Anastasia Suen

Amazing Islands: 100+ Places that Will Boggle Your Mind
by Sabrina Weiss (Author) and Kerry Hyndman (Illustrator)

Booktalk: From islands that have been taken over by animals to disappearing islands, islands made of shells, artificial islands, and even islands that were once prison colonies, this book for ages 7-11 takes you on an exciting tour of some of the smallest land masses in the world. The book also includes a world map, which plots all the islands found in the book, plus fold out flaps with engaging lists of island facts, including the top 10 biggest and 10 smallest inhabited islands in the world.

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

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021

High-Tech LEGO Projects: 16 Rule-Breaking Inventions

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High-Tech LEGO Projects: 16 Rule-Breaking Inventions
by Grady Koch (Author)

Booktalk: A collection of 16 scientific and technical projects to build with parts from the LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 robotics set and other components. You’ll find a motion-activated animal cam, a Morse code transmitter, a laser security fence, a motion-sensing radar detector, an automated insect trapper, a heat-seeking infrared cannon and more! Every project brings together science, mechanics, electronics, optics, and software to create complex instruments for studying and measuring the world around you with step-by-step directions.

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

January 29, 2021January 28, 2021

Living vs. Nonliving (Science Showdowns)

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Living vs. Nonliving (Science Showdowns)
by Maddie Spalding (Author)

Booktalk: This chapter book illustrates the differences between living and nonliving by explaining what makes an object living or nonliving and the features of both. A chart compares the concepts to help solidify readers’ grasp of the material. Additional features include a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, an index, and sources for further research.

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

January 22, 2021January 21, 2021

Blizzards (Spot Extreme Weather)

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Blizzards (Spot Extreme Weather)
by Anastasia Suen (Author)

Booktalk: Brr. You don’t want to be caught in this snow storm. With turbulent winds, colossal drifts, and teeth-chattering cold temperatures, blizzards can quickly become extreme winter weather. Using a search-and-find framework, emergent readers learn simple facts about blizzards, including snowflakes formation and whiteouts.

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See the snowflakes?
Frozen water turns to ice.
Crystals form to make snow.

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

January 15, 2021January 14, 2021

Exploring the Elements: A Complete Guide to the Periodic Table

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Exploring the Elements: A Complete Guide to the Periodic Table
by Isabel Thomas (Author) and Sara Gillingham (Artist)

Booktalk: Each of the 118 elements is visually presented with its respective letter symbol and atomic number, as well as a map of where it’s located in the periodic table. Additional details show where each element is found in the universe (from food on our plates to the center of a star), its unique properties, atomic diagram, secret chemistry, and working examples of how its’s used or changing the world.

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

January 8, 2021January 7, 2021

I Like the Outdoors … What Jobs are There?

I Like the Outdoors … What Jobs are There?
by Carron Brown (Author) and Roberto Blefari (Illustrator)

Booktalk: From being a park ranger, to a paleontologist, to a construction site manager, to a landscape gardener, this book takes readers through a day in the life of 25 outdoor workers.

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See the book trailer.

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

December 18, 2020December 17, 2020

Comparisons Big and Small

Comparisons Big and Small
by Clive Gifford (Author) and Ana Seixas (Illustrator)

Booktalk: From which animal is the fastest to which machine is the biggest, this book of visual comparisons familiarizes young children with figures and measurements without using long numbers or complicated concepts.

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See the book trailer.

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

December 11, 2020December 10, 2020

Girls Garage

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Girls Garage: How to Use Any Tool, Tackle Any Project, and Build the World You Want to See
by Emily Pilloton (Author) and Kate Bingaman-Burt (Artist)

Booktalk: With a background in architecture and construction, Emily Pilloton started the nonprofit Girls Garage to give girls the tools to build the world they want to see. Since 2013, girls ages 9-18 have come to Girls Garage’s workshop eager to use power tools and build real-world projects for their community. Now you can do it, too — wherever you live.

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Listen to the author talk about why she wrote the book.

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

December 4, 2020December 3, 2020

The Twelve Birdies of Christmas

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The Twelve Birdies of Christmas
by Jennifer Sattler (Author / Illustrator)

Booktalk: From beret-wearing French hens to calling birds using their cell phones to scuba-diving swans, this visual reimagining of the traditional holiday song is hilariously brought to life as 12 birdies count their way through the 12 days. Christmas math for toddlers!

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