Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday (5)

As part of the Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge 2012 (Twitter: #nfpb2012), my goal is to read and review as many of the new non-fiction picture books that are released this year.  Wednesdays will be my primary day to post the reviews.

Here is my first foray into February nonfiction picture book releases.

A Leaf Can Be
Author: Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrator: Violeta Dabija
Publisher:  Millbrook Press (February 1, 2012)
Audience:  Ages 4 to 8
Source: Copy for Review and Giveaway

Some books defy my image of nonfiction.  I have to admit that I was truly a solid fiction reader and that nonfiction usually meant dry, boring, and connected to coursework.  As I have searched for nonfiction picture books, my beliefs about them are changing.  Seldom anymore do I utter the words dry and boring when reading these books.

The team of Laura Purdie Salas and Violeta Dabjija has created a beautiful book.  With the simple phrase "A leaf can be...", Salas explores all of the roles a leaf can play from a water ladle to food maker to frost catcher and more.  Dabjija's gentle and whimsical illustrations are a perfect match to Salas' sparse text making the book completely accessible for younger readers.  The end of the book takes each of the descriptors used in the book and explains them with more details.  There is also a glossary and some further reading which can both be useful resources for a teacher.

A Leaf Can Be would be a wonderful addition to a primary grade level classroom.  It would also make a lovely gift for a young child.

Giveaway Rules:

1. Though comments are very much appreciated, please do not enter any personal information in the comments section (including your email, website, etc.).  If you do enter personal information, you comment will not be posted.

2.  You must complete the Entry Form to officially enter the contest.

3.  The Contest runs from 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time on February 8, 2012 to 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on February 15, 2012.

4.  You must be 13 or older to participate in this contest.

5.  If you are selected as a winner, I will notify you by e-mail.  If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will select a new winner.

6.  International participants are welcome to enter the contest.

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday (4)

As part of the Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge 2012 (Twitter: #nfpb2012), my goal is to read and review as many of the new non-fiction picture books that are released this year.  Wednesdays will be my primary day to post the reviews.

If you are participating in the challenge and would like to link your recent reviews, please add your link to the Mr. Linky below.

My journey to read as many nonfiction picture books has been a lot of fun.  I am steadily working through the January releases and beginning to find a few February releases that have made it into the wild.  Here are the four that I read this past week.  I would gladly include any of these to a classroom or school library, and believe that teachers and students will enjoy sharing them in class.

The President's Stuck in a Bathtub: Poems About the Presidents
Author: Susan Katz
Illustrator: Robert Neubecker
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (February 8, 2012)
Audience: 2nd to 5th grade

Yes, I know that this is a book of poems.  However, each poem is written about a different president and includes a fact box on each president that supports the information in the poem.  An overall fun book - part poetry, part nonfiction - and just in time for President's Day.

The Camping Trip that Changed America
Author: Barbara Rosenstock
Illustrator: Mordecai Gerstein
Publisher: Penguin Group (January 19, 2012)
Audience: 2nd to 5th grade

Though this is more of a fictionalized telling of a fateful camping trip that President Theodore Roosevelt went on with naturalist, John Muir, there is still some great information in this book.  It also is simply an enjoyable read.  I also enjoyed Gerstein's illustrations.

I will be reviewing this one in more detail in the near future.  Look for the review and a giveaway as part of the nonfiction picture book challenge.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Author: William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
Illustrator: Elizabeth Zunon
Publisher: Dial (January 19, 2012)
Audience: 2nd to 5th grade

Every once in awhile, I pick up a book and while reading it something really strikes me as interesting or unusual.  With this book, I was amazed by how young Kamkwamba was when he discovered the power of the wind.

This will be another book I will be reviewing in greater length in the near future.  I am also hoping to be able to feature either an interview or guest post with William Kamkwamba.  Did I tell you how much fun I am having with this challenge?

Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass
Author: Lesa Cline-Ransome
Illustrator: James E. Ransome
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (January 24, 2012)
Audience: 2nd to 5th grade


After reading this picture book, I went in search of a biography on Frederick Douglass.  Though this book is a somewhat dramatized version of the real events, it really moved me emotionally as I read this book.  Just as much as slavery makes me angry, it makes me angry that people would withhold another person's right to read books.  And it makes me admire Frederick Douglass so much more for how passionate he became about reading and writing.

Don't forget to check in next week, when there will be more great books featured and always the possibility of a giveaway.

 

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday

As part of the Non-Fiction Picture Book Challenge 2012 (Twitter: #nfpb2012), my goal is to read and review as many of the new non-fiction picture books that are released this year.  Wednesdays will be my primary day to post the reviews for this challenge.

In honor of the American Library Association Youth Media Awards which were announced on Monday, January 23, 2012, I am giving a shout out to one of my favorite picture books of 2011 and the winner of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award.  What is the Sibert Award?  The winning book is considered the "most distinguished informational book for children".  This year's winner is Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade. 

Many congratulations to author and illustrator, Melissa Sweet for an amazing job.  

Check out Melissa's website (http://melissasweet.net/) for some great pictures and information about Balloons Over Broadway.

Kirkus Reviews did a great interview with Melissa. Click here to read it.

Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast has a wonderful interview with Melissa.  Click here to read it.

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Children has created an activity kit to be used with the book.  Click here to download the activity kit.

And though I don't typically send folks over to Amazon, they do have a very cool look into the inside of Balloons Over Broadway.  With their Click to Look Inside feature. 

So what is the book about?  Here is the description from GoodReads:
Who invented the first balloons for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade? Meet Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire! Everyone’s a New Yorker on Thanksgiving Day, when young and old rise early to see what giant new balloons will fill the skies for Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Who first invented these “upside-down puppets”? In brilliant collage illustrations, the award-winning artist Melissa Sweet tells the story of the puppeteer Tony Sarg, capturing his genius, his dedication, his zest for play, and his long-lasting gift to America—the inspired helium balloons that would become the trademark of Macy’s Parade.

What do I think of it?
Melissa Sweet has married together the perfect combination of facts and information with an eclectic mix of collage, illustrations, and fabulous design.  Readers will explore the history behind the Macy's Day Parade in an unique and wonderful manner.  This is one book that you will want to own and giveaway. 

If you are participating in the Nonfiction Picture Book challenge and would like to link your recent reviews, please add your link to the Mr. Linky below.