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The Stars: A New Way to See Them I checked this book out of the library so often in grade school, wishing it could stay on my bookshelf. I traced the constellations, drew star charts, and taped the colored charts on my walls. Reading the names of the stars and constellations, I marveled at the strangeness of them: Procyon, Rigel, Aldebaran, Betelgeuse (a professor in my college astronomy class finally modeled the pronunciation of this star’s name … I’m not sure I believe him, though). When I read about Castor and Pollux, Perseus, Andromeda, and Hercules, I was inspired to hunt down books of myths to learn the legends behind these names. Far more than the stars are present in the second edition of Mr. Rey’s book, which was first published in 1952 and updated in 2008. The sun and the planets are here, without Pluto, and the concise definitions for a major planet and minor planet are understandable. History is represented, for we learn how the constellations have been studied and regarded over time. We learn about the death of stars and the passing of seasons. Latitude can be determined by observing the stars. The magnitude and color stars, critical for astronomers, is explained in a way that fifth graders can grasp. In short, the book examines every aspect of the night sky, helping the reader contemplate the mysteries overhead. Most memorable are the simple lines Mr. Rey uses to create drawings of the constellations that help us understand how they received their names and to find them in the night sky. And tell me, how many people can say they received a book endorsement from Albert Einstein? With star charts and a delightful poster that doubles as the book’s cover (so you really must get your own copy and not check it out of the library), this is a scientific imagination sparker and a way to find magic in the stars. Find the Constellations, second edition For younger children, Find the Constellations is a better choice. The drawings are appealing, the language is more accessible, the small characters who provide page-after-page commentary are funny, yet many of the great features of the more complex book are here, made appropriate for this age group. I think it’s essential to introduce this book in the classroom—you never know which students’ imaginations will be captivated and there are language arts, science, math, and history tie-ins. In Mr. Rey’s own words, “Simple shepherds 5,000 years ago were familiar with the heavens; they knew the stars and constellations and they could not even read or write—so why don’t you?” |
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Lincoln and His Boys Wells writes and illustrates three stories that center around two of President Lincoln's sons: Willie and Tad. Willie narrates the first two sections and Tad narrates the last. The first story begins with a train trip that Willie took with his father as Lincoln contemplated running for president. The details that the author discovered in her research give the stories credibility and allow the reader to imagine what life may have been like for the Lincolns. The stories are full of warmth between an unusual father and his sons.
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The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary So often we define a politician’s character based solely on things he or she has or has not accomplished during a term in office or on the campaign trail. But politics is only one thing that colors a politician’s life. Author Candace Fleming has chosen to tell the story of Abraham and Mary Lincoln in a unique way. Abraham’s adult life and political career were shaped by both his childhood and his intense love for Mary just as Mary’s life and choices were shaped by her childhood and her passion for Abraham. Through a variety of historic images and rich visual text, Fleming invites the reader into the lives of the Lincolns as they have never been before. The reader joins Lincoln on the route of the eighth circuit, recklessly shops with Mary as she redecorates the White House and mourns the death of the Lincoln sons. The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary is organized chronologically as well as by key themes. “By so doing,” Fleming writes, “I hope you will clearly see how specific events unfolded, relationships progressed, and ideas developed.” Peppered with rich quotes gleaned from directly from primary sources, the text paints a very real picture of both Mary and Abraham. Their love for each other is strong, humor is often the only way to survive that which otherwise could not be comprehended and stovepipe hats make good filing cabinets. Because of the layout she and Schwartz and Wade books have chosen, the reader can use The Lincolns as both a textbook and a book to flip through, stopping at passages that grab the reader’s interests. Either way, The Lincolns: A Scrapbook Look at Abraham and Mary is a book that everyone should encounter. It sweeps the life of our 19th president and his first lady on a journey off the official pages of history and into the realm of real life. |
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What's Eating You? Ok, I’ll admit it. When I hear about children having lice (there are over 3000 kinds, each preferring a specific kind of host) I start to feel things crawling all over me. Parasites are a part of our world and What’s Eating You? is a playful look at the tiny creatures that call living creatures home. Scientists think there are more kinds of parasites (living and feeding on their host) than any other sort of animal and more than 430 different kinds live in or on a human. Now are you starting to itch? In the spirit of Ms. Frizzle and the Magic Schoolbus, What’s Eating You? packs lots of information onto its pages in a fun and often interactive way. Illustrator Neal Layton, for example, has created a two-page spread (The Two-Host Tapeworm Game) that the reader can actually play with dice and a couple of counters. Nicola Davies does a great job of making sure we understand how amazing parasites really are, and does her best to convince us that they have value and are not just something we want to avoid. “A parasite is like a mouse trying to hitch a ride on a jumbo jet,” she writes and “a flea’s ability to jump (over 100x it’s body length) is like a human jumping over the Eiffel Tower”. That really is quite amazing. Davies (a trained zoologist) also gives plenty of insight into how animals (including humans) can fight back. Grooming is essential, our immune system is constantly at war and regular pooping (yes, she uses the word “pooping”) rids our bodies of unwelcome intruders. The index and glossary at the back of the book make it easy to find facts about specific creatures or parasites. What’s Eating You? is the type of book to capture the imagination of elementary readers (especially boys) and is a must for any library or school.
