The Great Shark Rescue

If you are looking for a middle grade title to inspire STEM students, look no further than The Great Shark Rescue: Saving the Whale Sharks by Sandra Markle.

Whale sharks are not only the biggest fish in the world, but also the coolest sharks because they feed by vacuuming up tons of the smallest creatures in the water (see pages 18-19). Unfortunately, along with many other fascinating creatures, their numbers are plummeting and they have recently become endangered.

Markle gives numbers and explicit reasons why the populations are in decline. Sometimes the sharks are caught is nets during legal fishing while at other times they are killed by people who fish for sharks illegally. Climate change is also a factor. Scientists want to try to help the sharks, but they know little about them. It is a race to learn about whale sharks before they disappear.

The Great Shark Rescue will thrill budding marine biologists as well as those interested in conserving endangered species.  Realistically, this title could work with upper elementary readers as well as middle grade. It could be a great addition to your shelf.

Visit Wrapped in Foil Blog for the rest of the review and related links.

Copyright © 2019 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.

Titanosaur: Discovering the World’s Largest Dinosaur

Today at Growing With Science Blog we are featuring Titanosaur: Discovering the World’s Largest Dinosaur by Diego Pol, Jose Luis Carballido, and illustrated by Florencia Gigena.

Everything about this book is huge (and hugely impressive):

  • At 11.8 x 11.8 inches it is physically bigger than most picture books.
  • It is written by the actual paleontologists who dug up the dinosaur. Their excitement about the find bounds off of each and every page.
  • It features the biggest dinosaur ever found (so far)
  • It is likely to appeal to readers far outside its recommended age range

The story starts with a gaucho and his dog discovering a big bone on his ranch. What follows is an inside look at how a dinosaur skeleton is dug up and processed.

Accompanying the main text are sidebars that pull out keywords and explain them. For example, the first sidebar explains what a gaucho is, the second defines the word paleontologist, the third discusses how dinosaur bones are fossils. Although sidebars are standard in many nonfiction texts, these are particularly well done.

Florence Gigena’s illustrations are also top notch. They give continuity to the look and and expand the story. The best image by far is one of a man lying on the ground next to a femur to show how immense it really is! Another cool feature shows the placement of certain bones inside the skeleton of a transparent dinosaur.  If that isn’t enough, there are many color photographs of the finds and team nestled in the artwork.

Titanosaur rises above the competition. It will enthrall youngsters already passionate about dinosaurs, but will also grab the attention of anyone interested in science or how scientists work. It is sure to be a super big hit. Dig up a copy today!

Copyright © 2019 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.

Can You Hear The Trees Talking?

Time to check out an amazing new middle grade book, Can You Hear the Trees Talking?: Discovering the Hidden Life of the Forest by Peter Wohlleben.

Peter Wohlleben is the well-known author of the bestselling popular science book for adults, The Hidden Life of Trees.  Now he’s applied his eye-opening approach to understanding trees in this book for young readers. He asks kid-friendly questions, such as “How do trees drink?” and answers them using current scientific knowledge and appropriate vocabulary. Even if you already know a lot about trees, be prepared to say, “Wow!”

Each question is answered on a two-page spread with gorgeous color photographs. Many of the spreads have activity suggestions, labelled “Try This!” I counted 18 hands-on activities. There are also many sidebars with extra cool facts and some quick quizzes to reinforce learning.

Let’s look at one example. Wohlleben asks, “What do tree children learn at school?” Wait, trees go to school? What is that about? Turns out that in mature forests young saplings spend a lot of time being nourished and shaped by their mother tree and other mature trees nearby. Isn’t that a cool idea?

Can You Hear the Trees Talking? is a must-have resource for educators and young botanists interested in trees. You could spend months with it. Check out a copy today!

Be sure to stop by Growing With Science blog for activity suggestions to extend learning.

Copyright © 2019 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.

Not a Butterfly Alphabet Book

Moths have gotten pushed aside by their day flying cousins, but now Jerry Pallotta gives them some well-deserved attention with his new Not a Butterfly Alphabet Book: It’s About Time Moths Had Their Own Book! illustrated by Shennen Bersani.

Don’t let the name “alphabet book” dissuade you. Although they are wryly humorous (as you can tell from the title) and full of quirky facts, these are serious nonfiction books that use the alphabet as a way to organize information. This one highlights 26 different species of moths, from the giant Atlas moth to the gorgeous zigzag moth (you’ll see immediately how it got it’s name). Along the way readers learn about aspects of moth biology, such as facts about their mouthparts, wing scales, and life cycles.

Shennen Bersani’s amazing illustrations explode the myth that moths are drab or boring. You are likely to say, “Wow!” with every page turn. They are gorgeous. Seriously!

Not a Butterfly Alphabet Book will thrill budding entomologists and artists alike. Pick up a copy and find out why moths deserve their day in the sun.

Be sure to fly over to Growing with Science blog for an activity suggestion and links to related books for our Moth Week celebration.


Copyright © 2019 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.

The Night Flower by Lara Hawthorne

At Growing with Science blog last week I wrote about a saguaro cactus flowering in September (they usually flower in June). This week I found a lovely picture book that celebrates them, The Night Flower by Lara Hawthorne.

Lara Hawthorne is an illustrator, so it is no surprise this book is an incredible visual treat. The first thing you notice is the stunning cover with a bold white saguaro flower standing out against the black background of night. The image above doesn’t do it justice because because many of the details are outlined with a metallic shiny gold. It has a luminescent 3-D effect.

Inside, the book starts with an informational paragraph about the saguaro cactus. From there gentle rhyming text takes the reader on a journey through one day and night in the desert. Along the way readers meet many different animals and learn about the role the saguaro plays in their lives.

