas travel? They itch-hike! And what is a mouse’s favorite game? Hide and squeak! Kids can read these jokes — and make up new ones!

Snippet:

Nonfiction Monday

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

Know any parents teaching school at home due to the pandemic?
Share my makerspace (DIY) articles published by the American Library Association.

April 20, 2020April 19, 2020

Home, Sweet Home

Home, Sweet Home
by Moira Butterfield (Author) and Clair Rossiter (Illustrator)

Booktalk: If you think about your home — what is it like? Does it have walls and a roof? A front door and a kitchen? But not all homes are the same. Explore homes from around the world — and through time!

Snippet:

Nonfiction Monday

It’s Nonfiction Monday!

April 20, 2020April 19, 2020

This Raindrop: Has a Billion Stories to Tell

Right in time for Earth Day, we have This Raindrop: Has a Billion Stories to Tell by Linda Ragsdale and illustrated by Srimalie Bassani at Growing with Science blog.

This picture book…
Starts with a single raindrop that “has billions of stories to tell” then follows it through time and space at it cycles again and again. Readers will be thrilled as the words flow like water.

This picture book…
Has incredibly imaginative illustrations that play with perspective, zooming in and out, then up and down from spread to spread.

This picture book…
Has a little something extra. It features a lovely arlin paper cover with foil text enhancements, illustrated end papers, plus back matter including an explanation of the water cycle, the importance of water conservation, and resources for further reading.

This picture book…
Could help save the planet. As the sticker on the cover says, “Every Book [purchased] Plants a Tree.”

What could be better than that?