Category: Nonfiction

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Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Projects for Kids

Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Projects for Kids, a new book from Storey Publishing by Michael J. Caduto, will catch your eye if you are interested in hands-on projects covering environmental and science topics. You will be surprised, however, to find it is also chock full of history, current events, and even a few jokes, as well.

Renewable energy is currently a hot topic and this book is definitely a well-rounded overview, exploring from many different angles. The activities range from relatively fast and straightforward, to those requiring more time and skill.

The illustrations, running the gamut from color photographs to cartoons, clearly show how to complete each project and are very child-friendly.

The activities are original and the book has a great deal of depth compared to many other hands-on science books. Depending on your outlook on renewable energy and environmental issues, however, some people might find parts of the text a bit heavy handed, especially for a book targeted for young children. Personally, I found the addition of jokes and cartoons were a nice counter balance to the more serious aspects of the book.

The book trailer will give you a better idea what it is all about:

You may also see an extensive excerpt of the book at Google Books:

Catch the Wind, Harness the Sun: 22 Super-Charged Projects for Kids might be just the ticket to get children excited about renewable energy. Who knows where it may lead them in the future.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this book.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC (April 30, 2011)
ISBN-10: 9781603427944
ISBN-13: 978-1603427944

Be sure to look for more information about children’s books at today’s Book Talk Tuesday.

Book provided for review electronically at NetGalley.

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A Butterfly Is Patient: The Book Is Spectacular

At one point in the new book A Butterfly Is Patient by Dianna Hutts Aston and illustrated by Sylvia Long, the author writes, “A butterfly is spectacular!” As you read it you immediately want to echo, “This book is spectacular, too!”

The team of Aston and Long have already written and illustrated two award-winning books, An Egg is Quiet and A Seed is Sleepy. This new addition is even better, if that is possible. How do you top perfection? They found a way.

Start with the front endpapers, a collection of vibrant caterpillars with names like “Moonlight Jewel” and “Hieroglyphic Flat.” Skip to the back endpapers and you will find equally vibrant illustrations of the butterflies that come from those caterpillars. You can spend hours studying the endpapers alone.

Aston packs some hard science into the text, using words such as pollination, camouflage, predator, and migration. She has obviously done her research. It is so lyrically written, however, that learning is beautiful. Each and every page is a delight.

Looking for a gift book? As well as being a high quality, enjoyable, and informative picture book for children, the glorious art and design of A Butterfly Is Patient make it a potential coffee table art book for adults (albeit a thin one). Yes, it is that good. This book is a must for libraries, for children interested in science, and anyone interested in nature.

Don’t be as patient as a butterfly, go check out a copy for yourself today! I’d love to hear what you think of it.

See another review by Amanda at A Patchwork of Books

Related butterfly science activities at Growing with Science

Reading level: Ages 4-8
Publisher: Chronicle Books (May 18, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0811864790
ISBN-13: 978-0811864794

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nonfictionmonday

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 Books Together.

This book was provided for review purposes.

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Blueberries Grow on a Bush

Blueberries Grow on a Bush by Mari Schuh

Reading level: Beginning/Easy Reader (Ages 4-8)

Summary: Describes and illustrates the life cycle of blueberries and other berries using appropriate first-grade vocabulary. Introduces concepts of pollination and dormancy.

Illustrations:  Color photographs

Comments:  The formatting is perfect for the age group. The photographs are clearly labeled and laid out well. This is a great series of books for this age group.

Related activities:

  • Make a fruit salad with blueberries and/or blueberry muffins for a snack
  • Blend some blueberries in a blender to use as a pH indicator. The juice will turn red in presence of strong acids, like lemon juice or vinegar. Steve Spangler has more specific instructions.
  • Any leftover blueberry sauce can be used as paint. Draw a picture with crayon and use the blueberry “paint” as a wash, for a resist painting.
  • The Blueberry Council has information and activities for kids and teachers. Click on the images in the footer.

Compatible fiction: Blueberries for Sal by Robert McClosky

(Scholastic has a math lesson plan)

Publisher: Capstone Press; Pebble Books (January 2, 2011)

ISBN-10: 9781429661836
ISBN-13: 978-1429661836

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The Krakatau Eruption by Peter Benoit

The Krakatau Eruption by Peter Benoit

Note:  Krakatau is the Indonesian word for the volcano that has also been called Krakatoa

Reading level:  Upper Elementary

Summary:  Learn about volcanoes by studying the events surrounding the giant eruption of the volcano Krakatau in 1883.

Illustrations:  Photographs, maps, and classic drawings and paintings from the 18oo’s

Comments:  The use of a question and answer format, and a light tone make this a fast and fun book to read. It is also packed full of facts, history and explanations of geological processes.

Related activities:

Compatible fiction:  The Twenty-One Balloons by William Pene du Bois

Publisher:  Children’s Press (March 2011)

ISBN-10: 0531289974
ISBN-13: 978-0531289976

Click on button to return to main science book list.

Next title to be reviewed: Blueberries Grow on a Bush by Mari Schuh