Books for Young Scientists

There are so many good books for young people who are interested in science and the study of the world around us. Most of these are not technically nonfiction, but have plenty of factual elements in them. Perhaps my favorite of this group are the two based on women scientists, Rachel Carson and Katherine Johnson. Both lived in an era when it was unusual for a woman to pursue a career in science or math and they both overcame the odds to live their lives immersed in their chosen fields. Enjoy sharing these books with children you know!

Spring After Spring : How Rachel Carson Inspired the Environmental Movement by Stephanie Roth Sisson

A brief biography of Rachel Carson with highlights that tell of her journey to writing Silent Spring. Sisson has done a masterful job of writing and illustrating a book that can be understood by children and adults alike. She shows how miniscule poisons can affect not only bird’s eggs, but the wildlife that eat the birds as well, and ultimately the humans in the environment. The book ends with a brief note on the importance of Silent Spring to the environmental movement as well as additional information about the story that is being told on each page. Perhaps a copy of this should be sent to the Trump administration.

Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13 by Helaine Becker, Illustrations by Dow Phumiruk

A short biography of Katherine Johnson, the mathematician who worked on several manned space flights, including the one that landed Americans on the moon for the first time. Katherine was an amazing math wizard and a self-effacing woman who achieved at the highest level allowed for a Black woman of her time. Becker interviewed Katherine before writing this book and includes additional notes on her life at the end.

Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty, Illustrated by David Litchfield

Tongue in cheek, earth speaks to the reader giving a bit of history and telling us how to take care of the planet we know of as home. While most events and information are given only a superficial treatment, McAnulty does a great job of introducing big ideas to children: what is a planet, why we should take care of the earth, etc. She concludes with a few additional facts as well as sources for her information. Get the scoop on Planet Earth!

One Day a Dot by Ian Lendle, illustrated by Shelli Paroline & Braden Lamb

Clever use of metaphor to tell the story of the Big Bang Theory appropriately for children. Moving quickly from the first life on earth to the cavemen and beyond, Lendle gives information in a way that children can relate. He even leaves room for questions and discussion. Where did that first dot come from anyway?

Hello, My Name is … by Marisa Polansky, Pictures by Joey Chou

As a small octopus floats into new territory, he realizes that all the other sea creature have names that reflect what they look like or what they can do. But, this little sea creature has no name, until a scientist taps on the tank window and calls him Adorabilis. While the story is told in an anthropomorphic way, it is based on facts and the end notes explain who Adorabilis was found and how this creature got its name.

What’s Your Favorite Bug? Eric Carle and Multiple Authors

In the tradition of Eric Carle and friends, this book poses one question and has multiple answers from many well known illustrators. This means that each page is illustrated in a different style giving us Carle’s colorful caterpillar as well as Eric Fan’s personified working bee complete with bowler hat and briefcase. Lots of fun details about the work that insects do for us as well.

If Polar Bears Disappeared by Lily Williams 

Another book about the effects of humans on the environment. While Williams uses big words and huge concepts to tell the story of what is likely to happen to polar bears, much of this book can be explained to young children with time and patience. The end notes give ideas that all of us can try to alleviate our negative effect on the environment. Throughout the story, multiethnic children encounter a variety of wildlife in nature. Let’s hope that this is something that can continue for many more generations.

Hawk Rising by Maria Gianferrari, Pictures by Brian Floca

A young girl watches a hawk family as young chicks hatch and the male hawk hunts for prey throughout the day. Poetic language matches the dreamy illustrations, giving a soft, hazy view of the hawk chasing and finally catching a small animal. The book ends with facts about raptors and hawks in particular. This will need to be read with care as it is clear that the hawk will kill and eat the squirrel it finally catches and young readers may need some context within the cycle of life.

Water Land: Land and Water Forms Around the World by Christy Hale

A concept book told with limited words and a refined color palette. Hale illustrates each land and water form with yellows, blues and simple cutouts to make her point. The end of the book is a foldout page with a map of the world, labeled with the vocabulary used throughout the book. Simple enough for first grade, but extremely useful for older learners who need to master this vocabulary.

Summer Reading: Where did the time go?

The Truth about Hippos and The Truth about Bears and The Truth about Dolphins by Maxwell Eaton III

   

All three of these books are filled with facts about the respective animals and while the facts are interesting and true, it would be difficult to classify them as nonfiction. The author uses a self-referential metafictional style to tell the story that keeps even the most bored student interested. These would be great books to use as a model for a report on animals. Ask the students to read and them copy the style to make their own metafictional report.

