OWLS! Strange and Wonderful
by Laurence Pringle; Illustrated by Meryl Henderson
Boyds Mills Press (March 16, 2016)
Nonfiction * Animals * Birds
Audience: Grades 2 to 4
Indiebound | Worldcat
Educator's Guide
About the book:
This latest installment in the popular Strange and Wonderful series by Laurence Pringle is an easy-to-read and comprehensive introduction to owl species from all over the world. Stuffed with scintillating science facts and large, colored illustrations from Meryl Henderson, this great educational book is sure to resonate with young animal lovers seeking to learn more about these elusive ghost birds.
From the tiny elf owl that weighs less than two ounces to the Eurasian eagle owl that can have a wing span of over five feet, each individual species is described and masterfully pictured in vivid detail through clear, informative text with accompanying artwork. Various facets of the owls’ lives are discussed, including their habitats, diet, mating habits, vision, physiology, digestion, and parenting. This miniature encyclopedia, complete with a glossary, index, and further resources, offers a wealth of knowledge to aspiring avian enthusiasts and contains enough factoids to allow even fledgling readers to soar to new heights.
Quick thoughts:
Laurence Pringle's Strange and Wonderful series continues with OWLS! Young readers learn about early perceptions people have about owls and then the book delves into facts and information about various species of owls.
Readers learn about the size and physical characteristics of owls to ways owls communicate to hunting patterns to mating behaviors and more.
As I read through the book, I was surprised by some of the facts and realized how little true facts I knew about owls and how fascinated I was about the information I learned from this introduction to these amazing birds.
Back matter includes a glossary, additional resources and sources.
The Slowest Book Ever
by April Pulley Sayre; Illustrated by Kelly Murphy
Boyds Mills Press (April 5, 2016)
Nonfiction * Science & Nature * Discoveries
Audience: Grades 2 to 7
Indiebound | Worldcat
Educator's Guide
About the book:
April Pulley Sayre’s wry, quirky storytelling tone shines from the warning on the first page (“This is a S-L-O-W book. Do not read it while surfing, water skiing, or running to escape giant weasels.”) right through to the glossary at the end. In between, readers will explore an astounding variety of information about all things slow—in nature, geology, art, outer space, etc. Throughout, The SLOWEST Book EVER playfully encourages readers to slow down and savor everything. As Sayre shows: “If you think slowly enough, the entire world is amazing.” This innovative nonfiction work is a treasure trove of information that begs for multiple readings.
Quick thoughts:
Did you know that moths can retain some information from when they were caterpillars? Okay, granted it is not the kind of information we retain as we grow, but the fact that someone asked a question and then researched the answer was inspiring.
Most children love fact books and books that they can share with peers or information that they can use to "show off" knowledge learned. April Pulley Sayre has created a book with dozens of these facts presented in a page or two and encourages readers to take it slowly and read and re-read the pages and to take time to think. The book also inspires curiosity and the asking of more questions.
Definitely a fun book to read and one that can even be used as a read aloud in those moments when you only have a few minutes. Back matter includes a glossary, index, and some additional thoughts on each chapter.
Look for both of these books at your local indie bookstore or community public library.
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