Category: STEM Friday

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STEM Friday #Kidlit Truth About Dolphins, Hippos, and Bears

This month we are exploring some of the fantastic nonfiction children’s books that have been nominated for 2018 Cybils awards.

Let’s check out the hilarious “The Truth About…” series by Maxwell Eaton III.

Don’t let the cartoon illustrations and silly comments in the speech bubbles fool you. These picture books are serious nonfiction.

The Truth About Dolphins: Seriously Funny Facts About Your Favorite Animals by Maxwell Eaton III

In The Truth About Dolphins, readers learn how dolphins are different from fish and discover some of the different kinds of dolphins, like the spinner dolphin and the Atlantic white-sided dolphin. Did you know there are more than 40 species?

The back matter wraps up some more facts, like the differences between porpoises and dolphins and how long a dolphin can stay underwater. There are also lists of tucuxi-sized books and orca-sized books (isn’t that cute?)

Don’t know what a tucuxi* or ocra are? Then you should read The Truth About Dolphins!

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (May 15, 2018)
ISBN-10: 162672668X
ISBN-13: 978-1626726680

The Truth About Bears: Seriously Funny Facts About Your Favorite Animals by Maxwell Eaton III

This book features three bears, but not the ones from Goldlilocks. Instead they are the brown bear, black bear, and polar bear.

Learn about where the bears live and what they eat (there’s a cute running joke about the fact they eat rodents). Other topics include hibernation and threats to bears.

I thought the bear safety page that explains how you should behave if you encounter a bear was a good idea. You shouldn’t run seems sensible, but I didn’t know that you shouldn’t try to climb a tree either.

Don’t know what you should do if you encounter a bear? Check out The Truth About Bears.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (February 27, 2018)
ISBN-10: 1626726663
ISBN-13: 978-1626726666

The Truth About Hippos: Seriously Funny Facts About Your Favorite Animals by Maxwell Eaton III

If I had to pick a favorite of the three, it would be this one. The text compares and contrasts the two species of hippo, common and pygmy. Because there are only two kinds, the author was able to pack in more information about them.

Do you know whether hippos can swim? Don’t guess, because the answer will surprise you. Find out by reading The Truth About Hippos.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (February 27, 2018)
ISBN-10: 1626726671
ISBN-13: 978-1626726673

 

* A tucuxi is a a species of freshwater dolphin found in the rivers of the Amazon Basin

Disclosure: These books were provided by our local library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.Opens in a new window Note: this is a new link as of 12/2018.

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STEM Friday #Kidlit All Eyes on Alexandra

For STEM Friday we’re thrilled to be taking part in a blog tour for the picture book All Eyes on Alexandra by Anna Levine and illustrated by Chiara Pasqualotto.

Millions and millions of birds migrate through Israel on their way to Europe, Asia, and Africa. All Eyes on Alexandra is the fictional story of one young stork who has trouble following the rest of the flock as they prepare for the big trip. Readers will soon learn, however, that those who have trouble following might have other talents instead.

The illustrations are full of action and fun. They were done by Chiara Pasqualotto, who was born in Padua, in northern Italy, and who currently teaches illustration and drawing classes to children and adults, in particular in Padua during the summer at the Scuola Internazionale di Comics and in Rome. To help youngsters figure out which crane is Alexandra in each illustration, Chiara has wrapped her neck with a bit of red string. Although an unusual tactic, it seems to fit right in with Alexandra’s dare-to-be-different character.

All Eyes on Alexandra is a perfect example to show that STEM books don’t have to be nonfiction. It introduces children both to an amazing natural phenomena, a massive bird migration, and also to a personal story that they might be able to relate to their own lives or families. Those who love fiction are introduced to facts and those who love nonfiction are introduced to stories. It is win-win.

It would also be useful to share before a trip to Israel because it mentions and shows several locations to visit. Children might pretend they are Alexandra and find out more about each site online, which is likely to help them prepare and perhaps excite them to discover more. I know I’m inspired to sign up for a bird watching trip after reading it.

It is a lovely and versatile picture book. Let All Eyes on Alexandra take you on a journey today!

Activity Suggestions:

Author Anna Levine has three awesome activity suggestions to accompany the book at our sister blog, Growing With Science.

Age Range: 3 – 8 years
Publisher: Kar-Ben Pub (August 1, 2018)
ISBN-10: 1512444391
ISBN-13: 978-1512444391

Curious to learn more? Be sure to visit the remaining stops in the blog tour:

December 15th @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra’s blog where she features Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra in a spotlight post.

December 17th @ World of My Imagination
Stop by Nicole’s blog today where you can read her review of Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.

December 18th @ Oh, for the Hook of a Book
Visit Erin’s blog again where you can read Anna Levine’s blog post featuring activities for young children to explore their world.

December 19th @ Cassandra’s Writing World
Visit Cassandra’s blog again where you can read Anna Levine’s blog post about naming your characters.– oh, I need this one.

December 19th @ Linda’s Blog
Make sure you visit Linda’s blog today where you can read her thoughts about Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.

December 20th @ Word Magic: All About Books
Visit Fiona’s blog where you can read her review of Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.

December 21st @ Bring on Lemons
Make sure you grab some lemonade and stop by Crystal’s blog today where she reviews Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.

December 27th @ Linda’s Blog
Visit Linda’s blog again where you can read her interview with author Anna Levine.

December 28th @ Beverley A. Baird’s Blog
Visit Beverley’s blog today you can read her review of Anna Levine’s book All Eyes on Alexandra.