Words and Your Heart by Kate Jane Neal

The first thing that you notice when encountering this book is the red cover and the red, black and white drawings throughout. The second thing is that the author is speaking directly to the reader and trying to get their attention. While the message of this book could be perceived as somewhat didactic, the illustrations keep the tone light, fanciful and not so much of an I-told-you-so book as a suggestion book. This book needs to be read more than once for the message to sink in. To label it simply as an anti-bullying book does not do it justice. Check it out.

Nerdy Birdy Tweets by Aaron Reynolds, Pictures by Matt Davies

And now we have it, a story of two birds, one ignores the other to play online with Tweety Friends. How do they resolve their issues when tweeting gets in the way of their friendship?  Modern day book on manners in the age of electronic toys.

Not so Different: What you Really Want to Ask about Having a Disability by Shane Vurcaw with photographs by Matt Carr

Shane Burcaw has Spinal Muscular Atrophy which is a long name for a disease that causes his muscles to be very weak. He has had this disease since birth and it causes him to be in a wheelchair. In spite of this, Shane has a very positive outlook on life and has written this book to help others, particularly children, understand a little about his disability. One of the things I like about this book is that it is told in the first person. This is Shane’s story and there is no reason why he cannot tell it. While Shane never says it, it is clear that he does not see himself as disabled, rather he is differently abled. He gives frank answers to questions that he receives frequently in his life and he speaks from his heart.

Hooked by Tommy Greenwald, Illustrations by David McPhail

How can a father become close to his child? This could be an alternative name for this book. Joe loves to fish and his dad (perhaps a single father) emphatically does not like fishing. Until one day when Joe really needs his dad to go with him on an ice-fishing trip. Joe and his dad form a special bond that day; they talk and laugh and share memories while making new memories. And, finally, Joe’s dad is hooked on fishing. And that is how a father becomes close to his child.

The Bat Can Bat: A Book of True Homonyms by Gene Barretta

As Barretta explains in the beginning of this delightful book, a homonym represents a pair of words that are spelled the same, pronounced the same and have different meanings, like bat and bat. They are not to be confused with homophones which are spelled differently, but sound the same, like sea and see; or with homographs, which are spelled the same, but pronounced differently: like tear and tear. Barretta has set the book up to tell a story about animals playing various sports and uses at least one homonym on every two page spread. Sometimes, he cleverly works two homonym pairs into a single sentence like this one: “So, the FLY has to DUCK and the DUCK has to FLY.” Well, I’d say this was well done!

Vincent Comes Home by Jessixa Bagley and Aron Bagley

Vincent is a cat who lives on a cargo ship. He enjoys his life, eating fish, chasing seagulls and watching the stars in the night sky. But, he is unhappy because he does not get to go home. Finally, when docking in home port, he follows one of the sailors to see if he can find out what this place called home is and he finds that “Home is where the people who love you are.” With this realization, Vincent is unhappy because he feels he must not have a home. Just then, the captain finds him wandering the streets of the city, picks him up and says, “Let’s go home!” Vincent’s home is with the captain and the sailors, on the ship. A great way to introduce the idea of alternative homes and the importance of people in our concept of what a home is.

Goldenlocks and the Three Pirates  by April Jones Prince, Pictures by Steven Salerno

Following the trajectory of Goldylocks and the Three Bears, Jones introduces three dastardly pirates and then follows Goldenlocks around their ship, tasting gruel, and mending stools and hammocks. The use of sea-faring language gives an added dimension to the story, which is also enhanced by the liberal use of alliteration. Goldenlocks proves to be so handy that they invite her to join them on their ship. Fracture Fairy Tales could not have done better.

Books for Babies and Toddlers

Spring has brought our family a new baby. Congratulations, Zack and Lacey! In honor of the new little one and all our grand nieces and nephews, here are a few books for babies and toddlers. So much love here!

 

 

The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan, Pictures by Tom Knight

Tongue in cheek, told in the voice of a toddler, explaining to her dad why he can’t sleep in the big bed anymore. There really is room only for two people and that would be Mommy and the child. Sorry, Daddy, but, you’ll just have to sleep on the cot next to the big bed from now on. Hmm, Wonder if this would work?

 

Love, Mama by Jeanette Bradley

When the little penguin’s mother goes off on a trip, maybe travelling for business, little Kip misses her terribly and cannot be comforted by pillows or pictures of Mama. But, when a box of goodies arrives from his Mama, he is comforted by the knowledge that his Mama loves him and thinks of him every day. A reminder to tell others every day how much we love them.