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Coral Reefs “Coral reefs are among the most beautiful and unusual places in the natural world,” and prolific author and illustrator Gail Gibbons captures their wonder and the amazing facts about them in her illustrated picture book, Coral Reefs. A good research tool for beginning readers, the text is easy to grasp and the few sentences on every page are packed with information. Readers can quickly learn how a coral reef grows, how old they are and where in the world they can be found. Did you know that the largest coral reef in the world is off the east coast of Australia and is 1430 miles long? It is so large astronauts can see it from outer space. Have you heard that “more sea creatures live in and around coral reefs than anywhere in the world’s oceans?” Marine biologists believe there could be 2 million types of sea life inhabiting the world’s coral reefs. A fast fact page at the back provides even more information. The descriptive illustrations tell their own story. Sketches swimming with color depict samples of sea life found in coral reefs around the world. “The reef is an underwater world of brilliant colors and strange shapes” and Gibbons has done them justice. Coral reefs are fragile, living things and the more we know about them the better job we can do preserving them. Picking up a copy of Coral Reefs is the perfect way to get started.
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Planet Patrol Kids have the power to change to world and when they care about the environment adults begin to do so too. Marybeth Lorbiecki’s Planet Patrol is an inspiring way to get started. The pages are full of interesting facts and specific examples of what we can do in our neighborhoods and the world around us. Did you know that scientists predict that by the time we are 80 years old we “owe” the earth 2000 trees? That’s what’s needed to balance the CO2 we’ve breathed out over time as well as the CO2 we’ve added through cars and electricity from power plants. Lorbiecki is a master at engaging the reader with facts like that, describing actions to take, and telling stories of people who have acted. So go plant a tree! Planet Patrol is divided into three sections: Wildlife Watch (facts, activities and stories about animals and plants), Eco Challenges (facts, activities and stories about global issues) and Daily Defense (facts, activities and stories about things we can do). At the back there is an extensive list of Internet resources, key words and an index. The cartoon-like illustrations are coupled with photographs, charts and sidebars and make the text even more accessible. “Like a spider web, everything in nature is connected.” Scientist Dr. Haller says, “It’s surprising what nature can do when you lend a helping hand.” Reading this book is a great way to begin discussions in classrooms and families about our world and the affect we have on it. Earth Day can be everyday and Planet Patrol is the perfect tool to inspire action.
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The Musuem Book Humans have always been fascinated by the process of collecting, and have been known to hoard everything from ancient coins to kitchen utensils. Naturally as a collection grows it needs a place to be stored, and any collector with a passion for their found treasures is eager for others to see what has been accomplished. And so… museums were born. The oldest existing museum in the world today is in Oxford, England (1683), although people have been collecting and storing their treasures for centuries in less formal structures. The Museum Book is filled with tales about the collectors, explorers and ordinary people who have collected everything imaginable as well as facts and details about the places they built to store them in. The extensive text is peppered with mixed media images, evoking a feeling of 1950’s pop art. The back of the book contains a detailed glossary/index that not only explains many of the terms used throughout the text but also directs the reader to them. A fascinating, detail packed resource about museums, their history and the people who created them, The Museum Book: a Guide to Strange and Wonderful Collections would be a great reference tool for upper elementary students.
