Roberta, Author at Wrapped in Foil

September 21, 2010March 2, 2014

Cybil Judge and New Website

Time to celebrate at Wrapped in Foil blog this week! The good news is pouring in.

Drum roll please: I finished putting up an entire website of Reading Through the States. Last summer I posted a list of children’s books, one for each state. The blog post has been so popular that I decided to create an entire website. It should be useful for people doing state studies, for those who are traveling, and anyone who wants to read their way across all 50 states. If you have any additions of children’s books with strong settings, I’d love to hear about them.

Today the Cybils Non-Fiction Picture Book Panel has been announced. If you go to the Round II judges, you will notice that I’ve been chosen for 2010! I can’t wait for the nominations to start. Be sure to visit the website on October 1 and nominate your favorite nonfiction picture books that were published in the last year.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Nonfiction Monday carnival yesterday. There was a wonderful turnout, and it was nice to hear from old friends and meet some new ones.

Balloons by Teodoro S Gruhl

September 20, 2010September 20, 2010

Nonfiction Monday for September 20, 2010

Please leave your posts in the comments below and I’ll include them here throughout the day.

	Math Vs Words At Simply Science Shirley takes a look at two math books: Help Your Kids With Math, and Math: A Book You Can Count On! (Basher Series)
	Inside Hurricanes by Mary Kay Carson at Wrapped In Foil is a middle grade book with ten fold-out pages.
	Kids Care! 75 Ways to Make a Difference for People, Animals & the Environment at TheBookNosher is a book of projects to help others, for 7-12 year olds.
	Ideas that Changed the World Charlotte at Charlotte’s Library found this DK book fascinating.
	Saving the Ghost of the Mountain Jennie at Biblio File loves this book that is part of the popular Scientists in the Field series.
	Anne Frank: The Graphic Biography At Bookish Blather, Angela writes the graphic format works well as an introduction to Anne Frank’s life.
	Is That a Fact? Amanda reviews five new books in the series at A Patchwork of Books.
	Looking Closely in the Rain Forest Jennifer at Jean Little Library says this book will work for a range of ages.
	The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy) Margo has a review of a new picture-book biography by Barbara Kerley at The Fourth Musketeer.
	What Does Peace Feel Like? Tammy at Apples with Many Seeds shares a book for International Peace Day.
	Sonia Sotomayor; Supreme Court Justice Jone interviewed the author, Carme T. Bernier-Grand, last week at Check It Out.
	Blockhead: The Life Fibonacci Carol at Rasco From RIF wanted to find out more about fabulous Fibonacci and she discovered the right book.
	The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews during the Holocaust Have you been to Alex’s blog The Children’s War? He has books about World War II for children and young adults, including this little-known story.
	Four Word Self Help Andromeda at a wrung sponge notes one of her illustrations is published in this adult book of essays.
	Hip-Pocket Papa by Sandra Markle Who is Hip-Pocket Papa? Cindy and Lynn tell us all about it at Booklist Online.
	100 Ways to Celebrate 100 Days by Bruce Goldstone Pink Me has found a perfect book for all those 100 day celebrations at school.
	Sir Charlie Chaplin: The Funniest Man in the World Becky admires this biography by Sid Fleischman at Becky’s Book Reviews.
	Lincoln Tells a Joke: How Laughter Saved the President (and the Country) At Young Readers, Becky takes a look at this picture book biography.
	Tropical Rainforests Anastasia has found a picture book full of beautiful photographs at Picture Book of the Day.
	Susan at Chicken Spaghetti notes that the Cybils judging panels for Middle Grade/Young Adults have been announced.
	Johnny Appleseed What better way to celebrate a crisp fall day than a book by Jane Yolen and an apple? Recommended by Janet at Books with Janet Squires.
	Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum Natalie at This Purple Crayon can enjoy nonfiction when it is done like this.
	I’m a Truck Driver At NC Teacher Stuff, Jeff discusses how this book can be used with kindergartners.
	Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing Abby writes that this book is for grades 8+ at Abby the Librarian

Thank you to everyone who submitted such wonderful posts!

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. For more information, stop by Anastasia Suen’s Nonfiction Monday page.

September 20, 2010

Inside Hurricanes Book Review

Inside Hurricanes by Mary Kay Carson is part of the Inside Series published by Sterling. These middle grade books come with ten fold out pages for extra big looks at the topic.

With hurricane season well under way, children are likely to be curious about these enormous weather systems. Readers soon learn that as Carson says, “Hurricanes are disasters that have called ahead to say they’re coming.”

Incorporating history and science, the author explains how hurricanes happen, what we know about them, and how they effect people. Scattered throughout are “I was there!” sidebars about real life experiences with hurricanes, which help children relate to these hard to imagine events.

The illustrations and photographs in the book are just plain amazing. Satellite images of hurricanes, photographs of trees bent in the wind, and photographs of the damage afterward will blow you away. Hurricanes are huge events and the photographs help give it scale and capture the destructive energy.

Inside Hurricanes has hands-on activities sprinkled throughout, including making a simple barometer, assembling a preparedness kit, and recording interviews of people who have lived through disasters.

If you are looking for an interesting and current look at hurricanes, this book is well worth consideration.

You know how much I enjoy hands-on activities. That’s why I have a related activity looking at how differently shaped buildings react to high winds at Growing With Science.

More about Inside Hurricanes:
Series: Inside Series
Publisher: Sterling
Published: October 2010
Age range: from 8 to 12
48 pages
ISBN: 1-4027-7780-9
ISBN13: 9781402777806

This book was provided for review.

September 16, 2010May 24, 2012

Children’s Author Trivia Volume 12

Can you guess who these children’s book authors/illustrators are?

27. Which famous author/illustrator has a children’s picture book art museum named after him? This man was working as an art director of an advertising agency when a children’s author asked him to illustrate a book. It was so well received he began writing his own brightly-illustrated and innovative books.

28. This multiple award-winning illustrator was born in Vienna. She does not write her books, but illustrates classics such as The Little Mermaid and The Wizard of Oz.

The answers are now posted.