 

The Boy and the Blue Moon by Sara O’Leary, illustrated by Ashley Crowley

What do you do when you wake up in the night and cannot go back to sleep? The boy in this story explores the fields around his house and flies to the moon. When he gets lonely on the moon, he returns home, and falls asleep. I might try this next time I have a sleepless night.

 

The ABC Animal Orchestra by Donald Saaf

An alphabet book with an animal and an instrument on every page. Each letter is represented by four of five words and the words catch most of the multiple pronunciations of English letters. Take C for example: chimpanzee, cymbals, car cat and camera. Time to go check out the drum playing dog and the hedgehog playing harmonica.

 

Everything You by Elizabeth McPike, Pictures by Jay Fleck

No matter what baby animal is shown, it is special to two animal parents. Each baby gets the royal treatment because “You’re every HAPPY ENDING, our fairy-tale you./ You’re everything WONDROUS, the stars and moon knew.” Each animal is drawn in outline form with uncluttered backgrounds. Even the chicken has an expression of love on her face. We do love our babies!

 

I Love You for Miles and Miles by Alison Goldberg, Pictures by Mike Yamada

We often hear folks say, “I love you to the moon and back.” How else could we express that love? Wider than the widest big rig? Deeper than the deepest drill? Faster than the fastest fire truck? Working with anything that moves or builds or attracts toddlers’ attention, Goldberg has quantified love in a way that our littlest ones will understand. Bears with various colored t-shirts illustrate each two-page spread. Gender is neutral, so the reader can interpret as she/he feels led.  

 

Bunny Built by Michael Slack

LaRue cannot find any carrots, no matter where he looks or who he asks. His friends are out of carrots as well and he notices that Nevil has lost his boat, Stella has lost her house and Ivy has lost her table. But, LaRue finds a huge carrot seed which he plants and nurtures until he has a giant carrot, which he then cuts up like lumber and builds a boat, a house and a table. Lots of ways to use this book in a preschool class: compassion, resourcefulness, cause and effect and vocabulary!

 

The Little Fire Truck by Margery Cuyler, illustrated by bob Kolar

Cuyler tells her story about a fire-truck and the fire-fighters in rhyme. The illustrations are brightly colored and use simple lines to abstractly represent the fire fighters and their surroundings. On the first page, the firetruck driver is introduced as Jill. Nice touch! I thought. But, it turned out, that’s all it was, a little touch of gender neutrality. Although I looked on page after page, I only saw one other fire woman, and no police women. How hard is it to show women doing traditionally male jobs?

 

Peep and Egg: I’m Not Taking a Bath by Laura Gehl, Pictures by Joyce Wan

Following the usual pattern of Peep and Egg books, Egg gets dirty and Peep wants him to take a bath. But, Egg is not going to take a bath willingly! Several scenarios are presented, and Egg refuses them all: Too wet, too splashy, too fast, too fishy. So, Peep uses reverse psychology and takes all the bath toys to the pond. It works, and Egg gets a bath and does not want to come out. I haven’t yet understood what makes these books popular, but if they are getting kids to love books, who am I to argue?

 

You’re All Kinds of Wonderful by Nancy Tillman

The author of On the Night You Were Born is back with another beautifully illustrated book about the importance of each individual. I cannot say enough about the pictures in this book. They are lush and creative, the colors are exquisite and the children in the illustrations represent multiple ethnicities, both genders and many sizes. There is even a child who might have Down Syndrome. While the rhyme schemes are sometimes forced, the sentiment is as beautiful as the illustrations. Share this with your favorite child and you will both feel good when you are done!

 

If animals Said I Love You by Ann Whitford Paul, Pictures by David Walker

Imaginative, joyful, lush, loving. What else can I say about a book that tries to tell us how animals might say, “I love you” ? Told in rhyme, this is a perfect book to read before bed or naptime, or anytime you want to tell your toddler how much you love her!

 

 

 

Fantasy in picture books

While most picture books are full of fantasy, some is more fantastical than others. Here is a small selection of picture books for young children. Each book is full of fantasy at a high level, from a talking egg in Humpty Dumpty and the Peep and Egg stories to a troop of monkeys going to sea in Phillip Stead's latest book, to a cow who is not just a cow, but also an inventor, you will find not only fantasy, but hilarity through and through! Enjoy!

