STEM Friday

December 17, 2021

Odd Beasts: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Animals

We don’t usually think of board books when we hear the word STEM, but board books like Odd Beasts: Meet Nature’s Weirdest Animals by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Gareth Lucas are going to change that.

The book introduces babies and toddlers to eight weirdly-fascinating animals: the pangolin (mammal with scales!), ocean sunfish, glass frog, anglerfish, long-horned orb-weaver spider, Eastern snake-necked turtle, bush baby, and giant jumping stick.

Each two-page spread features a brightly-colored illustration of the animal, plus one short sentence that names it and points out a notable identifying characteristic. For example, one of the animals “wears armor.” Can you guess which one?

The back matter includes photographs of each animal with a concise, but more-detailed description.

Odd Beasts is fun, sweet, and educational all rolled up into one. Perfect to prepare for a trip to a zoo or aquarium, then remember the adventure afterwards.

Hop, slither, or crawl on over to Growing with Science Blog to learn more and see some activity suggestions to accompany the book.

December 10, 2021December 9, 2021

Ice! Poems About Polar Life

Ice! Poems About Polar Life
by Douglas Florian (Author / Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: Poems paired with intriguing facts introduce young readers to the fascinating creatures that live in Earth’s polar regions.

Snippet:

A 2021 Cybils Poetry nominee

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

December 3, 2021December 2, 2021

The Book of Math

The Book of Math
by Anna Weltman (Author) and Paul Boston (Illustrator)

Booktalk: For this palindrome date of 12.3.21, a book of fascinating math facts, such as math in space, sports calculations, symmetry in nature, weird math facts, math in art, and mind-boggling number conundrums.

Snippet:

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

November 26, 2021

Stretch to the Sun: From a Tiny Sprout to the Tallest Tree on Earth

Today at Growing with Science blog we have an older book that deserves a second look, Stretch to the Sun: From a Tiny Sprout to the Tallest Tree on Earth by Carrie A. Pearson and illustrated by Susan Swan.

How do you start a story about the tallest tree in the world? If you’re Carrie Pearson, you start it with a bang!

Creak! Crack! Kaboom!
A giant tree falls, broken,
and the forest floor trembles.

And with that dramatic event comes the opening needed for another tree to be born, one that will live over 1200 years and grow to about 380 feet tall. That’s about as tall as a 35 story building. Amazing!

Susan Swan’s illustrations are equally amazing. The trees are the central characters, of course, but she also features many animals of the Redwood National Park, giving young readers hidden treasures to search for on every page.

The back matter shines as well. Besides an Author’s Note that explains how the book came about, there are many remarkable facts about coast redwoods, a bibliography, as well as information about where you can learn more and what you can do to help preserve redwoods.

Stretch to the Sun is a one-of-a-kind book about a one-of-a-kind tree. It will thrill young nature lovers. Get lost in a copy today!

Want to learn more? Visit Growing with Science for the full review and activity suggestions.

November 26, 2021November 24, 2021

Snow Birds

Snow Birds
by Kirsten Hall (Author) and Jenni Desmond (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: Discover birds who survive winter against all odds in this picture book poetry collection.

Snippet:

A 2021 Cybils Poetry nominee

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

November 19, 2021November 18, 2021

Thankful

Thankful
by Elaine Vickers (Author) and Samantha Cotterill (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: When the first snow falls, a little girl writes down the things she’s thankful for on strips of paper and links them together. As one idea leads to another, her chain grows longer. Mindfulness meets the seasons of the year at school and at home.

Snippet:

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

November 12, 2021November 11, 2021

Night Creatures: Animals That Swoop, Crawl, and Creep while You Sleep

Night Creatures: Animals That Swoop, Crawl, and Creep while You Sleep
by Rebecca E. Hirsch (Author) and Sonia Possentini (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: As the sun sets, night creatures awaken. In their rural backyard, a parent and child camp out, watching as fireflies flicker, bats flap, and rabbits race.

Snippet:
A cool night breeze
blows softly
on your face
as night creatures wake
in quiet dens
and dusky nooks.

See the book trailer.

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

November 5, 2021November 4, 2021

The Chemistry of Food

The Chemistry of Food
by Carla Mooney (Author) and Traci Van Wagoner (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: Middle school readers can learn the science behind the food they love to eat as they explore the chemistry within the meal, how nutrition works, what creates flavor, and why texture is important with hands-on science investigations (and recipes!), links to online resources and media, career connections, and text-to-world questions. What makes ice cream melt? Why does pasta go limp when you cook it in boiling water? Why does tomato sauce taste different from fresh tomatoes? Discover the answers yourself!

Snippet:

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

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 29, 2021October 28, 2021

For Every Little Thing: Poems and Prayers to Celebrate the Day

For Every Little Thing: Poems and Prayers to Celebrate the Day
by June Cotner (Editor), Nancy Tupper Ling (Editor), and Helen Cann (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Booktalk: Arranged from waking up to falling asleep, this poetry anthology gathers classic selections, modern prayers, and new poems from multiple cultures and faiths to celebrate the day and its delights. From Emily Dickinson to Amma, from Ken Nesbitt to Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro, fifty-one voices encourage children to be present and thankful at all hours.

Snippet:
DAY’S END

Night is come,
Owls are out;
Bettles hum
Round about.

Children snore
Safe in bed;
Nothing more
Need be said.

–Henry Newbolt

A 2021 Cybils Poetry nominee

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