As part of the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge,
I try to give a heads up on new releases for the month. Lately, it has been taking a little more searching to find new releases. Here are several new recent releases and a few coming out this month. I am excited to go in search of these new releases.
Author: Seymour Simon Photo Credits: Various Publisher: HarperCollins (April 23, 2013) Read Aloud Level: Grades 2nd to 4th Independent Reading Level: Grades 4th to 6th Source: Copy sent for review from Publisher Nonfiction * Ecology * Marine Biology
Description from HarperCollins: Hiding on the floor of Earth's tropical oceans are magnificent and
colorful coral reefs. You may have seen coral in the local aquarium or
heard of the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia. But did you
know that coral reefs . . .
are actually living beings?
can grow to be larger than a skyscraper?
provide a home for a vast number of other underwater creatures?
Award-winning science writer Seymour Simon takes readers under the sea
to explore the world of coral reefs, with fascinating facts and stunning
full-color photographs.
Find out how coral reefs grow to become one of the most impressive
natural habitats on Earth and how they interact with sea creatures such
as fish, sea urchins, sea stars, and more!
My thoughts on this book:
Seymour Simon has created another beautiful nonfiction picture book. This time his focus is on coral reefs. Simon takes readers through the underworld environment of coral reef through narrative text and gorgeous photographs. Readers learn about how coral forms and grow. There are two main kinds of coral: hard and soft. Within each kind there are three types of coral. Simon takes readers further as he shares about where coral reefs are located and "how coral reefs are home to underwater ocean life". There are three main types of coral reefs and each reef is "like a city with many different kinds of citizens". Coral reefs are second to rain forests for being the home to many creatures. Student readers also learn about factors that can damage or destroy coral. The end of the book includes a glossary, and additional websites for further reading.
Coral Reefs is part of a collection of nonfiction picture books by Simon on a variety of subjects. Each book provides readers with informative narrative text and stunning photographs. Coral Reefs would be an excellent addition to any classroom or school library and an excellent resource for students as they begin exploring the world of coral reefs.
Yes, today's normally my Nonfiction Picture Book day, but I am excited to announce that there will be a new feature that will be showing up periodically called Common Core IRL: In Real Libraries. I'll be teaming up with Great Kid Books, 100 Scope Notes, & The Nonfiction Detectives to explore nonfiction texts around a theme that can be used by teachers or librarians to support the new Common Core State Standardsbeing adopted and implemented in many states. I would like to thank Mary Ann Scheuer for getting the ball rolling on this great idea, and Travis Jonker for creating the wonderful image/logo (see above).
Today's spotlight will be on Frogs. Don't forget to check out the other posts as part of this series. Each site will feature different books for different grade levels.
Check out the following Early Readers and Book App about Frogs for Pre-K to 2nd grade:
From Tadpole to Frog (Scholastic Reader Level 1) - Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld; Photographs by: Dwight R. Kuhn Publisher: Scholastic (February 1, 2011 - original publication date: March 1, 2001) ISBN: 978-0545273374 Read Aloud Level: PreK to 1st Independent Reading Level: 1st-2nd Source: Purchased; Personal Copy
My thoughts on this book:
This more traditional-style early reader takes children on the journey of the life cycle of the frog from frog eggs in the pond through the transformation into tadpoles and then as a small frog. The book ends in some ways with the beginning by reminding readers of the start of the life cycle. Key vocabulary words are highlighted in the text and also contained in a glossary at the end of the book.
The style of this story lends itself well to a read aloud and for assisting young children in gathering basic facts about the life cycle of a frog which can be used in a presentation or simple report. Though geared towards Kinder to 2nd grader students, the book can be used effectively with English Language Learners or children with special needs in upper elementary who may require high interest books with less text on a page.
Frogs! (National Geographic Kids Readers Level 1) - Elizabeth Carney; Photographs by: various Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (January 13, 2009) ISBN: 978-1426303920 Read Aloud Level: PreK-1st Independent Reading Level: High 1st grade to Low 3rd grade Source: Purchased; Personal Copy
My thoughts on this book:
National Geographic has created a series of Early Readers on a variety of topics. Every one of these readers I have looked at I have also loved. Each feature the amazing photographs typically associated with National Geographic. However, I find that these books are really a bit more than your standard early reader.
FROGS! not only features informative and engaging text written for younger students, but it also has a mix of questions and answers, vocabulary text boxes, fun facts, a poem, and even a touch of humor. The book shares with students where frogs can be found, why they make the sounds that they make, what kinds of food they like to eat, and what size and colors they come in. The life cycle of the frog is also briefly explained.
The combination of photographs and a well thought through design for each page, not only makes this a winner for children in Kinder to Second Grade, but also an excellent resource for English Language Learners in 2nd to 5th grade.
Rounds: Franklin Frog: A Book App - Barry and Emma Tranter Seller: Nosy Crow Updated: April 4, 2013 Version: 1.0.3
This app is designed for both iPhone and iPad. Audience: Ages 3 to 6 Source: A copy was sent for review; App was a Cybils 2012 Finalist
Description from Nosy Crow:
The first in an innovative new series of multimedia, interactive
life-science/non-fiction apps based on circular characters whose real
life stories start where they end. Rounds: Franklin Frog follows the
life cycle of a frog through three generations.
• Hands-on opportunities to take part in the life of a frog: tap ,
swipe and guide frogs with your finger to make them jump, swim, catch
flies, avoid predators, find a place to hibernate, croak to attract a
mate, lay eggs, hatch, and transform from a tadpole into a frog.
• 100s of frog facts: did you know that frogs chew by pressing food against the back of their eyeballs with their tongues?
