Picture books are my all-time favorite genre! Especially because of the wide variety of ways they present factual information. Have a look at AVIARY WONDERS, INC. by Kate Samworth (Clarion Books, 2014) and you’ll know exactly what I mean. The subtitle, “Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual” gives a hint at what lies between the covers of this fabulous book.
I can’t do it justice here, but what I love about AVIARY WONDERS is that it is so unlike other picture books about topics that are – or appear to be, as is the case with this book – nonfiction. The premise – a catalog of birds and bird parts, organized by function – is quite imaginative. Laid out like a holiday catalog, readers will find a visual encyclopedia of fascinating birds and bird parts – wings, bodies, beaks, etc,
Perfect for kids who love DK books and other illustrated nonfiction or fiction, AVIARY WONDERS (winner of the 2014 Kirkus Young Readers’ Prize) is a book well worth adding to a classroom, library, or bookstore collection.
All month the ReaderKidZ have been posting about OUR NATURAL WORLD and we want to make sure teachers and librarians know about an amazing new website called, The Nonfiction Minute. With the roll-out of Common Core and interest at the state and district level in increasing student exposure to nonfiction, this site is a goldmine!
Each post includes a short nonfiction piece about a fascinating topic, along with photos and illustrations on the subject. The author of each post also reads that day’s entry, so teachers with Smart Boards can pull up the site and have students follow along as the author reads the day’s “nonfiction minute.”
Both a wonderful tool for teachers and a fascinating source of nonfiction anecdotes and facts, The Nonfiction Minute could easily become part of a classroom morning routine.
To whet your appetite, here are the links to two of this week’s posts:
When a Jet Wore a Costume by Amy Nathan about a small jet plane that wore fake propellers during test flying at Wright Field. And the test pilot? The first American woman to pilot a jet aircraft!
Author Carrie Pearson has penned two books in which she explores the biological seasonal changes in a creatively contrasted manner. In A Warm Winter Tail and A Cool Summer Tail (published by Sylvan Dell), she inhabits the minds of young animals who wonder if human children prepare for the change in seasons in the same way that they do.
In A Warm Winter Tail, baby deer wonder if humans grow hollow hair to keep warm in the winter. Baby frogs ask if human body parts freeze. Baby bears ask if humans get plump and sleep in a lump. Likewise, a young boy asks his mother if animals stay warm by bundling up in scarves, jackets, and boots. He is assured that their bodies know how to stay warm in the winter. No need for buttons or bows.
A Cool Summer Tail features a baby fox asking his mother if humans stay cool in the summer by hanging out their tongues and panting. Baby bees ask if humans cool their hives by using their wings to blow in air, thus helping the Queen to survive. Baby hummingbirds wonder if humans migrate in search of a cooler summer home. In the end, a boy asks his mother if animals splash in a swimming pool to stay cool.
In addition to the plethora of free online information offered on the publisher’s website, the final pages of both books include four pages of rich learning activities. These lessons, paired with Illustrator Christina Wald’s lovely detailed work and Pearson’s intriguing text, will undoubtedly enhance any study of the natural world and the fascinating creatures that inhabit it.
Today, guest blogger Monica Harris picks six great poetry collections to help kids learn about natural science.
POETRY– like the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline, poetry can provide a rhythmic and emotionally stimulating way of looking at the world around us. Without actually studying the mechanics of poetry, young readers can appreciate the wonders of the world in smaller, bite-sized snippets.
Poetry Friday Anthology for Science published by Pomelo Books is a must for teachers, librarians, or homeschoolers as they integrate poetry into their curriculum. Based on the concept of Poetry Fridays, the book is a collection of poems with a specific theme – science. Student editions are available for a classroom set and the teacher edition has several activities for each poem.
Hey There, Stink Bug! By Leslie Bulion (ages 7-10) is an anthology of bug poems and is the trifecta for the eager bug lover! Each poem focuses on a specific bug. It is followed by scientific facts about that bug, and there’s a moderate level of grossness to the information. Kids will love this!
Nest, Nook & Cranny by Susan Blackaby (ages 9-12) offers a variety of poetic forms and explores the many kinds of homes animals make. Also includes back matter about habitats and writing poetry (using the poems in the book as examples).
In the Tall, Tall Grass & In the Small, Small Pond by author/illustrator Denise Fleming (ages 4-8). Both books do an amazing job of visually captivating the reader while also nibbling at their ear with the active word choices. Young readers will easily connect with these backyard scenes and hopefully be inspired to look at their world more closely.
A Warm Winter Tail & A Cool Summer Tail by Carrie A. Pearson both have a wonderful twist on looking at nature. They examine how animals adapt to winter or summer weather but from the perspective of baby and mother animals that are pondering how humans adapt. Lyrical language and the volley of discussions between young one and parent are absolutely delightful.
Monica is an author, assessment writer, and creative writing instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature. She has 15 published books and over 225 magazine publications. She considers herself an eclectic writer because she writes about anything – ticks, roosters with laryngitis, and even a loud boy who wakes up the dead. Monica lives with her husband in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she enjoys hiking, belly dancing, and strolling through cemeteries. Learn more here.
