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October 29, 2021October 29, 2021

Robo-Motion: Robots That Move Like Animals

Today at Growing with Science blog we are featuring Robo-Motion: Robots That Move Like Animals by Linda Zajac.

With side-by-side photographs of robots and their real life inspirations, the author reveals twelve robots that are designed to look and/or move like animals, from bats to kangaroos. And the robots aren’t just for fun. Using simple language, she points out how each one is designed to perform specific tasks that would be difficult for humans to carry out.

For an example — that isn’t in the book — engineers have designed a drone that looks like and flies like a hawk or falcon. Why? To take a pass over runways at airports before an airplane takes off. The drone scares away any birds hanging around that might be hit, a hazard to the plane and to themselves. Cool project and there are many more like this in the book.

The best part is the book ends with a gentle call to action challenging young readers to dream up and design their own animal robots.

Robo-Motion will excite budding robot engineers and animal lovers alike. Put some technology and engineering in your STEM and investigate a copy today!

And if you have a moment, stop by Growing With Science for the full review and activity suggestions.

October 15, 2021

Night Becomes Day: Changes in Nature

Over at Growing with Science blog, we are featuring the new picture book Night Becomes Day: Changes in Nature by Cynthia Argentine.

The premise of Night Becomes Day isn’t easy to explain, but simply amazing. It is an introduction to periodic scientific processes such as life cycles, the water cycle, and the rock cycle. However, no topic is treated separately. Argentine overlaps the concepts, comparing and contrasting, to show the general qualities of transformations.

To help clarify, let’s look at an example. the author compares the ancient process of forming a diamond crystal deep in the Earth (part of the rock cycle) to the brief, fragile formation of a snowflake (part of the water cycle). These complex processes are revealed using age-appropriate text matched with high quality stock photos. She pairs words like quick – slow, hot – cold, dull-brighten to show the contrasts.

The back matter will knock you over. Argentine’s author’s note explains how changes occur in both living and nonliving things, how connections are made, and how the science of making connections is Ecology. In the next section, “A Closer Look At The Science of Change,” is actually a zoomed out view of the text, explaining the big picture. In the diamond versus snowflake spread, for example, she explains how chemistry, geology, and physics are all involved in the process of forming crystals.

Night Becomes Day: Changes in Nature helps young readers see how natural processes relate to one another. Reading it might just transform them!

If you’d like to read more, visit Growing with Science for the complete review and activity suggestions.

October 8, 2021

Scurry! The Truth About Spiders

Right in time for Halloween, we are featuring a newly emerged informational picture book, Scurry! The Truth About Spiders by Annette Whipple and illustrated by Juanbjuan Oliver and Franco Rivolli at Growing With Science blog.

Have you ever wondered how spiders make silk, why they are so hairy, or what they eat? Scurry! has all the answers. After explaining what characteristics a spider has and introducing a few common types, Annette Whipple delves into their life cycles and behavior.

The books in Reycraft’s Truth About … series are illustrated with high-quality stock photographs. As you can see above, this title has an added feature of a cartoon sidebar on the right of each spread with additional tips and information. Fun!

In the back is a hands-on challenge to create a spider web, a longer list of different types of spiders, and a glossary.

Scurry! is a delightful introduction to the world of spiders. You will want to add a copy to your favorite young reader’s Halloween treat bag!

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If you have a moment, pop over the Growing with Science blog for more information and loads of activity suggestions.

August 6, 2021

The Secret Science of Sports: The Math, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering Behind Every Grand Slam, Triple Axel, and Penalty Kick

With the Olympic Games in full swing, kids are probably highly interested in sports right now. It’s the perfect time for middle grade readers to investigate The Secret Science of Sports: The Math, Physics, and Mechanical Engineering Behind Every Grand Slam, Triple Axel, and Penalty Kick by Jennifer Swanson.