The Only Fish in the Sea by Philip Stead, illustrated by Matthew Cordell

When Little Amy Scott throws an unwanted goldfish into the sea, she starts a chain of events that are so ridiculous, so over the top, so hilarious, the reader cannot help but be engaged. Sadie and Sherman go to sea with a troop of monkeys and special rain gear to rescue a fish they call Ellsworth. And Little Amy is all alone at her birthday party. The illustrations are busy enough to keep up with all the developments in the story and show a few extra details to keep everyone’s imagination engaged. 

After the Fall by Dan Santat

What happened to Humpty Dumpty after he fell off the wall? If you ever wondered this, you are about to find out. Santat, who won a Caldecott medal for The Adventures of Beekle, lets Humpty tell his own story through words and pictures; a story of pain and sadness, but also of triumph in the end.

Prudence the Part-Time Cow by Jody Jensen Shaffer, illustrated by Stephanie Laberis

A new twist on what to do if you don’t fit in with your “herd.” Prudence is a cow, but she is so much more; she is an inventor, a scientist, an architect. All of this thinking and activity make her unpopular with the rest of the cows and she just doesn’t fit in. Finally, she figures out a way to use her inventions for the good of the herd and everyone is her friend. Maybe a little simplistic, but we are talking about talking cows here.

Flo Story by Kyo Maclear, Pictures by Jay Fleck

 

Flo is a small panda, in fact, she is the smallest panda in the group. She likes to stop and play with butterflies or talk to the moon, but the bigger pandas have all her time filled up with important activities. If you have ever been the smallest in your group; or if you just like to figure out how to use your time, then this is the book for you. Take a minute to get floppy with Flo.

Thunder Horse by Eve Bunting, Illustrated by Dennis Nolan

A modern-day fairy tale about a magical Thunder Horse who comes from a hidden Greek island. A young girl gets the thunder horse from her aunt as a present, but she is told as he grows, he will not stay with her forever. This amazing tale is illustrated with dreamy pictures of the horse and the girl that makes even those who do not love horses want to be in the story. But, who does not love horses, and magic and wondrous stories?

Floaty by John Himmelman

A preposterous story if I ever saw one! I know Wes will love it. Mr. Raisin, looking somewhat like Mr. Magoo of years gone by, likes to sit in his house and sew. One day a basket is deposited on his doorstep that hold and unusual dog. The dog floats. Luckily, Mr. Raisin realizes this before he sends the dog back out the door. He must throw food up in the air to feed the dog and put him on a leash to walk him outdoors. Eventually, he names the dog Floaty. What happens when the leash breaks? Read and find out how Mr. Raisin solves this problem.

Peep and Egg: I’m Not Using the Potty by Laura Gehl, Pictures by Joyce Wan

Peep and Egg are back and this time Egg is refusing to use the Potty. If you have a reluctant toddler, you may try using this book to encourage a new skill.

New Biographies for Children and a Few Books for Spring

There are some absolutely fantastic biographies coming out these days. I especially enjoyed reading some of the books about strong, smart women who have accomplished great things, like Jane Austen, Marie Curie and Ada Lovelace. Read about these famous women and men and enjoy just a few books about spring. Maybe it's finally here!

 

Who Says Women Can’t be Computer Programmers? The Story of Ada Lovelace by Tanya Lee Stone, Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman

The true story of Ada, the daughter of Lord Byron, who excelled in math and wrote about a machine that could do many of the things our modern day computers can do. Ada was encouraged in math, but not imagination, by her mother who wanted her to be different from her father, who was a poet, but very irresponsible. In dreaming of computers, Ada was able to do both use her math knowledge and her imagination. And we can only imagine if women were taken seriously in the 1800s, where the computing world would be today!

Little Sid: The Tiny Prince Who Became Buddha by Ian Lendler, Illustrated by Xanthe Bauma

A biographical book that is told as a fairy tale or perhaps a metaphor. While Siddhartha Gautama was born a prince, he was unhappy that others were suffering. He decided to live his life practicing “kind thoughts, kind deeds and meditation.” In this way, he became known as “the Buddha” meaning “he who is awake.” A great way to introduce children to the fourth largest religion in the world.

 

Marie Curie by Demi

Imagine life in Poland in 1867, not only are all school children required to learn their lessons in Russian, girls/women are not allowed to go to college. For a young girl like Manya Sklodowska, known to most of us as Marie Curie, this was an unacceptable proposition. Facing many financial and physical hardships, young Manya still made a deal with her sister Bronya that Manya would work to put Bronya through college in paris and when Bronya was finished, she would put Manya through college. With lovely stylized pictures and vignettes from Marie’s life, Demi tells the story of one amazing woman. Curie was the first person to win two Nobel prizes and is now only one of four people to have done so.