• High-quality child-narrated audio accompanied by text highlighting
(but you can also turn the voice audio off so the child can read the
text by themselves if you prefer)
• Original , high-quality illustration, made of circles and parts of circles to reflect the circle-of-life theme
• Original musical sound-track by an award-winning games composer
Check out this video:
My thoughts on this book app:
Just as publishers are creating or featuring more informational texts to address the growing demand for nonfiction books as part of the curriculum, there will certainly be book app designers seeking to address this issues as well. Nosy Crow has created a series called "Rounds" which will look at life cycles of various animals. In it's first release, the focus in on frogs.
Readers are introduced to Franklin the Frog and eventually his mate, Felicity. The narrator of the book is a child and this book app leads children through the life cycle of a frog.
Over the course of the book app, students will meet Franklin and two generations of off-spring which is where the concept of "rounds" comes in. With each introduction of a new off-spring, the story again moves through reproduction, infancy, child-rearing, and into adulthood. The app provides readers with enough prompts and guides to keep the story moving, but also allows children to continue to make Franklin (and the others) move repeatedly (both swimming, and jumping), as well as allows for interaction on each page.
Franklin Frog is clearly a book with special enhancements and extra features. As I explored this app, I never had the sense that this was a game or simply another form of entertainment. Instead, the balance between text, and interaction with the book was well thought through making this an enjoyable book for young children.
Common Core Standards Associated with Texts listed above:
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
Kinder:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.8 With prompting and support, identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.9
With prompting and support, identify basic similarities in and
differences between two texts on the same topic (e.g., in illustrations,
descriptions, or procedures)
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.9
Identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the
same topic (e.g., in illustrations, descriptions, or procedures).
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity:
Kinder:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.K.10 Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.
First Grade:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.1.10 With prompting and support, read informational texts appropriately complex for grade 1.
Author: Jan Pinborough Illustrator: Debby Atwell Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Young Children (March 15, 2013) ISBN: 978-0547471051 Source: Personal Copy Audience: 2nd to 5th grade Biographical * History * Libraries
Description from GoodReads: Once upon a time,
American children couldn’t borrow library books. Reading wasn’t all that
important for children, many thought. Luckily Miss Anne Carroll Moore
thought otherwise! This is the true story of how Miss Moore created the
first children’s room at the New York Public Library, a bright, warm
room filled with artwork, window seats, and most important of all,
borrowing privileges to the world’s best children’s books in many
different languages.
My thoughts on this book:
When I was thinking about which book to feature this week for Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday, I immediately knew that I had to feature MISS MOORE THOUGHT OTHERWISE: HOW ANNE CARROLL MOORE CREATED LIBRARIES FOR CHILDREN by Jan Pinborough. Along with Franklin K. Matthiews (Librarian of the Boy Scouts of America), and Frederic G. Melcher (Publishers Weekly), Anne Carroll Moore founded Children's Book Week.
Children's Book Week Poster
When I saw this poster for Children's Book Week in 1921, I couldn't help but think that the slogan "More Books in the Home!" is relevant today for many of our children in impoverished communities.
In 1906, Anne Carroll Moore became the Superintendent of the Department of Work with Children at the New York Public Library. Pretty impressive title, especially when you realize that Moore was responsible for the children's programming throughout the NYPL branches. She was also instrumental in the opening of the Central Children's Room at the NYPL in 1911.
Pinborough's Miss Moore Thought Otherwise focuses primarily on Moore's work at NYPL. The text is readable and allows children to grasp the beginnings of something that many of them take for granted - Children's Rooms in their local libraries. Readers will also develop a clear sense for the strength, passion, and beliefs that propelled Moore in her life's work. Atwell's folksy illustrations pair well with the tone and time frame of the story, as well as, reflect on Moore's place of origin (Maine).
Have fun celebrating Children's Book Week and the next time you step into your local library's Children's Room take a moment to thank the amazing women who helped start it all.
Author: Jennifer Berne Illustrator: Vladimir Radunsky Publisher: Chronicle Books (April 23, 2013) Audience: 2nd to 5th grade Source: Purchased biographical *nonfiction * scientists
Description from GoodReads: A boy rides a bicycle
down a dusty road. But in his mind, he envisions himself traveling at a
speed beyond imagining, on a beam of light. This brilliant mind will one
day offer up some of the most revolutionary ideas ever conceived. From a
boy endlessly fascinated by the wonders around him, Albert Einstein
ultimately grows into a man of genius recognized the world over for
profoundly illuminating our understanding of the universe. Jennifer
Berne and Vladimir Radunsky invite the reader to travel along with
Einstein on a journey full of curiosity, laughter, and scientific
discovery. Parents and children alike will appreciate this moving story
of the powerful difference imagination can make in any life.
My thoughts on this book:
I have read a few children's biographies on Albert Einstein. Many were well done. However, Berne's On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein seems to have captured my attention on a different level. Maybe it has to do with Radunsky's quirky illustrations that seem to spotlight Einstein's unique personality. Or maybe it just is the Berne's ability to write about Einstein in a personal way for young readers. There is enough description of Einstein's early years and schooling to give readers a sense about Einstein. Adults who know more of Einstein's background should feel that just the right balance of highlights from Einstein's life is mixed with some of the things that made Einstein such a great physicist.
"He was racing through space on a beam of light"...doesn't the image above perfectly capture Berne's text?!
There is something about this picture of Einstein walking without shoes and licking an ice cream cone that made this a favorite image of mine. I guess it felt like it captured Einstein's unique personality which always seemed to hint at his inner child.
Berne includes some great notes on the end page which can be used to encourage further learning and research. Can I just say this is a wonderful book and you should go out and buy it? Seriously, add it to your classroom or school library. Read it aloud to kids. However, no matter what you do, don't miss this book.