December 31st @ Strength 4 Spouses
Visit Wendi’s blog and read Anna Levine’s guest post on learning about families and different cultures.

January 2nd @ Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
Visit author Anthony Avina’s blog where he shares his thoughts about Anna Levine’s picture book All Eyes on Alexandra.

January 3rd @ Beverley A. Baird’s Blog
Visit Beverley’s blog again where you can read Anna Levine’s blog post about getting into the head of your middle-grade characters.

January 4th @ Author Anthony Avina’s Blog
Visit author Anthony Avina’s blog again where you can read Anna Levine’s blog post about using fiction to write non-fiction. **can’t wait to see this.

January 7th @ Strength 4 Spouses Blog
Visit Wendi’s blog again where you can read her thoughts about the book All Eyes on Alexandra by Anna Levine.

Disclosure: This book was provided electronically  by the author for review purposes. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.Opens in a new window Note: this is a new link as of 10/2018.

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STEM Friday #Kidlit Animal Families

This month we are exploring some of the fantastic nonfiction children’s books that have been nominated for 2018 Cybils awards.

‘Tis the season for family gatherings, so what better time to sit down with a child and read a book or two about animal families.

For the first book, Fur, Feather, Fin―All of Us Are Kin by Diane Lang and illustrated by Stephanie Laberis animal “families” are what are mostly defined as “classes” in the traditional scientific way:  mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish. Arthropods are also included, which are a phylum. It  is a basic introduction to animal classification.

  The rhyming text is likely to engage the younger readers in the targeted age range.

“All animals on Earth are kin,
while not the same outside or in.
Some we stroke with loving hand;
some we don’t yet understand.”

A few scientific vocabulary words (metamorphosis, oxygen, detritivore) are included.

The illustrations by Stephanie Laberis are just the right amount of vibrant and fun. They are filled with color, action, and excitement, as you can see from the swirling animals on the cover.

To compensate for all the many, many families of animals that are not discussed — understandable because of space constraints — towards the end Lang discusses two catchall ecosystems:  underwater and detritivores. Personally, I’m not sure how well that works because those are ecological rather than classification groupings. Fish live underwater, which makes two underwater “families” Plus, many detritivores are arthropods, another “family.” The overlap creates confusion.

The back matter explains further, plus gives concrete ways the readers can help animals.

Fur, Feather, Fin―All of Us Are Kin will delight budding scientists and animal lovers. It might also make a good “entrance book” to entice less-interested readers to want to find out more. Try out a copy today!

Activity Suggestion:

Hands-on classification activities at Growing With Science blog

Age Range: 3 – 8 years
Publisher: Beach Lane Books (May 1, 2018)
ISBN-10: 1481447092
ISBN-13: 978-1481447096

The families in Meet My Family!: Animal Babies and Their Families by Laura Purdie Salas and illustrated by Stephanie Fizer Coleman reflect all the different groupings of parents and offspring found in nature.

In some animal families, both the mother and the father take care of the youngsters. In others, like sea turtles, the babies never meet their parents. Some offspring look like miniature versions of their parents, and some don’t resemble each other at all. Discover all the unique ways families are made up.

Throughout the text, Laura Purdie Salas injects words for mother and father in different languages, so it sounds as if the animals are speaking. If you are going to read this book aloud, I strongly recommend heading to the back matter and practicing the pronunciations in the glossary. While you are in the back matter, check out the awesome section on where these animals live.

Meet My Family!: Animal Babies and Their Families is not only a discussion of diversity in families that is likely to sooth youngsters who might be feeling their family is too “different,” but also a great introduction to a variety of cool animals.

Previously reviewed at the older Stem Friday site by both Sue Heavenrich and Anastasia Suen.

Age Range: 5 – 9 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3
Lexile Measure: 550 (What’s this?)
Library Binding: 32 pages
Publisher: Millbrook Pr (March 1, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 151242532X
ISBN-13: 978-1512425321

 

Disclosure: These books were provided by our local library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.Opens in a new window Note: this is a new link as of 10/2018.

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STEM Friday #Kidlit The Big Book of the Blue Rises to the Top

This month we are exploring some of the fantastic nonfiction children’s books that have been nominated for 2018 Cybils awards.

 

 

Reviewing the new picture book The Big Book of the Blue by Yuval Zommer is a joy.

First thing you notice is the beautiful blue color and the oversized dimensions, perfect for a book about the huge, expansive ocean. Then you pop it open and you see the playful, lively illustrations. You can imagine the fish swimming and the jellyfish bobbing. Delightful!

That isn’t all there is to discover. In the front matter is a challenge to find a sardine tucked into the illustrations throughout the book (the answers are in the back). Delving deeper, you find general discussions of different creatures found in the ocean before discovering two page spreads about specific ones from sea turtles to dolphins. Each one makes full use of the extra space and some are oriented landscape versus portrait. They are gorgeous! And packed with great information!

The back matter includes “Did you find?” the answers to the sardine challenge, “Fishy Phrases” about scientific vocabulary, and a whale-sized index. But don’t expect to arrive at the back matter quickly. Once you start swimming into the book, you will want to immerse yourself.

The Big Book of the Blue is the type of book that begs to be shared. Grab a copy, find a quiet corner, and spend time with it. Children will love it.

Related

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Thames & Hudson; 1 edition (June 5, 2018)
ISBN-10: 0500651191
ISBN-13: 978-0500651193

Disclosure: This book was provided by our local library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.Opens in a new window Note: this is a new link as of 10/2018.