Category: Science

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Carrots Grow Underground

Did you know that May is Get Caught Reading month? Why not get caught reading some great science books and do some hands-on activities, too?

Carrots Grow Underground by Mari Schuh

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

Summary: Describes and illustrates the life cycle of carrots and other root vegetables using appropriate first-grade vocabulary. Contains Glossary, Read More, Internet Sites and Index.

Illustrations:  Color photographs

Comments:  The formatting is perfect for the age group. The illustrations are yummy, and are consistent with one another in composition. Makes you want to get out there and plant some seeds, or even better, eat some fresh vegetables.

Related activities:

Compatible fiction: The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

Publisher: Capstone Press; Pebble Books (January 2, 2011)
ISBN-10: 1429661852
ISBN-13: 978-1429661850

Click on button to return to main science book list.

Next title to be reviewed: Space, Stars, and the Beginning of Time:  What the Hubble Telescope Saw by Elaine Scott

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

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The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science

The Book of Potentially Catastrophic Science:  50 Experiments for Daring Young Scientists by Sean Connolly recently won the 2011 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prizes for Excellence in Science Books in the hands on science category.

What sets this book apart from others in the hands on science category is that Connolly has given a coherent history and context to each of the activities. In 34 chapters he covers breakthroughs and advances from stone age tools to the Hadron Collider. Many involve the stories of the scientists who actually performed the original experiments or made the advancements. He has done in depth research, too. For example, instead of merely recounting the tale of Ben Franklin flying the kite in the electrical storm, Connolly also discusses why some doubt the story and challenges the reader to figure out more through their own reading.

As for layout, the book is 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches with thick soft paper pages, which means you will probably need to set something on it to keep it open to the activity you are working on. The pages do not lay flat easily, a minor inconvenience.

Although the reading level assigned at Amazon is young adult, the “experiments” in this books are actually activities more appropriate for the middle grade level. That said, a middle school student who is interested in science is going to adore this book. There is enough material here for hours of engaging fun.

Reading level: Young Adult (Amazon)
Hardcover: 306 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (May 5, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0761156879
ISBN-13: 978-0761156871

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 Picture Book of the Day.

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Silk and Venom

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.

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 The Miss Rumphius Effect.

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Journey Into The Deep Has Real Depth

Middle grade and older students who are interested in science have it so good these days, with new books like Journey Into The Deep: Discovering New Ocean Creatures by Rebecca L. Johnson. Readers learn about cutting edge science, view glorious full-color photographs of creatures never seen before, and get glimpses into the lives of scientists at work. It is so appropriate for kids at an age where they are getting ready to explore their world, as well as starting to think about their career options. This book is sure to inspire everyone to want to study marine biology.

Journey Into The Deep is an overview of the Census of Marine Life, a world-wide effort (carried out from 2000 to 2010) to survey, count, and investigate all the living things in the ocean. Johnson describes where and how the searches were carried out, and describes in detail some of the exciting findings. As of the time the book was published, the participating scientists had found some 5,600 new species, from tiny and colorful lobsters to zombie worms that feed on bones without the benefit of having mouths or stomachs. (The zombie worms are actually a lovely, delicate pink color, so zombie may be a bit of a misnomer.) You just have to see the photographs of these new creatures. They are amazing!

As an example of the level of thought that went into this book, the pages start with light blue hues in the background, symbolizing the color of the water at shallow depths. As your get “deeper” into the book, the page backgrounds darken, until they are black with white text. It is subtle, but adds to the effect that you are right there with the scientists exploring the ocean depths.

Tucked in sidebars are things that any individual can do to help the oceans, and information how you can become a scientist who studies the oceans. And believe me, after reading this book you are going to want to become an ocean scientist,  because it is so inspiring. Pick up a copy and see for yourself!

This short video from National Geographic gives you an idea what the Census of Marine Life is all about.

Journey Into The Deep is nominated for a 2010 Cybils award in the MG/YA nonfiction category.

Resources:
Discussion Guide at Lerner Books (check right sidebar)

Other popular and science books at Census of Marine Life

Reading level: Young Adult
Library Binding: 64 pages
Publisher: Millbrook Press (September 2010)
ISBN-10: 076134148X
ISBN-13: 978-0761341482

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 Anastasia Suen’s Nonfiction Monday page. This week’s post is at Simply Science.