Anastasia Suen

June 21, 2024June 20, 2024

Mushrooms Know

Mushrooms Know: Wisdom From Our Friends the Fungi
by Kallie George (Author) and Sara Gillingham (Illustrator)
@ Amazon* | Bookshop*

Booktalk: Mushrooms always wear their thinking caps. They know so many things. Discover over fifty kinds of mushrooms and the fascinating life lessons they can teach us: that small can be mighty, being unique is a reason to celebrate–and staying connected is key.

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

June 14, 2024June 13, 2024

Before the Seed: How Pollen Moves

Before the Seed: How Pollen Moves
by Susannah Buhrman-Deever (Author), Gina Triplett (Illustrator), Matt Curtius (Illustrator)
@ Amazon* | Bookshop*

Booktalk: We live in a world of green that grows from seeds, but what happens before there are seeds? From bees and bats to beetles and hummingbirds, find out how creatures from all over the world aid in flower pollination and the sophisticated mechanisms flowering plants have developed in order to reproduce. Back matter includes more information on flower anatomy, how to support local pollinators in your own backyard, and the dangers that global warming poses to pollinator species.

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

June 7, 2024June 6, 2024

Solstice: Around the World on the Longest, Shortest Day

Solstice: Around the World on the Longest, Shortest Day
by Jen Breach (Author) and 14 Global Artists
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Booktalk: Explore the daily lives of children around the world through through the lens of a single, special day in June, the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and the shortest in the southern hemisphere. Celebrate the solstice alongside 14 fictional characters from 14 real places around the world. You will be transported to Antarctica, Argentina, Australia, South Africa, Ecuador, Indonesia, Nigeria, Nepal, Morocco, China, Turkey, America, the United Kingdom, and Norway. Each account is both a personal story and an informational narrative with cultural insight, geographical information, and words from the native language. The illustrations in each short chapter were created by illustrators from that location and the translations were vetted by native speakers.

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

May 31, 2024May 30, 2024

The Bee Mother

The Bee Mother (Mothers of Xsan)
by Hetxw’ms Gyetxw Brett D. Huson (Author) and Natasha Donovan (Illustrator)
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Booktalk: As flowers and trees begin to bud and bloom, Nox Ap, the bee mother, emerges from her winter sleep. To the Gitxsan, she is nature’s gardener. Without her hard work as a pollinator, we could not enjoy the fruits of strawberries and huckleberries. Follow her life from the first thaw of spring to the end of autumn.

Snippet: With the help of Nox Ap and her bee relatives, the fruits and vegetables that the Gitxsan depend on will thrive.

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

May 17, 2024May 16, 2024

Hands-On Science: Motion

Hands-On Science: Motion
by Lola M. Schaefer (Author) and Druscilla Santiago (Illustrator)
@ Amazon* | Bookshop*

Booktalk: Welcome to the physics lab! In this picture book, young scientists use their imagination to bring experiments to life. They poke whipped cream in the illustrations, tilt the book to roll a ball down a ramp, and slide beanbags to test friction. After predicting what will happen next, readers can turn the page to see the results.

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

May 10, 2024May 9, 2024

Family Recipes

My new Focus on STEM column, Family Recipes, is in the free May Quick Tips for Schools and Libraries newsletter from Booklist.

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

May 3, 2024May 2, 2024

Water: Discovering the Precious Resource All Around Us

Water: Discovering the Precious Resource All Around Us
by Olga Fadeeva (Author / Illustrator) and Lena Traer (Translator)
@ Amazon* | Bookshop*

Booktalk: Water is everywhere, and we rely on it every single day. But do you ever wonder about water? How much water is on our planet? What happens when there is too much water or too little water? Why does it rain? What are lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans? Why are the seas and oceans blue and salty? What lives underwater? What about water in human history–how did people get water in ancient times? How do we get water today? What do humans build to travel on the water, and how have we harnessed waterpower? How do we protect this amazing resource for the future? Find the answers in this middle grade book!

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

April 25, 2024April 25, 2024

Arboretum (Welcome to the Museum)

Arboretum (Welcome to the Museum)
by Tony Kirkham (Author) and Katie Scott (Illustrator)
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Booktalk: This middle grade book celebrates trees from around the world and sheds light on the vital role they play in maintaining a healthy, thriving planet. Learn about everything from trees associated with ancient mythology to the rarest and most unusual specimens.

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

April 19, 2024April 19, 2024

Penguins Ready to Go, Go, Go!

Penguins Ready to Go, Go, Go!
by Deborah Lee Rose (Author)
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Booktalk: Just in time for World Penguin Day on April 25, a new picture book where readers will discover how Emperor penguins, birds that “never, ever fly”, have amazing adaptations to waddle, sled, huddle, dive, swim, leap, and snuggle their chicks to survive in the frozen world of Antarctica.

Snippet: Diving and watching underwater videos helped scientists discover that penguins use air bubbles around their bodies to speed up and out of the ocean, back onto the sea ice.

BONUS! Use the Support Materials (videos and activity guide downloads) at Reading Is Fundamental.

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

April 12, 2024April 11, 2024

The Lost Forest

The Lost Forest: An Unexpected Discovery beneath the Waves
by Jennifer Swanson (Author)
@ Amazon* | Bookshop*

Booktalk: After local fishers noticed a large swarm of fish in an unlikely area in the Gulf of Mexico, a team of divers found the remains of a forest deep beneath the waves. The ancient trees had been undisturbed for more than fifty thousand years before finally being uncovered by Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Follow a group of scientists as they work to explore and map the site, collect samples of cypress wood, and learn about the marine creatures that live here–namely, shipworms. Page Plus links lead to videos of the scientists at work.

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