This week, guest blogger Monica Harris has picked a peck of nonfiction, fiction and poetry that will feed young readers hungry for information about the natural world. Today is fiction.
For readers who want to discover the natural world through a story setting, there are plenty of books that deal with the environment, animals, and plants.
Holly Wild Series by Lori Taylor (ages 7-12) are set in the woods of Michigan. Holly Wild is a young naturalist who loves investigating the outdoors. She and her helpful friends (the GeEK – Geo-Explorer Kids) examine Michigan habitat, legends and myths, plus science in a mid-grade mystery setting. Readers are encouraged to draw in the book (how cool is that?) and activities promote environmental literacy. I love that the protagonist is a young girl who isn’t afraid to get dirty. We need to encourage more young girls into the sciences and this series does an excellent job of that.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (ages 8-12) is a Newbery Honor Book, an ALA notable book, and winner of the Hans Christian Anderson Award Honor Book. In this story, a young boy named Sam Gribley runs away from home into the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. He builds a home in a hollowed out tree and learns to survive with the companionship of a falcon and a weasel. If your reader likes this book, make sure to recommend the sequel books, On The Far Side of the Mountain and Frightful’s Mountain, that both look at Sam’s continued story.
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen (ages 10+) is another Newbery Honor Book with a heightened sense of tension for your advanced reader. The protagonist, Brian Robeson, is flying to visit his father when the single-engine plane he’s traveling in crashes. Brian is left alone in the Canadian wilderness with a jacket and a hatchet, which his mother gave him as a gift. Brian must learn to survive in his unfamiliar surroundings while also dealing with his past. If your reader enjoys this story, you can also recommend The River (ages 10+), which is a sequel to Hatchet, or Brian’s Song (ages 10+) which examines what would have happened if the Brian wasn’t rescued at the end of Hatchet.
On Friday, we’ll explore the natural world through POETRY!
Monica is an author, assessment writer, and creative writing instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature. She has 15 published books and over 225 magazine publications. She considers herself an eclectic writer because she writes about anything – ticks, roosters with laryngitis, and even a loud boy who wakes up the dead. Monica lives with her husband in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she enjoys hiking, belly dancing, and strolling through cemeteries. Learn more here.
Having a teaching background, I know how important it is to be able to explain a concept six different ways for six different types of learners. So when it comes to sharing the natural world with readers, why limit their exposure to just one ‘explanation’ or genre? This week, let’s examine inspiration for kids in nonfiction, fiction and poetry.
NONFICTION – Young kids are naturally curious and finding a book on a specific topic is like a treasure hunt. Want to know the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? There’s a book on that! Want to learn the life cycle of a butterfly? There’s a book on that! I want to share a few books that cater to that nonfiction-based learner.
Natural Disasters / Ready to Read Series written by Marion Dane Bauer (ages 4-6) are fabulous books for young readers who want to know scientific explanations on such things as earthquakes, volcanoes, clouds, wind, and rain. These books might also ease the worries of young kids who live in effected regions but I highly recommend they be shared with a parent. That would allow further discussion on the emotions that often revolve around such disasters.
Children’s Activity Atlas by Jenny Slater (ages 5-9) features illustrated maps about different continents and the wildlife, food, architecture, and culture found in each. Includes reusable stickers, postcards, and a pocket-size passport that kids can stamp to track their learning. For the reader who would like to feel like a mini-expert about a certain area, this might be right up their alley.
The Usborne Illustrated Encyclopedia: The Natural World by Lisa Watts (ages 10+) is a great resource for non-fiction learners who love fabulous illustrations, are eager for project suggestions, and eat up facts about animals and plants. This book is like an open box of chocolates – there’s a little something for everyone. In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with Usborne books, but this one focuses specifically on the natural world.
Later this week we’ll explore the natural world through fiction!
Monica is an author, assessment writer, and creative writing instructor with the Institute of Children’s Literature. She has 15 published books and over 225 magazine publications. She considers herself an eclectic writer because she writes about anything – ticks, roosters with laryngitis, and even a loud boy who wakes up the dead. Monica lives with her husband in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she enjoys hiking, belly dancing, and strolling through cemeteries. Learn more here.
Searching for a Halloween book that’s not scary? Then be sure to have a peek at NOT VERY SCARY by Carol Brendler, illustrated by Greg Pizzoli, winner of the 2014 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award.
This cumulative tale is rich with repetition, alliteration, and one brave little monster – Melly – who is – well, maybe – just a teensy bit afraid. Pair this book with another cumulative Halloween classic, BIG PUMPKIN, by Erica Silverman, illustrated by S.D. Schindler, and you’ll have a winning combination.
For more great books, check out this recent Horn Book “BOO!” post on the best “spooktacular” new books of the season.
Mission Statement
To provide teachers, librarians, and parents with the resources and inspiration to foster a love of reading in kids, K-5.
