January 2011

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Silk and Venom

January 31, 2011 in Animals, Cybils 2011 Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Nonfiction Monday Review, Science by Roberta | No comments

Silk & Venom: Searching for a Dangerous Spider by Kathryn Lasky and her husband, photographer Christopher G. Knight is a new biography of arachnologist, Greta Binford. For the spider squeamish and spider enthusiast both: Yes, this book is filled with large, colorful photographs of spiders. In the back is a “Glossary of Spiders” that shows sixteen different kinds of spiders. This isn’t a general book about spiders, however, the story follows scientist Binford on her journey to the Caribbean to find a certain species of brown recluse spider. She is looking into how spiders of the genus Loxosceles, the brown spiders, may have migrated and evolved.

You may recognize Kathryn Lasky as the author of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole series. She has also written a number of nonfiction titles. On the book jacket, she admits that she has always been afraid of spiders, but when she heard an interview with Greta Binford on the radio, she was so impressed with the scientist’s passion for spiders, she immediately wanted to know more. Her husband, photographer and documentary filmmaker Christopher G. Knight, revealed that he had to learn new techniques to photograph creatures as small as spiders, but his work paid off.

Greta Binford is a professor of biology at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. After a general introduction to spiders in the first chapter, the book delves into Binford’s childhood interest in nature. The text unfolds in such a way that children will be able to relate to getting dirty and picking up earthworms, as well as her brother tricking her into eating cat food. Perhaps unexpectedly, Lasky also mentions Binford’s childhood struggles with her religious beliefs. She mentions her belief in God, but how she grappled to come to grips with the stories of the Bible.

The book then turns to Binford’s current research into the venom of the brown spiders. Venom is the poisonous fluid that spiders inject with their fangs to help subdue and digest their prey. In the case of the brown recluse and its relatives, the venom can cause open sores that are slow to heal in humans, and sometimes more severe reactions. One group of species in South America has quite different venom and Binford is interested in how that might have come about.

Silk & Venom is sure to interest budding middle grade scientists. It might also entice a spider-phobe or two to become interested in spiders, just like it did for Kathryn Lasky.

For related activities see:

Spider Webs

Baby spiders and spider books for the younger set

Reading level: Ages 4-8 (Amazon, this is probably better for 9-12)
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (February 22, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0763642223
ISBN-13: 978-0763642228

This books was provided for review purposes.

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. We invite you to join us. For more information and a schedule, stop by the new Nonfiction Monday blog to see who is hosting each week. This week’s post is at The Miss Rumphius Effect.

Tags: Cybils 2011 Nonfiction, Kathy Lasky, Silk and Venom

Children’s Author Trivia Volume 25

January 27, 2011 in Children's Author Trivia by Roberta | 3 comments

We are going back a few years to remember some authors who specialize in books for the youngest set. trivia-logo

52. Our first author wrote over 300 books, mostly for preschoolers. Some of his books are so popular that children (and adults) can recite them years after reading them. Another popular author, Eric Carle, illustrated a few of this author’s books. One of his titles starts with Brown... Can you name this beloved author?

53. Our second author is known for her absolutely beautiful illustrations. Her books often show adorable animals dressed in fine knits, such as hats or mittens, either accidentally or on purpose. She writes that she wanted to be an illustrator when she was a young child. According to her website, her books have sold over thirty six million copies, so it seems she has succeeded! Do you recognize this fine illustrator?

Edit: The answer is now posted.

Tags: Children's Author Trivia

Sarah Ellis and Arthur Ransome

January 27, 2011 in Children's Author Trivia by Roberta | No comments

We went out of the country for our two author’s this week.

50. This Canadian author trained as a librarian and children’s literature specialist. When she was in her 30′s, she started writing and her books started winning awards. Several of them have won the Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize. She says her favorite book is “Alice in Wonderland” written by one of our featured authors from the last trivia post. Maybe that inspired the humor in her picture book, The Queen’s Feet.

Sarah Ellis is probably best known for her award-winning novels, but she also writes books about the craft of writing. One of my favorites is From Reader to Writer: Teaching Writing through Classic Children’s Books. In the front of the book she has used her librarian’s research skills to create a web of classic authors and whose books they read and were influenced by. It is fascinating to find out such tidbits such as C.S. Lewis read Beatrix Potter’s books.

Some books by Sarah Ellis:

51. This English author is best known for his very popular series of books about four children and their adventures during school holidays in the country. He was inspired to write the books after his own summer adventure of teaching a family friend’s five children to sail. At the time he was a respected journalist, but he quit and devoted his time to write children’s literature. His books, in turn, influenced many other children’s authors.

A summary of Arthur Ransome’s life reads like a thriller spy novel, but he is best known as the author of the Swallows and Amazons series. In his books, four children spend their summers sailing about an island without the intervention of adults. Underpinning the stories are details of real life skills, like how to pitch a tent.

Sarah Ellis writes that J.R.R. Tolkien’s children liked to read the Swallows and Amazons books.

Titles by Arthur Ransome:

Tags: Arthur Ransome, Children's Author Trivia, Sarah Ellis

Children’s Author Trivia Volume 24

January 21, 2011 in Children's Author Trivia by Roberta | No comments

Our trivia questions are a bit late this week, but here they are: trivia-logo

Do you know who these authors are?

Tags: Children's Author Trivia

Susan Cooper and Lewis Carroll

January 21, 2011 in Children's Author Trivia by Roberta | No comments

Once again, our super trivia buffs identified both authors from last week.

48. Our first author grew up in Britain, where she began writing imaginative books that incorporate many autobiographical details. She moved to the United States when she married her first husband, a professor at MIT. She continued to write newspaper articles, screenplays, and books for adults as well as award-winning books for children. The last book in her series, The Grey King, was a Newbery Medal winner. She also sometimes wrote with an famous actor who would eventually become her second husband.

Susan Cooper is probably best known for her The Dark is Rising series, which are woven around British myths and legends. Those resulted in The Seeker movie. She is also known for marrying Hume Cronyn after his first wife, Jessica Tandy, passed away.

People might not be quite so familiar with her lovely picture books, including, Matthew’s Dragon, Tam Lin, Danny and the Kings, Frog, and The Magician’s Boy.

This video biography is a nice summary:

Some of Susan Cooper’s books:

49. Now here’s some real trivia. This famous author from the 1800′s was actually a mathematician by training. He used a pseudonym for his children’s books. His real name was Charles Dodgson. Do you know what his pseudonym was?

We all know Lewis Carroll, who wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, etc. His real name, however, was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson.

Many of Lewis Carroll’s books are now in the public domain and readily available electronically on the Internet, such as at Literature.org, which has online versions, or Project Gutenberg (do a search), which also offers e-book versions.

Versions are also still in print, too.