Category: Picture book – informational fiction

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A Bobby-Dazzler of a Book by Janet Halfmann

Ever wanted to visit Australia? Now you can travel in your imagination with the new picture book, A Bobby-Dazzler of a Pouch! by Janet Halfmann and illustrated by Abira Das.

The story revolves around a real life problem:  how do joeys (baby kangaroos) find their mother’s pouch when they are in a big hurry? With the help of friends, the joey comes up with a unique solution. Along the way, the reader meets common Australian animals and plants like brush-tailed possums and beautiful box mistletoe flowers, as well as gets a brief introduction to Australian vocabulary.

The well-researched back matter includes fun facts about kangaroos, a glossary of Australian words, and a list of the Australian animals and plants introduced in the book.

Janet Halfmann has written many popular children’s books on a variety of topics, but A Bobby-Dazzler of a Pouch! is special to her because it was one of the first fiction picture book manuscripts she wrote when she started out — over twenty years ago. Read about the inspiring details of its eventual road to publication in an interview at Write Now! Coach.

A Bobby-Dazzler of a Pouch! would be perfect to accompany a trip to Australia, to pull out when doing a geography lesson about Australia, or even to prepare for a trip to a local zoo that features Australian animals. Jump into a copy today!

Related activities:

Check out another Australian animal, the adorable small kind of wallaby known as the Quokka.

 

Paperback: 38 pages
Publisher: Pen It! Publications, LLC (May 21, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 195126312X
ISBN-13: 978-1951263126

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Two New Children’s Books for Plastic Free July

With so much going on in the world these days, it can be hard to keep up. For example, did you know about the Plastic Free July challenge?  Because many people consider trips to the beach this month, it is a great time to think about protecting our oceans by reducing the amount of plastic we use.

To help introduce children to the problem of plastic garbage in the ocean, we have two new books.

The Blue Giant

First up is the informational fiction picture book, The Blue Giant by Katie Cottle.

Meera and her mom are the the beach when a giant blue form rises out of the ocean and asks them for help. When they suit up and go into the water they see how much garbage is floating in the ocean and  how it affects the animals who live there.  Meera and her mom want to help, but is it too big of a problem for them to make a difference?

In the same style as her previous book, The Green Giant,  it is Cottle’s vivid and imaginative illustrations that really make the story come alive.  She also mentions concrete ways to help, such as picking up trash on the beach and reducing the amount of single-use plastics we buy.

The Blue Giant is perfect for children interested in oceans and in helping our planet. Dive into a copy today!

Age Range: 3 – 6 years
Publisher: Pavilion Children’s (June 9, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1843654458
ISBN-13: 978-1843654452

Plasticus Maritimus

To  explore the topic more deeply, we have an equally imaginative young adult title Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species by Ana Pêgo, Isabel Minhos, and illustrated by Bernado P. Carvalho, coming out September 8, 2020.

 

Marine biologist Ana Pêgo grew up playing on the beach in Portugal. As she began to notice more and more plastic garbage in the water and on the shore, she decided to treat it like an invasive species and study it. She even dubbed the garbage a pseudo-scientific name:  Plasticus maritimus.

Regardless of the made up name, the text is a serious look at a serious problem. First the authors introduce the topic with a “field guide” to plastic, including how it impacts the ocean. Next up is an in depth look at what plastic is, including a timeline of plastic production and the different types. Did you know cigarette buts contain plastic in the filters and are the most common form of litter?  Ever hear of nurdles? You will learn all about them.

The final sections are an extensive, practical look at what we can do about the problem. In the back are resources for finding out more.

The illustrations are largely colorful pencil drawings, which might give the impression that this book is for a younger audience.  The text and the smattering of full color photographs are spot on for the young adult crowd.

Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species is for teens who love the ocean and are interested in protecting it. It is a handy reference that readers will want to return to again and again. It would also be an awesome resource for research papers or persuasive essays. Look for it in September.

Age Range: 12 – 18 years
Publisher: Greystone Kids (September 8, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1771646438
ISBN-13: 978-1771646437

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#kidlit for John James Audubon’s Birthday: Ivy Bird

For John James Audubon’s birthday today we have a delightful picture book for the youngest set,  Ivy Bird by Tania McCartney and illustrated by Jess Racklyeft.

 

The story follows Ivy, a creative young girl, as she takes part in a series of fanciful activities, all inspired by birds. Throughout her day Ivy swims and forages and flaps her wings alongside her bird friends.

The illustrations also take the reader on flights of fancy, mixing colors and textures in a rich, complex way.

Regardless of the inventiveness, however, this book falls squarely in the realm of informational fiction. The back matter includes facts about each of the twelve different birds from around the world that are featured in the main text  — from bower birds to robins — as well as a challenge to find them in the pages of the story.

Ivy Bird is a fun read-aloud for preschoolers that is sure to spark their imaginations, as well as an interest in learning more about birds.

Activity Suggestion:

Visit the Audobon Society for an extensive list of activities and DIY projects to help birds.

Try some of the activities for observing backyard birds at Growing with Science.

Looking for more books about birds for children? Check our growing list at Science Books for Kids.

Age Range: 3 – 6 years
Publisher: Blue Dot Kids Press (April 7, 2020)
ISBN-10: 1733121218
ISBN-13: 978-1733121217