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Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia Continuing the journeys they chronicled to southern Uganda in Gorilla Walk, Botswana’s Moremi Reserve in Elephant Quest, and Australia’s Kakadu National Park and Kangaroo Island in Top to Bottom Down Under, the intrepid husband-wife, author-illustrator team take readers to another fascinating place in the world. This time they take readers to Dalandzadgad and Bulgan in southern Mongolia to witness Naadam, a summer festival involving a race on the steppe for child-jockeys. Their conversational tone draws readers into the journey as the authors explain about the Mongolian culture in the book’s introduction. It continues in “Arrival” when they are greeted with “Are you Betsy and Ted?” at the airport by a young woman named Batsuren, whose name means “Fire Warrior.” I could imagine traveling 800 miles minivan trip on a bumpy road to the horse trainers’ camp, drinking the traditional airag (fermented mare’s milk) in a ger (a wooden tent that collapses for transportability), and watching the jockeys “sweat up” their horses to get them in shape for the race. Accompanying the flowing text are gorgeous full illustrations and detailed spot illustrations, all in watercolor. Ted’s larger spreads portray the movement and emotion of the Naadam preparations, and Betsy’s smaller pen and watercolor spot illustrations accent the text, pointing to more intricate occurrences. The text is extended with pages of details about the ger, the ingenious, movable homes used by the nomadic people, and of interesting facts about Mongolia itself. Imagine a language that has 400 words to describe horse characteristics; that makes sense when one considers there are twice as many horses as humans in the country! The glossary and pronunciation guide help to understand some of the unfamiliar words of the Mongolian language. Celebrations bring excitement to readers of all ages, and this sensational book will engage readers visually and emotionally as they witness the passion for horses and people in a country far around the world.
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The Trouble Begins at 8: A Life of Mark Twain in the Wild, Wild West Written by Sid Fleischman Collins, 2008 ISBN 9780061344312 As best he can, Sid Fleischman presents the child, young man, maturing man, and older man who was born Samuel Clemens and became Mark Twain. Every page is stuffed with intriguing information about the man and his times. Born in Florida, Missouri, his family moved to Hannibal when Sammy was four. He was a rambunctious boy with a penchant for adventure and telling tall tales. As his mother would often say, “I discount him ninety percent for embroidery, and what is left is perfect and priceless truth.” |
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Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells Written by Philip Dray, illus by Stephen Alcorn Peachtree Publishers, 2008 ISBN 9781561454174 Picture book biographies often err on the side of too much text, but Yours for Justice, Ida B. Wells by Phillip Dray, illustrated by Stephen Alcorn, balances illustrations and information in a way that really works for the picture book format. Ida Wells, born a slave, rose to become one of the great advocates for social justice this country has ever seen. When yellow fever killed her parents, she became the head of her family of eight at 16 years old. After receiving her education and becoming a teacher, Wells worked tirelessly as a journalist and speaker, educating the public about the violent aftermath of slavery, particularly the lawless practice of lynching. Wells’ life was often in peril, but she managed to stay one step ahead of her tormentors. While this is a hard subject for children, Dray’s illustrations do a great job of symbolizing the aggression without making it too frightening. These moments in history are not ones that teachers or parents like to share, and yet, bravery such as Wells’ needs to be celebrated. Dray’s afterword is succinct, but sums up Wells’ career and personal life admirably.