Imagine that a pitcher throws a baseball toward you. Think of all things that need to happen for you to hit it with a bat. Your eyes watch the pitcher and the baseball as he or she winds up. Your brain must figure out the speed of the ball, its direction, and angle. Then your brain sends signals to your muscles to reposition the bat to correctly connect with the ball to make it go in the direction you want with the force you want. Understanding the concepts of science, technology, engineering, and math will help make that happen better every time.

The book covers a wide range of topics using examples from a variety of sports. Starting with how body type affects athletic performance, you will learn about such things as the aerodynamics behind competitive swimsuits, how advances in the chemistry of carbon have led to faster bicycles and better tennis rackets, to how to test reaction time.

Bottom line:

Not everyone is an Olympic athlete, but everyone benefits from exercise. The Secret Science of Sports is likely to get young readers off the couch, away from the screen, and outside trying some of the activity suggestions. It’s a win-win.

See Growing with Science blog for the full review.

June 4, 2021

Fearless World Traveler: Adventures of Marianne North, Botanical Artist

From Growing With Science blog, we are celebrating the picture book biography Fearless World Traveler: Adventures of Marianne North, Botanical Artist by Laurie Lawlor and illustrated by Becca Stadtlander.

You may not have heard of Marianne North, but she was a fascinating woman. She grew up privileged and sheltered in England. Her father was a member of Parliament who owned multiple homes. On the other hand, her parents said she had no need for an education and insisted she get ready for marriage. Instead, Marianne taught herself to paint and immersed herself in nature whenever she got the chance. After her father passed away, Marianne began to travel the world. She made up for lost time by accurately painting every plant she could find. In the remaining years of her life, she produced more than 848 paintings, most of which she donated to Kew Gardens.

Why is North’s work considered to be scientific? It is because she advanced the field of botanical illustration. Her technique of painting specimens in their natural environment rather than isolated on a light background was groundbreaking. The fact, she documented so many rare plants with such accurate detail that several of them are named in her honor.

As for the book, Becca Stadtlander’s lush illustrations are a fitting tribute to Marianne North’s art. Readers will want to get lost in them. And Marianne North’s story is captivating. Readers will want to visit it again and again.

Fearless World Traveler will appeal to a variety of young readers, including those interested in history, travel, plants, art, and science. Pick up a copy and join the adventure!

And when you are done, visit Growing with Science for activity suggestions and more.

May 7, 2021

Mammal Mania: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Mammals

Let’s look at the newest title in Chicago Review Press’s Young Naturalist series, Mammal Mania: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Mammals by Lisa J. Amstutz.

Although mammals are familiar animals, we might not always study them in a structured, scientific way. Lisa Amstutz’s text covers everything young readers will want to know:

What a mammal is
Some unique anatomical features
What they eat and what food webs they are part of
Where mammals live
How they communicate
What we can do to protect mammals

Are any mammals venomous? How long can vampire bats go without food? How many species of mammals have gone extinct in the last 50 years? You will find the answers to these questions and many more.

Each chapter features three activity suggestions. For example, in chapter ten about “How You Can Help,” readers can build a squirrel feeder or learn about their state mammal.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. Mammal Mania would be a great gift for educators who need well-organized information and age-appropriate activity ideas for science lessons. It would also thrill budding zoologists and be a wonderful addition to any library.

For more information, check out the rest of the review at Growing With Science blog.

March 5, 2021March 4, 2021

Planet Ocean: Why We All Need a Healthy Ocean

At Growing with Science blog today we are featuring the new middle grade title Planet Ocean: Why We All Need a Healthy Ocean by Patricia Newman and photographs by Annie Crawley.

Planet Ocean gives a global perspective to our ocean. Patricia Newman explains that rather than five oceans, there is actually only one ocean and it covers 70 percent of our planet. It produces the water we need to drink and the oxygen we need to breathe. We all depend on it.

After introducing the importance of the ocean, the book then delves deeply into three specific and very different regions — the Coral Triangle, the Salish Sea, and the Arctic — before ending with the stories of young people who have profound connections with the ocean and who are advocates for saving it.

