STEM Friday

February 26, 2021February 26, 2021

13 Ways to Eat a Fly by Sue Heavenrich

Have you seen the fabulous new picture book 13 Ways to Eat a Fly by Sue Heavenrich and illustrated by David Clark?

It is hilarious and a bit icky, too. It puts both the S (science) and the M (math) in STEAM. And a bunch of pretty silly A (art), too.

The story starts with a cloud of thirteen different kinds of flies.

Big flies,
small flies,
fat flies,
thinner,
Yum! These flies are someone’s dinner.

As they travel through the book, the flies meet one untimely end after another as the reader learns about all the living things that rely on flies for their survival.

13 Ways to Eat a Fly has tidbits for everyone. The youngest readers will enjoy counting down the numbers. Slightly older readers will enjoy the gross and silly aspects, such as the absolutely hilarious chart of the edible parts of a fly along with a graphic listing the nutritional facts. Budding entomologists will soak up all the science, including the common and family names of each of the flies, and interesting details about the predators. Educators will enjoy two pages of suggested books and websites in the back matter, so helpful for digging deeper.

Not sure you really want to read about icky flies? Don’t worry, by the time you’re done, you will be rooting for them!

Be sure to visit Growing with Science blog for an interview with author Sue Heavenrich and an activity suggestion.

February 19, 2021

The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest

This week at Growing with Science blog we feature the picture book biography The Leaf Detective: How Margaret Lowman Uncovered Secrets in the Rainforest by Heather Lang and illustrated by Jana Christy.

The Leaf Detective is as multilayered as a rainforest tree.

The trunk of the book is the biography of Margaret Lowman, an incredibly brave and determined biologist who developed new methods for studying the tops of trees, the canopy and emergent layers. Using ropes and a harness of her own design, she climbed up into the great unknown.

The branches of the story are Meg Lowman’s findings. For example, she discovered that most of the herbivores in the rainforest she studied were nocturnal, eating leaves at night and hiding during the day. To learn more, she climbed up into the trees at night.

The roots of the story comes after Meg realized that for all people didn’t know about trees, they were still destroying them at an alarming rate. She started to come up with innovative ways for people to use intact forests as a source of income and thus making it economically viable to save them.

Let’s not forget the leaves. Sprinkled throughout are leaf-shaped sidebars filled with interesting facts and additional details. So cool!

The illustrations are as green and lush and complex as a rainforest, too. The reader could get lost and spend hours in them.

The bottom line? The Leaf Detective is perfect for young readers who are budding scientists, adventurers, conservationists, interested in women’s history, the list goes on and on. Pretty much everyone will find something to explore in it. Pick up a copy and see how it resonates with you.

If you have a minute, hop over to the blog for more information and activity suggestion.

February 19, 2021February 18, 2021

Explore Mars

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

Explore Mars
by Jackie Golusky (Author)

Booktalk: After Earth, Mars is the most explored planet in our solar system. Rovers travel across its surface to find out answers to scientists’ questions. What is Mars like? Did it ever have life? Learn all about this strange world next door! Access a downloadable 3D printer model from NASA via Page Plus QR codes.

Snippet:

See NASA’s Mars Rover Perseverance land on February 18, 2021.

For touchdown, fast forward to 1:39

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

February 12, 2021February 11, 2021

Amazing Islands: 100+ Places that Will Boggle Your Mind

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

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

Brilliant Baby Does Math

At Growing with Science blog, we’re highlighting the new board book Brilliant Baby Does Math by Laura Gehl and illustrated by Jean Claude, part of a new series.

Using a compelling rhyme, Laura Gehl introduces young children to math concepts and vocabulary found in everyday activities.

Math is comparing what’s hotter or colder, longer or shorter…younger or older

The illustrations are cute and contain much to explore. For example, ask young readers to find shapes in each scene. Some of the shapes are subtle, such as hidden in the pattern of a rug. Others are called out in the text.

Overall, Brilliant Baby Does Math isn’t about how to do math, but instead is an age-appropriate introduction to what math does. Investigate a copy today!

And pop over to Growing with Science for more information and related activity suggestions.

February 5, 2021February 4, 2021

High-Tech LEGO Projects: 16 Rule-Breaking Inventions

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

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.

Snippet:

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

January 29, 2021January 28, 2021

Living vs. Nonliving (Science Showdowns)

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

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)

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

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.

Snippet:
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

Amazon | Bookshop | IndieBound

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 8, 2021

The Nest That Wren Built

At Growing With Science blog today we are featuring The Nest That Wren Built by Randi Sonenshine and illustrated Anne Hunter. It has appeared on more than one “Best of 2020” list.

This gently rhyming book about Carolina wrens building a nest follows the style of “The House That Jack Built.”

This is the bark, snippets of twine,
spidery rootlets, and needles of pine
that shape the nest that Wren built.

The text goes into detail about how the wrens gather materials to make the nest. Some of the ingredients are expected, like soft moss for a lining the inside. Others are very surprising, like draping a snakeskin on the outside (to ward off predators). After the nest is built, the story follows the eggs and baby birds through development.

Anne Hunter’s illustrations are a fascinating combination of whimsical and realistic. Young readers will have fun looking for little things hidden in each page.

The back matter includes a glossary and additional interesting facts about wrens.

The Nest That Wren Built will enchant nature lovers, especially budding ornithologists. Surprise yourself with a copy today.

Cindy and Lynn reviewed The Nest That Wren Built earlier at Nonfiction Monday.

Visit Growing with Science for more information and related STEM activity suggestions.