Nonfiction Monday Review Archives - Page 56 of 69

October 18, 2010October 18, 2010

Two Science Fair Winners from National Geographic

Science fair season is upon us and two new books from the Science Fair Winners series have arrived just in time. Science Fair Winners: Junkyard Science by Karen Romano Young and illustrated by David Goldin contains 20 projects and experiments about junk, garbage, waste, things we don’t need any more, and ways to recycle or reuse it-or lose it. The subtitle says it all.

Junkyard Science has “workshops” ranging from comparing batteries, to investigating the ingredients in a diaper, to looking at trash in space. Each experiment/activity has the potential to be helpful for the environment, as well as a nifty science fair project.

The second book, Science Fair Winners: Experiments to Do On Your Family: 20 Projects and Experiments About Sisters, Brothers, Parents, Pets and the Rest of the Gang, is also by Karen Romano Young and illustrated by David Goldin.

The workshops in this book range from examining the effects of birth order, to finding out what babies like, to testing whether humans can identify each other by smell.

Using your own family for human projects is a clever idea. Having dealt with preparing students for our state science fair, I know that experiments with humans (all vertebrates, for that matter) as subjects are difficult because of all the special permission and paperwork required. Depending on the rules of your state organization, using members of your own family may make it easier to get proper permission, and at the very least reduces the chance of legal repercussions. Check the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) rules as well.

What I like about both of these books is that they offer some fresh ideas, not the same old lemon batteries or erupting volcanoes, The instructions are good to get you started, and have website links and extension ideas to take you further than the book. The author also collected ideas that build on one another. Too many science fair books are just random collections of experiments thrown together, with no theme or way to organize your ideas systematically.

The best thing about these two Science Fair Winners is that they are also very useful for science teachers and club leaders looking for project ideas.

Edit: I just found out that there is a White House Science Fair today. Cool!

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 Anastasia Suen’s Nonfiction Monday page. This week’s post is at Mother Reader.

October 11, 2010

Where Else In The Wild?

Where Else In The Wild? More Camouflaged Creatures Concealed and Revealed is a enchanting combination of poems by David M. Schwartz and his wife, Yael Schy, and photographs by Dwight Kuhn. It is a sequel to their award-winning Where in the Wild?: Camouflaged Creatures Concealed… and Revealed.

In each spread, on the right is a photograph with a creature or creatures hidden inside. On the left is a poem with clues as to the camouflaged critter(s) identity. The photograph page opens as a gatefold and underneath is the same photograph with the background faded to show where the animals are hiding, as well as a full page of information about the animal that has been revealed.

The photographs steal the show in this book. A lot of credit has to go to the photographer for locating interesting animals and finding appropriate backgrounds. That can’t have been easy. Some of the animals are definitely easier to spot than others, but they are all visually appealing.

The first book gathered numerous awards and the second isn’t far behind. Where in the Wild? won the 2008 SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books, as well as the 2008 Animal Behavior Society Outstanding Children’s Book Award. It was also a 2008 Cybils finalist in the nonfiction picturebook category. Where Else In The Wild? More Camouflaged Creatures Concealed and Revealed has been nominated for a Cybils in 2010, and is an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12.

These books are gaining attention because they are not just fun and informative, they also encourage children to develop their observation skills. Teachers will find the books especially useful because they encompass both language arts and science. See if you can find where one is hiding today!

Where in the Wild?

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 44 pages
Publisher: Tricycle Press; illustrated edition edition (September 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582462070
ISBN-13: 978-1582462073

Where Else In The Wild? More Camouflaged Creatures Concealed and Revealed

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 50 pages
Publisher: Tricycle Press (October 13, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1582462836
ISBN-13: 978-1582462837

If your children enjoy these books, they might also like the older book How to Hide a Butterfly and Other Insects by Ruth Heller.

October 3, 2010December 27, 2013

A Kid’s Guide to Latino History is Excelente!

I have a confession to make. I absolutely love Chicago Review Press’ children’s books with hands-on activities. They are fabulous. Given that, it is no wonder Valerie Petrillo’s A Kid’s Guide to Latino History: More than 50 Activities is the book I picked for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Wrapped around so many juicy projects that you want to do them all at once, is the history of Latinos starting from Columbus’s discovery of the New World for Spain. This history is not an easy one to read, and it is could be controversial in our current political climate. Petrillo hits the right tone, however, with a quick and straightforward recitation of the facts. She has a lot of information to cover, and she gets right to the point. She supplies enough details to keep children interested. but not so many they are overwhelmed.

Without a doubt, however, the activities are the star of this wonderful book. Starting with a recipe for Champurrado, a drink with Spanish roots, to designing a poster to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, this book has a wealth of activities. There are games, toys, crafts, dances and food. These are thoughtful, carefully-researched projects that truly reinforce learning. The activities could be used with the text or stand alone. Every educator will want a copy of this incredibly useful resource nearby.

In fact there are so many wonderful projects, I wish Hispanic Heritage Month lasted all year!

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 208 pages
Publisher: Chicago Review Press (August 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1556527713
ISBN-13: 978-1556527715

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