Author: Roberta

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The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-ups

Our theme this month is going to be books about trees as I prepare to host the Festival of the Trees carnival at Growing with Science blog . tree-book

Starting out July with a bang is The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-ups by Gina Ingoglia.

You learn to expect high quality books from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and this wonderful book is no exception. First of all, the information is top notch. Gina Ingoglia is associated with the garden, and she knows her trees. She also knows children, as she has written numerous children’s books. Her experience shows as she strikes just the right note to enlighten the reader.

The watercolor illustrations are deceptively simple, almost childlike, but also charming. If you look closely, however, you will see all the important details used for identification are accurately depicted, for example the page showing all the different patterns found in the bark of trees. It turns out that Ingoglia has studied the fine art of botanical illustration.

Put all these ingredients together and you get a book that will likely be passed down from generation to generation. The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown-ups is a must for any child (or adult!) interested in trees, plants and/or nature.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Brooklyn Botanic Garden (October 7, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1889538434
ISBN-13: 978-1889538433

For more information:

A thematic list of trees at The Miss Rumphius Effect

Tree Science Activities at Growing With Science

nonfictionmonday

Nonfiction Monday is a blogging celebration of nonfiction books for kids. For more information, stop by Anastasia Suen’s Nonfiction Monday page. This week’s post is at 5 Great Books.

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Children’s Author Trivia Volume 2

Are you ready for the answers to last week’s Children’s Author Trivia?trivia-logo

Question 1. (easy)  This author’s most famous work is about her own family life, with herself and her three sisters as characters. Can you name the author and the book?

As Karen correctly surmised, this was referring to Louisa May Alcott’s book Little Women.

Question 2. (moderately difficult) What children’s author found the books she had donated to her son’s school had been banned from the shelves?

Although she said she didn’t have a clue, Karen nailed this one too. The book that was banned after she donated it was Judy Blume’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Question 3. And finally, here’s a tricky one:  What author typed the manuscript for her most famous book on a typewriter with a faulty w, and had to fill all the w’s in by hand?

Okay, this was the ultimate in trivia. The author with the faulty typewriter is Lucy Maud Montgomery and the manuscript she completed was for Anne of Green Gables. (Can you imagine what it must have been like to put together a manuscript in the days before wordprocessing?)

How well do you know your children’s book authors? Want to try your hand at some new questions?

Question 4. What author was inspired to write is book about an island when he made a map of an imaginary island to entertain his stepson? He said, “It was elaborately and (I thought) beautifully coloured…as I pored upon my map of …the future characters of the book began to appear there visibly among imaginary woods;…”

Question 5. This beloved children’s author produced many detailed watercolor illustrations of fungi early in her career and would have considered a career in science if she hadn’t been discouraged by others. Who was this budding mycologist turned author?

Question 6. Who spent her early childhood in China and four years in Japan, before taking up writing? (Two of her books were given Newbery Awards.)

Edit: The answers are now up.

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Children’s Art Magazines

In celebration of arts week here at Wrapped in Foil, let’s take a look at some art, writing and music magazines for children.

Surprisingly, most of the art magazines I found were for adults teaching children, rather than for the children themselves. I’ve included the adult because they may be useful for mature, highly-interested children and young adults.

Art Magazines for Children

ARTaFacts Magazine offers elementary and secondary level issues. The two cover the same information in the free sample copies, but the secondary is in more depth.

Arts & Activities has a free sign up for digital issues. It is geared for adults/teachers with many ads. The activity ideas seem to be creative and professionally done. Definitely worth a look.

Although we listed these in the post on science magazines, Carus/Cricket Magazine Group offer arts magazines as well. Muse is a good example.

ChildArt is “designed and written for 8-12 year olds.” Although it is pricey, it does have a professional appearance.

Cloth Paper Scissors is one of my favorite art magazines, so I just had to include it here. It is for adults, but is so creative! Here is a kid-friendly article.

Another magazine geared for adults teaching art is School Arts. According to the free issue online, the activities/articles are separated into elementary, middle school and high school levels.

Scholastic Art is a classroom magazine for grades 7-12, with a teachers guide and other supporting materials. Teacher’s guides are also available for grades 4-6. Special rates apply if you order less than 10 copies. I have picked up Scholastic’s teacher magazines, and the art posters they supply are good ones.

Dare I add FamilyFun Magazine as a source of craft ideas?

Writing Magazines for Children

Stone Soup is written and illustrated by and for 8-13 year olds. The editors take writing and art contributions from children up to age 13. Check online for a sample copy.

Hutch: A Kids’ Literary and Art Magazine sponsored by The Blue Bunny Bookstore, in Dedham, MA. Submission guidelines are listed at the first link. The ordering link seems to be broken. Edit: Links upgraded 1/23/2014

Music Magazines for Children

John Jacobson’s Music Express says it is designed for students and teacher in grades K-6. Anyone ever seen this one?

Music K-8 Magazine is published throughout the school year and can come with a CD.

Note: magazines seem to come and go quickly these days, so buyer beware. But that also means they could use our support.

Do you have any suggestions, comments or questions?

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Thursday Children’s Author Trivia Challenge

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Are you ready for a fun challenge?

This summer I’m going to post some trivia questions about authors of children’s books on Thursdays. I will post the answers (if you haven’t already guessed them) and new questions next Thursday.

Question 1. (easy)  This author’s most famous work is about her own family life, with herself and her three sisters as characters. Can you name the author and the book?

Question 2. (moderately difficult) What children’s author found the books she had donated to her son’s school had been banned from the shelves?

Question 3. And finally, here’s a tricky one:  What author typed the manuscript for her most famous book on a typewriter with a faulty w, and had to fill all the w’s in by hand?

I would love to hear from everyone, children and adults. So, leave your guesses in the comments below. I’d also love to hear suggestions for making this more fun and/or ideas for questions (my e-mail is on the About page).

The answers are now posted.