 

Mama Africa! How Miraim Makeba Spread Hope with her Song by Kathryn Erskine, illustrated by Charley Palmer

A rather wordy picture book that tells the story of Makeba, Mama Africa, who sang for the freedom of her people in South Africa. While the words tell the tale, the illustrations carry the day in this book. Palmer uses color and light and darkness to indicate tone and mood. His impressionistic paintings bring the story to life and give us a glimpse into the lives of those living under Apartheid. There is always room on my shelf for one more book about a strong woman who made a difference.

 

Meet Cindy Sherman: Artist, Photographer, Chameleon by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

A cross between a picture book and a short chapter biography, this tells the story of Cindy Sherman who grew up on Long Island, in a “normal” household, but somehow the artist in her must come out. Cindy works on her art in a different way than many people, taking pictures of life around her, but also manipulating the life around her to then take pictures. One clever thing here is that children were asked to view some of her photographs and give their opinion. Reading the ways these children interpret Sherman’s art is a great way to get a new view on art.

 

Antsy Ansel: Ansel Adams, A Life in Nature by Cindy Jenson-Elliot, illustrated by Christy Hale

Renowned for his photography, Ansel Adams was a busy young man. As Jenson-Elliot writes, he sounds like a boy who would be identified as ADHD today. But, back in the day, he was taken out of school and allowed to learn on his own time. Look at the result. This book is not just valuable because it tells the story of a famous man. It is valuable because it tells us how to treat boys who are antsy to get the best results, a lesson for both parents and teachers! I love both the illustrations and the writing in this book, an all-around winner!

 

A Boy, a Mouse and a Spider: The Story of E. B. White by Barbara Herkert, illustrated by Lauren Castillo

Are you one of the millions of people who love Charlotte’s Web and Stuart Little? Here is the story behind the story. What inspired E. B. White to write these beloved books for children? While Herkert goes into details about what White was like as a child, she glosses over his adult life. What was he like as a father? Why did he leave New York for Maine? How did he spend his time when he wasn’t writing children’s books. Although there are many unanswered questions, the story of White’s childhood and the gentle, soft illustrations draw you in just like White’s own stories did.

 

Brave Jane Austen: Reader, Writer, Author, Rebel by Lisa Pliscou, Illustrated by Jen Corace

What is it about Jane Austen that makes so many generations of readers love her? Is it that she wrote about real women in a time when so many did not write about women or if they did, they wrote about the idealized version of a woman that even those who lived in the 1800s would not recognize her? Or perhaps it’s just because she is one of the greatest authors who ever lived! Pilscou has examined Austen’s background and written a picture book biography that is accessible to third grade and above. Let’s hope this will whet the appetite of a new generation of Austen lovers!

 

Spectacular Spring: All Kinds of Spring Facts and Fun by Bruce Goldstone

Here’s the book that tells all about spring, what does it look like, smell like, sounds like? What holidays do we celebrate in spring? Wat are animals doing in spring? Goldstone has answers for all of these questions and more. He even includes some great crafts for spring. Have fun!

 

On the Farm, At the Market by G. Brian Karas

Moving from vegetable farm to cheese dairy farm to mushroom farm and finally on to the market, Karas tells the story of several farmers and the life they lead getting food to market for us to buy and eat. I especially like the last line: “Anyone who thinks farming is a simple job should talk to a farmer—and then say “thank you!”

Newbery and Caldecott Winners 2018

 The winners for children’s literature awards through the American Library Association were announced in February. There are many great books that were honored this year.  Some interesting qualities from the eight books that were honored here. One book (Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James) won both a Caldecott Honor and a Newbery Honor. All four Newbery winners and two of the five Caldecott winners featured children of color (Filipino, Japanese, African American and Vietnamese). Two of the four Newbery winners were for young adults rather than for younger readers, books that generally win the Newbery award; and one of the four was a picture book, leaving only the Medal winner (Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly) as a more traditional middle grade book in the winner’s circle. The Caldecott winner (Wolf in the Snow, written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell) is a wordless picture book.

 

My favorite of the Newbery winners was one of the honor books. Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson tells the story of Jade, an African American teenager who attends a privileged private school in Portland. OR. Jade is an artist who uses collage to make her art pieces.

