Rachel Carson

Ever wonder how Earth Day came about? Rachel Carson (Conservation Heroes) by Marie-Therese Miller tells the story of the amazing woman who is often credited with starting the modern environmental movement. It was nominated for a 2011 Cybils award in the MG/YA nonfiction category.

Rachel Carson’s life story is a complex and inspiring one. She was a trained biologist, conservationist and writer. Marie-Therese Miller starts with a focus on Rachel Carson’s most famous book, Silent Spring, and the controversy that swirled around it when it was published. Next she delves into Carson’s childhood, explaining how Carson came to be both a nature-lover and a writer. Miller writes about Carson’s education, her love of the ocean and her earlier books. She also explains how Carson was suffering from many health problems, including breast cancer, while she was defending herself against the critics of Silent Spring.

The book is illustrated largely with black-and-white photographs, giving the book a distinctly period feel. Unfortunately, they do little to entice the young reader who is skimming the book to delve deeper, which is too bad.

Rachel Carson is likely going to be placed on shelves as a resource for research reports, but it deserves wider circulation. It is likely to encourage future conservationists, as well as enlighten those interested in women’s history. Young writers will definitely enjoy learning about how Carson became a writer and the powerful influence her writing had on others. Readers will discover Rachel Carson’s work and life story still are very relevant today.

Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Library Binding: 135 pages
Publisher: Chelsea House Pub (L); 1 edition (March 2011)
ISBN-10: 1604139501
ISBN-13: 978-1604139501

For Earth Day celebrations, this book would be great paired with The Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson and Nick Kelsh

The biography was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

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 Booktalking to see who is hosting each week.

This week’s round-up is at Books 4 Learning.

Great New Leveled Readers for Spring

Just in time for spring, Kingfisher has some great leveled readers coming out (scheduled for release March 27, 2012). Take a look at these fun titles: Kingfisher Readers L1: Butterflies by Thea Feldman, Kingfisher Readers L1: Baby Animals by Thea Feldman, Kingfisher Readers L2: What Animals Eat by Brenda Stones and a delightful board book, Baby Animals: In the Sea by Editors of Kingfisher.

Each of these books have high quality color photographs. The butterfly book is particularly vibrant and colorful. It has has some wonderful close-ups of the butterfly life stages, and would be a fabulous accompaniment to a unit on life cycles or insects.

Baby Animals is perfect for spring when many baby animals are being born. Along with adorable photographs, the text introduces vocabulary for the names of various baby animals. I also like that Thea Feldman ended the book with human babies, which helps children relate to the ideas presented.

What Animals Eat is Level 2 and contains more challenging concepts and vocabulary, such as the terms herbivore and carnivore. Note: It also contains photographs of lions and tigers with meat, although it isn’t too bloody. You might want to preview the book to see if it appropriate if you are working with sensitive children.

Baby Animals: In the Sea would be a fabulous accompaniment to a trip to the beach or an aquarium, or as a keepsake to remember the trip by.

If you are participating in Read Across America today, be sure to include some STEM nonfiction like these Kingfisher titles.

Kingfisher Readers L1: Butterflies by Thea Feldman

Reading level: Ages 5 and up (level 1)
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Kingfisher (March 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0753467496
ISBN-13: 978-0753467497

Kingfisher Readers L1: Baby Animals by Thea Feldman

Reading level: Ages 5 and up (level 1)
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Kingfisher (March 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0753467550
ISBN-13: 978-0753467558

Baby Animals: In the Sea by Editors of Kingfisher

Board book: 14 pages
Publisher: Kingfisher; Boardbook edition (March 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0753466899
ISBN-13: 978-0753466896

Kingfisher Readers L2: What Animals Eat by Brenda Stones

Reading level: Ages 5 and up (Level 2)
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Kingfisher (March 27, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0753467593
ISBN-13: 978-0753467596

Butterflies, Baby Animals, and What Animals Eat were provided by the publisher for review purposes.

This week’s STEM Friday round up is at NC Teacher Stuff.

50 Poisonous Questions: A Book With Bite

50 Poisonous Questions: A Book With Bite by Tanya Lloyd Kyi and illustrated by Ross Kinnaird explores the world of toxins, poisons, and venoms in a well-balanced and humorous way. It was nominated for a 2011 Cybils award in the MG/YA nonfiction category.

Starting with, “Stop! Do not, under any circumstances, eat this book,” 50 Poisonous Questions is sure to capture the attention of young readers. Written in a question and answer format, and filled with lively creepy crawlies and dangerous chemicals, it is also sure to hold their attention. Add the humorous illustrations to make readers laugh (and sometimes groan), and you have a real winner.

Kyi has done her homework and provides a even-handed look at some of the problems that result from toxic chemicals. Sometimes there aren’t easy answers. For example, she points out that although DDT causes environmental issues, such as interfering with eagle reproduction, it also can save the lives of many people when used to control the mosquitoes that cause malaria. Other times what seems like an awful toxin or venom may have potential to be a powerful medicine in the future.

50 Poisonous Questions is one of those rare books that is interesting, fun and educational all in the same package. Budding scientists and forensics experts will find it a compelling read.

(I recently reviewed another fascinating book from Annick Press.)

Reading level: Ages 9 and up
Hardcover: 110 pages
Publisher: Annick Press (January 20, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1554512816
ISBN-13: 978-1554512812

This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

This week’s STEM Friday round up is at Twillwoven Blog, part of Red Phoenix Books.

If you would like to participate in STEM Friday in the future, go to Booktalking blog and click on STEM Friday for more information.