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Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum Written and illus by Robert A. Parker Schwartz & Wade, 2008 ISBN 9780375839658 Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum by Robert Andrew Parker is a peek into the young life of an amazing improvisational jazz pianist. Parker, a lifelong fan of Tatum’s, felt that most of the scholarship surrounding the musician focused on his adult years. What was Tatum’s childhood like? Born with severely limited vision, Art Tatum’s eyesight only grew worse as he got older. Fortunately, there was a piano in the family home, and, as soon as he could reach the keyboard, Tatum began wearing out the keys. Tatum’s hearing and his sense of feel had to fill in for missing visual cues. By ten, he was playing in church and at parties. While the neighborhood children ran outside on summer nights catching fireflies, Tatum played “Shine on Harvest Moon” and “Moonlight Bay” to serenade them. His distinctive playing style evolved from a pastiche of sources: radio, listening to live performances, and some formal training. But it was his ability to get inside a song, to feel it as he played, that distinguished Tatum from other musicians. What a wonderful message for kids, to turn a dis-ability into a different ability. Parker’s moody illustrations and his succinct poetic text complement the story’s subject matter. |
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The Milestones Project: Celebrating Childhood Around the World By Dr. Richard and Michele Steckel Tricycle Press, 2007 ISBN 9781582462288 Introduce kids to their counterparts around the world with The Milestones Project: Celebrating Childhood Around the World. The purpose of the Milestones Project is to document childhood experiences in many different cultures. There are more than 30,000 photos—and growing—at the website www.milestonesproject.com. The creators of the project, Dr. Richard and Michele Steckel aim to “create a more peaceful world by encouraging the recognition that, beneath our beliefs or skin color, we are all the same.” So the book is filled with beautiful photos and short essays by writers like Cynthia Rylant and J.K.Rowling about their milestones: birthdays, losing a tooth, and getting a new sibling, among them. It’s amazing how similar children’s reactions are. Around the world, kids often get scared when their hair is cut. From whence does the compulsion spring to stick your tongue into the space left by a missing tooth? There are also quotes from children, ‘out of the mouths of babes quotes’, like this one from Gracious, age 9, in South Africa: “I need a year to stop hatred. First, at my own country. After, I try by going to each country, talk to people province by province, and hear their problems and why they hate another people. I can stop hatred by communication.” There is so much to be gleaned from this book. Conversation topics, writing prompts, suggest themselves at every turn. Have fun reminiscing and then document your own milestones to report about your corner of the world. |
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Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at “These crowded hours have been interesting and stimulating. They have, I hope, been useful. They have, at least, been lived to the hilt.” (p156 Our Eleanor) Eleanor Roosevelt. That is a name most Americans are familiar with, but how many of us realize what a strong impact she had on our nation and our world? She didn’t just sit and talk about what she was going to do to make a difference, she did something about it. Her volunteer work began in 1903 at the Rivington Street Settlement House in But Eleanor Roosevelt was also very human. Despite being considered one of the most influential women of her era, she was haunted by her own fears and insecurities. A trouble childhood left her timid and shy, something she overcame in her public persona but always carried with her in her private self. She once said “I believe that anyone can conquer fear by doing the things he fears to do, provided he keeps doing them until he gets a record of successful experience behind him.” Her life is a record of that. Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt’s Remarkable Life is a chronological picture of Eleanor Roosevelt’s colorful life outlined in a very personal and accessible way. Eleanor’s story is told through archival photos, quotes, anecdotes, and sidebars as well as extremely well-written text. Basic research tools include a timeline, family tree, and extensive source notes. Chandler Roosevelt Lindsley and Elliott Roosevelt, Jr., (grandchildren of Eleanor Roosevelt) write, “Candace Fleming has chronicled the life of Eleanor Roosevelt as no other. With photographs on every page and with special attention having been given each important person, place and project, this book provides an exciting glimpse into a remarkable life. It will appeal to young and old alike.” Award-winning author Candace Fleming has created an incredible resource that should be in every school library. There is an extensive teaching guide available for Our Eleanor at www.candacefleming.com. |
