Anastasia Suen

Beastly Bionics: Rad Robots, Brilliant Biomimicry, and Incredible Inventions Inspired by Nature
by Jennifer Swanson (Author)

Booktalk: Did you know that scientists have developed a bionic tool shaped like an elephant’s trunk that helps lift heavy objects? Or that the needle-like pointed beak of the kingfisher bird encouraged engineers in Japan to change the design of the Shinkansen “bullet trains” to reduce noise? Across multiple fields of study and methods of problem-solving, scientists are turning to biomimicry, or engineering inspired by biology or nature, to make all kinds of cool technological advancements. Discover more than 40 examples of technology influenced by animals, learn about some of the incredible creatures who have inspired multiple creations, and meet some of the scientists and the stories behind their inventions.

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

June 26, 2020June 25, 2020

Animals in the Sky

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Animals in the Sky
by Sara Gillingham(Author / Illustrator)

Booktalk: With a guessing game, this board book helps younger children identify six of the most recognizable animal constellations from The Great Bear to the The Southern Fish. Each constellation is introduced as a cluster of stars with its connected-line shape; readers then guess the animal through a series of read-aloud clues. A full animal illustration gatefold reveals the answer, accompanied by extra information about the constellation and its important stars.

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

June 19, 2020June 18, 2020

Dads

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Dads
by John Coy (Author) and Wing Young Huie (Photographer)

Booktalk: Celebrate all that fathers do: building, fixing, cooking, cleaning, laughing, crying, hugging, playing and more! This book shows a wide range of fathers and children, particularly highlighting families of color and lower-income families, who often aren’t depicted in children’s books.

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Dads share.
They teach.

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

June 12, 2020June 11, 2020

One Little Lot: The 1-2-3s of an Urban Garden

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

One Little Lot: The 1-2-3s of an Urban Garden
by Diane C. Mullen (Author) and Oriol Vidal (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Count all the ways (one to ten) an urban community unites to clean up an abandoned lot. From building planter boxes to pulling weeds to planting seeds, everyone works together to transform the lot into a bountiful vegetable garden. As the garden grows, strangers become friends, eventually sharing in a special feast with the harvest they grew.

Snippet:
TWO helping hands push open
the rickets, rusting fence.
A visitor imagines what could be.
Passersby stop to talk.
Maybe, just maybe, they all say.

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

June 5, 2020June 5, 2020

Cats and Dogs

My new Focus on STEM column: Cats and Dogs is in the June Quick Tips for Schools and Libraries newsletter.

Booktalk: Help kids take an extra-close look at the family pet with these fun, informative books on feline and canine friends.

Snippet: Dog person or cat person? That is the question–and the answer depends on whom you ask! No matter what the answer is, these pets have been getting a lot of up close and personal time lately.

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

May 29, 2020May 28, 2020

What’s This Tail Saying?

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

What’s This Tail Saying?
by Carolyn Combs (Author) and Cathy Morrison (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Animal tails are talking! Every shake and shiver, rattle and splash is saying something. But what is it? Look and listen for the clues on one page. Then go to the next page to discover the message.

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Rustle Shiver
What’s the peacock’s tail saying?

[TURN THE PAGE]

Aren’t I great!
Pick me as your mate!

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

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May 22, 2020May 21, 2020

Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Yoga Animals: A Wild Introduction to Kid-Friendly Poses
by Paige Towler (Author)

Booktalk: Roar like a lion! Arch like a kitten! Stretch like a cobra! Did you know that many yoga poses were inspired by animals? Let these creatures inspire your young ones to get moving, practice mindfulness, or calm down after a long day. Simple step-by-step instructions explain the kid-friendly moves.

Snippet:
Bunnnies bounce on velvet toes,
then tuck fluffy tail to nose.

See the book trailer and learn this yoga pose.

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

May 15, 2020May 14, 2020

I Like Animals… What Jobs are There?

I Like Animals… What Jobs are There?
by Steve Martin (Author) and Roberto Blefari (Illustrator)

Booktalk: What do you want to do when you grow up? Children who love animals can find out all about potential future careers, from veterinarian to zookeeper to pet portrait artist, as they’re taken through a “day in the life” of 25 different animal workers.

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See the book trailer.

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

May 8, 2020May 7, 2020

Cool Math: 50 Fantastic Facts for Kids of All Ages

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Cool Math: 50 Fantastic Facts for Kids of All Ages
by Tracie Young and Katie Hewett (Authors)

Booktalk: Learn how to tip, work out the distance of a storm, create Fibonacci sequences, crack codes, and more! From simple multiplication to complex calculus, math has never been easier.

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The Binomial Man
In algebra, a binomial is an expression that consists of two terms–“bi” meaning “two” and “nomial” meaning “number”–separated by a plus or minus sign. Multiplying two binomial expressions can be similar to the multiplication of numbers. “F-O-I-L” (First, Outside, Inside, Last) is an acronym to remember a set of rules that will help you perform this multiplication.

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

May 1, 2020April 30, 2020

Flower Power: The Magic of Nature’s Healers

Flower Power: The Magic of Nature’s Healers
by Christine Paxmann (Author) and Olaf Hajek (Illustrator)

Booktalk: Take on a magical journey through the world of healing flowers. Explore cultural and medicinal aspects of 17 different flowers as well as their importance to artists, writers, and healers.

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