At the beginning of her junior year, she is offered the opportunity to participate in a mentoring program called Woman to Woman. While Jade did not necessarily want to participate, her participation as a mentee meant that she would receive a full scholarship to college, a deal that her mother said she could not pass up. Jade’s mentor is an African American woman who attended the same school Jade is now attending. But, that is where the similarities end. Maxine is from a wealthy family, used to giving not receiving charity.

Each page of this book gives new insights, memorable quotes and excellent writing. After the first mentor/mentee meeting, Jade reflects as she walks to the bus, “I don’t really want to learn about the polluted river. [Referring to the activism that calls for the girls to clean up the river where they live as espoused by the leader.] I want to move where the water is clean.” Later, when Jade is meeting a new friend’s grandparents, she reflects on what it would be like to live in one place, to own a home. “Mama says people who don’t own their homes don’t have any real power.” While I am opposite to Jade in so many ways, I’m old, she’s young, I’m white, she’s black, I have the privilege of money, while she is materially poor, I identified with her in so many ways. This is writing of the highest power. I will soon be searching out other books by Watson and know I will be a fan of hers for many years to come.

 

Hello, Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly is the story of four children, all Americans, but with various backgrounds. Virgil is Filipino, Kaori is Japanese American, Valencia is deaf, and Chet is a bully who is in turn bullied by his father, both Chet and Valencia are white. These four children converge on a wooded area at the beginning of summer vacation with surprising results. Told in a variety of voices, the story jumps from one main character to the next, with Valencia being the only one whose story is told in the first person. This would be an excellent book for a read aloud in third or fourth grade. It would also be a good book to pair with the graphic novel, El Deafo by Cece Bell which won a Newbery Honor in 2015. They both make me want to ask, why do we assume that a person who is hearing impaired is also intellectually challenged?

 

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds uses free verse to tell the story of Will, an African American teen whose brother has just been shot. Will is determined to follow the three rules his brother taught him: Don’t Cry, Don’t Snitch, Take Revenge. So, Will finds his brother Shawn’s gun and gets ready to take revenge. As he moves down the elevator from floor to floor, he encounters ghosts of several people he has known who have been killed by gun violence within his city. Sparse verse evokes great emotion and questions without answers. Any teacher who works in middle or high schools would welcome this book as a way to start the conversation on gun violence in inner-city populations.

 

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James

Crown won both a Newbery Honor and a Caldecott Honor, an unusual, but not unprecedented occurrence. This captivating book gives credence to the importance of the barber shop in the African American community. As the award page says, “A boy walks into a barbershop; a prince walks out.” The positive emotions evoked in this book give the reader, black or white, a feeling of peace and happiness, a tall order from a picture book, but one which this book can fulfill.

 

Wolf in the Snow, written and illustrated by Matthew Cordell

Winner of the Caldecott Medal for 2018, is a wordless picture book reviewed here in September: A wonderful wordless picture book that can be used to start story telling in a myriad of ways. A young person leaves school and finds a young wolf who is separated from its pack. The child carries the wolf to its family and then the wolves protect the child who is now lost in a snowy world. Themes of friendship, caring for nature, reciprocal favors, family love are all evident and ones that fit into many classroom units. (All ages, no words, so you get to make up your own!)

 

Big Cat, Little Cat by Elisha Cooper

Also reviewed here in May, 2017. When the little cat comes into the big cat’s life, the big cat shows Little Cat the ropes, how to be and how to do; they exist together for many years, until Big Cat grows old and dies. A wonderful circular story of pets, or are the cats substitutes for people? Many complexities from this simply story. Cooper likes to write about cats and she does so fantastically!

 

A Different Pond by Bao Phi, Illustrated by Thi Bui

A young Vietnamese-American boy goes with his father to fish in the pond. The fishing is a form of recreation as well as a time for the father and son to spend together. But, it is also apparent in this story that the fishing is not just recreation, but a needed source of food for the family.

The father works long days, but gets up early to head to the pond. “I am thinking about what Dad told the bait man. ‘If you got another job, why do we still have to fish for food?’ I ask./’everything in America costs a lot of money,’ he explains.”

 

Grand Canyon written and illustrated by Jason Chin

This amazing nonfiction book gives the history of the Grand Canyon as well as lessons on the flora and fauna of the area. Chin’s illustrations are intricately rendered, each double page spread a wonderful view of the canyon, bordered by the animals and plants that populate the canyon. A fascinating read for young and old alike.