November 2018 – Page 2

November 9, 2018

The Big Book of the Blue

Let’s take a look at one of the picture books nominated for a Cybils award, The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer.

Reviewing this book was a joy. First thing you notice is the beautiful blue color and the oversized dimensions, perfect for a book about the huge, expansive ocean. Then you pop it open and you see the playful, lively illustrations. You can imagine the fish swimming and the jellyfish bobbing. Delightful!

That isn’t all there is to discover. In the front matter is a challenge to find a sardine tucked into the illustrations throughout the book (the answers are in the back). Delving deeper, you find general discussions of different creatures found in the ocean before discovering two page spreads about specific ones from sea turtles to dolphins. Each one makes full use of the extra space and some are oriented landscape versus portrait. They are gorgeous! And packed with great information!

The back matter includes “Did you find?” the answers to the sardine challenge, “Fishy Phrases” about scientific vocabulary, and a whale-sized index. But don’t expect to arrive at the back matter quickly. Once you start swimming into the book, you will want to immerse yourself.

The Big Book of the Blue is the type of book that begs to be shared. Grab a copy, find a quiet corner, and spend time with it. Children will love it.

Today our review is at Wrapped in Foil blog.

November 9, 2018November 8, 2018

Making Models

My new Focus on STEM column: Making Models is in the November Quick Tips for Schools and Libraries newsletter.

Snippet:
Fall is here, and with the colder weather comes the yearly science fair. It’s time for students of all ages to think of a new way to solve an old problem and then test their ideas. To plan their experiments and to share their results, these young scientists will need to develop models.

Click here to read Making Models with eight #kidlit science books that support the Next Generation Science Standard for Developing and Using Models in the classroom and library.

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

November 9, 2018October 16, 2018

Bugs Don’t Hug, Six-legged parents and their kids

Bugs Don’t Hug, Six-legged parents and their kids, by Heather L. Montgomery; illus. by Stephen Stone

32 pages; ages 3-7; Charlesbridge, 2018

Mommy and daddy bugs don’t give good-morning kisses. They don’t tie shoes or untangle hair. And bugs don’t hug.

Open the pages and you find that there are things parent bugs simply “don’t do”. They don’t serve eggs and toast. They don’t play peekaboo. But when you turn the page you discover …

Yes! Bug parents are just like human parents. I like the way author Heather Montgomery uses compare-and-contrast to show the similarities and differences in parents. Maybe bugs don’t bake birthday cakes, but they do make a cake for their babies. It’s fun and best of all – surprising! The illustrations are cartoony and fun. And I LOVE the back matter (of course) – more about each of the insects featured in the book plus a note on scientific language. And a list of books to read for the naturally curious kids.

Head over to Archimedes Notebook for another book about animal parenting and some Beyond-the-Book activities.

STEM Friday

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

November 2, 2018

Dog Science Unleashed

Today at Growing With Science blog we have highlighted Dog Science Unleashed: Fun Activities To Do With Your Canine Companion by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen and with photographs by Matthew Rakola.

Jodi Wheeler-Toppen has come up with over 20 fun and appropriate hands-on science activities for kids to discover more about dog biology and behavior. For example, they can learn more about what colors dogs see by hiding different colored balls in a grassy lawn and watching how easy it is for the dog to find them.

Safety is first with all these activities. The author remind kids to watch for signs the dog is upset or uncomfortable, and to quit the activity if the dog is unhappy. Also, make sure the dog has access to water and plan lots of breaks even if the dog is enjoying himself.

As to be expected from National Geographic, the photographs are fantastic. The photographer followed kids and their super-photogenic dogs as they tried out the activities. The results are inspiring.

The bottom line is that Dog Science Unleashed is a great choice for dog lovers, as well as budding zoologists and veterinarians.

Visit the blog for more information.

November 2, 2018November 1, 2018

Over on a Desert

Over on a Desert: Somewhere in the World
by Marianne Berkes (Author) and Jill Dubin (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Deserts are full of surprises! Count to ten as you see an amazing array of animals that call this driest place on Earth their home. Additional animal information, a world map, and sheet music in the back of the book.

Snippet:

BONUS! Download the free activities!

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

November 2, 2018October 18, 2018

Animal Zombies

Animal Zombies, by Chana Steifel

96 pages; ages 8-12. National Geographic Children’s Books, 2018

I love a scary book that opens with a warning. And this one does: “Beware! You are about to enter the darkest, creepiest corners of our world. You’ll collide with creatures that invade brains, drink blood, and even devour their own moms!”

If you’re brave enough to turn the page you enter the Zombie Zone… you’ll meet harmless ladybugs turned into monsters by parasitic wasps, zombie cockroaches and crickets and ants. Chana Steifel brings readers up close and personal to leeches and lampreys, aliens, body invaders, and the kraken!

But wait! There’s more! We get to meet “mad scientists” who study bloodsuckers and body snatchers. Steifel includes profiles of a nature photographer who has clicked photos of zombie spiders and infected insects. We also meed “bat man”, a shark scientist, wolf man, and a bug scientist who loves book lice (and other really creepy crawlies).

Don’t worry. Steifel has also included a handy list of items you’ll need in your Zombie Emergency Kit. Pack your go-bag and you’ll be ready for the zombie apocalypse – or the next hurricane, blizard, or wildfire.

And if you’re lucky, you’ll reach the last page alive and ready to head out and look for zombies in the real world.

STEM Friday

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