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The Periodic Table: Elements with Style! Curiosity demands that anyone seeing this book must open its covers. Once inside, the graphics present a puzzle, figuring out how the elements on the periodic table (you remember your 10th grade chemistry class, don’t you?) are grouped, what the quirky but accurate depictions of each element portray, and the manner in which each page imparts information. Periodic Table makes good use of Basher’s art style (basherworld.com), which brilliantly (in every sense of the word) sets an impression in the reader’s mind of each element. Dingle’s first person descriptions for each element are memorable—which is precisely what they should be. Who wouldn’t have a grip on arsenic after reading, “Make no mistake—I am a deadly element. A murderer’s delight and a master of disguise to boot!” And did you know that it was first recognized in 1250 AD? I giggled over “Here to protect and serve, I’m more useful than you’d ever zinc! I’m a very sociable element that’s always happy to mix in with other metals.” What’s more, every time I pick up this book (and I confess, I’m drawn to it), I can’t resist reading another page. Quick, what is the third most abundant element in the world? There’s a poster version of the Periodic Table in the back of the book. If I could ever bring myself to remove it from the book, this is just the type of art my challenged-by-science-but-fascinated-all-the-same self would like to have on the wall, right alongside the map of the solar system and the chart of unusual mammals. There’s a glossary and an index, but the elements themselves are grouped in such a way that remembering them and their function is easier, with handy references on each page. Highly recommended for the science classroom from grade 4 and up. By the way, the third most abundant element is aluminum. Now we both know. |
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Dogs and Cats
Jenkins’ wonderful paper collages return, this time in a book of facts about cats and dogs. The book is really two-in-one; read the book one way, half- through, and it’s about cats, then flip it, and read the other half about dogs. The center page is an artful collage of cat and dog lolling together in a 360-degree nap, and like real pets, they appear almost as comfortable upside down as right side up. Jenkins covers plenty of basic information, about the history of domestication, breeds, and the anatomy of both animals. While the facts are simple, even adults will be surprised at some of the information here. For example, did you know cats have no collarbones? That is why they can successfully squeeze through any hole as big as their heads. And in Jenkins also covers a lot of questions kids have about their pets’ behavior, explaining things like why dogs bark at strangers, why cats purr, and also giving hints about how to read these animals’ body language. The artwork is a real treat. The torn tissue paper fluff of kitten’s fur, the brown paper bag dryness of a mummified cat sarcophagus, and the crisp snips of a border collie’s thick neck ruff all seem more natural than a photograph. The art of the illustrations never hinders what they communicate; even preschoolers will have no problem picking out the anatomical details of a dog’s face described by informative captions. Who’s smarter, cats or dogs? The book leaves that up to readers to decide. Kids will probably read the book from the direction of the animal they favor most, but this book is so enticing, it’s almost guaranteed they’ll turn it upside down and read it through. |
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Where in the Wild? Camouflaged I’m silent and still, till I leap out and pounce. Even prey twice my size I can easily trounce. To feast on a rabbit, a rat, or a mole, I stalk it, then capture it deep in its hole. The above lines are contained in a poem with true reluctant reader appeal. They beg the question, who is this wily beast? But the answer isn’t immediately forthcoming as we must search through the photograph on the opposite page to find the cunning critter. Where in the Wild? Camouflaged Creatures Concealed and Revealed (Tricycle, $15.95) is going to interest your reading-averse kids. The poems are short and catchy. Kids must search through the accompanying photo for the featured animal camouflaged in their native environment. When they lift the flap, they’ll see where the animal’s been hiding as well as learn some interesting facts about it. With ear-tickling poems by David M. Schwartz and Yael Schy and eye-tricking photos by Dwight Kuhn, kids are going to vie to be the first reader of this cool nature book. Where did I spy Where in the Wild? At my local independent children’s bookstore, Pooh’s Corner! P.S. The answer to this riddle? The weasel. |
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Ice Cream: The Full Scoop Before even opening the book, you’re hooked. After all, who doesn’t like ice cream? From its humble beginnings over 300 years ago to the present day, you can find ice cream in almost every country (and climate) of the world. We eat it on hot summer days, dripping vanilla and chocolate down our chins. We scoop it onto birthday cakes or make ice cream sundaes with syrup, sprinkles and a bright red cherry. But how many of us really know where ice cream first came from? Do you know how it is mass-produced? What exactly is a banana split? Ice Cream: The Full Scoop offers one stop shopping for all your ice cream questions. Gail Gibbons opened her crayon box to create her playful illustrations. Full-page spreads with text written at the bottom of the page gives her a large palate to create detail. Her coloring book style leans towards soft round shapes and swirls, giving the images a subconscious feeling of scoops of ice cream. Many of us have played the swimming pool game “Marco Polo”, but did you know that he is also credited with bringing the recipes for flavored ices from |
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The Ultimate Weapon: “I made one great mistake in my life—when I signed the letter to President Roosevelt recommending that an atomic bomb be made.” (Albert Einstein, Physicist) Filled with fascinating details (did you know that Moe Berg, a Boston Red Sox catcher, joined the OSS when World War II started?) and illustrated with intriguing, well-captioned photos and maps, The Ultimate Weapon examines the events and spotlights the people who were involved with the building and deployment of the atomic bomb in the |
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