You won’t want to skip the fully-illustrated back matter. Hawthorne describes the life cycle of the saguaro and names the parts of the plant. Next she asks “Did you spot…?” In a two page spread she shows the different creatures mentioned in the text, giving more information about each and challenging the reader to go back through the book to find them. She ends with a glossary of the scientific terms she used.

The Night Flower is a picture-perfect introduction to a unique plant and its habitat. It can be used to accompany a unit on deserts or plants, or to prepare for a trip to Arizona. Poke around in a copy today!

Be sure to check Growing with Science blog for more information and suggestions for related activities.

Copyright © 2019 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.

Why Don’t Cars Run on Apple Juice?: Real Science Questions from Real Kids

At Growing with Science blog today we are highlighting Why Don’t Cars Run on Apple Juice?: Real Science Questions from Real Kids by Kira Vermond and illustrated by Suharu Ogawa.

This is a Q-and-A book with a twist. After writing down questions asked by children who visited the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto, Canada, Kira Vermond queried scientists and educators to provide accurate, meaningful answers. The resulting book is a fascinating look into science — and also into the minds of children — that is likely to ignite some passions for further exploration.

Overall, it is a well-curated assortment. Have you ever wondered what would happen if you sneeze in space? Or how whales sleep (without drowning)? Have you ever stayed awake at night wondering if rats burp? The answers are here and some of them might just surprise you.

The collection can be used a couple of different ways. Some children are going to want to read it cover to cover. Others will want to pick and chose a few areas that interest them, for example if they are looking for topics for a science fair project.

Why Don’t Cars Run on Apple Juice? will likely entice reluctant readers to learn about STEM, and at the same time serve as an inspiration or jumping off point for budding scientists. Explore a copy today!

While your at it, stop by Growing with Science blog for the full review.

Copyright © 2019 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.

We Dig Worms

Let’s take a look at the natural history comic book and leveled reader for kids, We Dig Worms by Kevin McCloskey.

Kevin McCloskey’s book allows young readers to explore earthworms inside and out in a fun way. He shows the anatomy and life cycle of earthworms, emphasizes the importance of earthworms in their natural habitat — as food for other animals, for their role in the decomposition of plant waste, and as aerators of the soil — and includes discussions of earthworm behavior.

As if that weren’t enough, in the back matter are tips and suggestions for parents and teachers on how to read comics with kids, with emphasis on going “for the shared pleasure.” Wonderful!

We Dig Worms is a resource that young readers will want to return to again and again. Pick up and enjoy a copy today!

Be sure to visit Growing with Science blog for an inside look at the book and for related activity suggestions.

 

Copyright © 2019 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.

Luna by David A. Aguilar

Saturday July 20, 2019 is the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing. To celebrate, let’s check out a new middle grade book  Luna: The Science and Stories of Our Moon by David A. Aguilar.

Beginning with how the moon is thought to have come about and how the moon compares with Earth, Aguilar then takes the reader on a ride through other moons, as well as moon myths and hoaxes, before settling down for a detailed discussion of moon features. Perfect for the lunar landing anniversary is a section about what the Apollo astronauts discovered.

The pluses: The book is filled with fantastic illustrations by David A. Agulilar. Also there are three hands-on activities in the back: making a 3D model of lunar craters with Plaster of Paris, using a small telescope to explore the moon, and directions for drawing the moon.

Luna is arriving on shelves just as interest in the moon and lunar landings is peaking. Explore a copy today!

For more, see our full review at Wrapped in Foil blog, as well as Anastasia Suen’s Apollo 11 Quick Tips post.

Copyright © 2019 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.

Ocean Emporium: A Compilation of Creatures

We’re in the mood for a trip to the beach today at Wrapped in Foil blog, so we’re highlighting Ocean Emporium: A Compilation of Creatures by Susie Brooks and illustrated by Dawn Cooper.

What is an emporium? By definition, it is a large store that carries a diversity of items, like you would find in a well-stocked department store. In this book the word is used in the sense of a place where you can see an array of different animals.

The first spread introduces readers to an ocean food web and all the different groups that are featured in the rest of the book.

The rest of the two-page spreads are “collections” of related animals, from two different hermit crabs on pages 8-9 to eight species of sharks on pages 36-37 to ten “Creatures of the Deep” on pages 52-53. Each spread features a main paragraph which explains some unique characteristics of that group, along with another paragraph or two of interesting facts scattered within the illustrations.

Dawn Cooper’s digital illustrations capture a gorgeous assortment of actual creatures. They are both realistic and artistically rendered with brilliant color and detail, yet softened as if they are underwater. The texture of the paper adds to the illusion of looking into an aquarium or tide pool.

Ocean Emporium would be lovely to accompany a trip to the beach or an aquarium. It will entice both nature lovers and art lovers alike. Dive into a copy today!

Copyright © 2019 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.

Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet

At Growing With Science blog today we are looking up at the night skies for the Lyrid Meteor Shower and also reading Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet by Curtis Manley and illustrated by Jessica Lanan.

Just Right introduces young readers to idea that planets exist outside our solar system while at the same time exploring the things that make the Earth special.

Although “Goldilocks” in the title might give you the idea that this is a work of fiction, it is actually well-researched, detailed nonfiction. Readers learn about exoplanets, telescopes, the magnetic field, and much more.

What really makes the book work is that readers are guided on their path to discovery by a young girl who is shown in most of the illustrations (see the cover). As she moves on her journey from a park through a visit to a planetarium and back home to look at the night sky, the illustrator creates a story line that children relate to and understand. This is picture book nonfiction at it finest.

Just Right is guaranteed to thrill budding astronomers. It is also perfect for units on planets or space. Look up a copy today!

Copyright © 2019 Roberta Gibson All Rights Reserved.