Annie Crawley is an underwater photographer and dive instructor, and her photographs in this book is breathtaking. If nothing else, the side-by-side spread of vibrant, living coral versus a bleached coral reef will make you pause. If you are interested in photography, Annie has a page of pro tips for visual storytelling in the back matter. Plus, throughout the book you will find scan codes that will allow you to use a QR reader on your phone or tablet to view additional visual content by Annie. Talk about making a book come to life!

Planet Ocean is a wonderful choice for celebrating Earth Day on April 22 and World Ocean Day June 8. It will appeal to budding oceanographers, marine biologists, conservationists, and up-and-coming underwater photographers. Get involved and pick up a copy today!

Visit Growing with Science for more information and activity suggestions.

February 26, 2021February 26, 2021

13 Ways to Eat a Fly by Sue Heavenrich

Have you seen the fabulous new picture book 13 Ways to Eat a Fly by Sue Heavenrich and illustrated by David Clark?

It is hilarious and a bit icky, too. It puts both the S (science) and the M (math) in STEAM. And a bunch of pretty silly A (art), too.

The story starts with a cloud of thirteen different kinds of flies.

Big flies,
small flies,
fat flies,
thinner,
Yum! These flies are someone’s dinner.

As they travel through the book, the flies meet one untimely end after another as the reader learns about all the living things that rely on flies for their survival.

13 Ways to Eat a Fly has tidbits for everyone. The youngest readers will enjoy counting down the numbers. Slightly older readers will enjoy the gross and silly aspects, such as the absolutely hilarious chart of the edible parts of a fly along with a graphic listing the nutritional facts. Budding entomologists will soak up all the science, including the common and family names of each of the flies, and interesting details about the predators. Educators will enjoy two pages of suggested books and websites in the back matter, so helpful for digging deeper.

Not sure you really want to read about icky flies? Don’t worry, by the time you’re done, you will be rooting for them!

Be sure to visit Growing with Science blog for an interview with author Sue Heavenrich and an activity suggestion.

February 19, 2021

The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest

This week at Growing with Science blog we feature the picture book biography The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest by Heather Lang and illustrated by Jana Christy.

The Leaf Detective is as multilayered as a rainforest tree.

The trunk of the book is the biography of Margaret Lowman, an incredibly brave and determined biologist who developed new methods for studying the tops of trees, the canopy and emergent layers. Using ropes and a harness of her own design, she climbed up into the great unknown.

The branches of the story are Meg Lowman’s findings. For example, she discovered that most of the herbivores in the rainforest she studied were nocturnal, eating leaves at night and hiding during the day. To learn more, she climbed up into the trees at night.

The roots of the story comes after Meg realized that for all people didn’t know about trees, they were still destroying them at an alarming rate. She started to come up with innovative ways for people to use intact forests as a source of income and thus making it economically viable to save them.

Let’s not forget the leaves. Sprinkled throughout are leaf-shaped sidebars filled with interesting facts and additional details. So cool!

The illustrations are as green and lush and complex as a rainforest, too. The reader could get lost and spend hours in them.

The bottom line? The Leaf Detective is perfect for young readers who are budding scientists, adventurers, conservationists, interested in women’s history, the list goes on and on. Pretty much everyone will find something to explore in it. Pick up a copy and see how it resonates with you.

If you have a minute, hop over to the blog for more information and activity suggestion.

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021

Brilliant Baby Does Math

At Growing with Science blog, we’re highlighting the new board book Brilliant Baby Does Math by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Jean Claude, part of a new series.

Using a compelling rhyme, Laura Gehl introduces young children to math concepts and vocabulary found in everyday activities.

Math is comparing what’s hotter or colder, longer or shorter…younger or older

The illustrations are cute and contain much to explore. For example, ask young readers to find shapes in each scene. Some of the shapes are subtle, such as hidden in the pattern of a rug. Others are called out in the text.

Overall, Brilliant Baby Does Math isn’t about how to do math, but instead is an age-appropriate introduction to what math does. Investigate a copy today!

And pop over to Growing with Science for more information and related activity suggestions.