Little Black Ant on Park Street
February 8, 2010 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Have you ever wondered about that long parade of ants heading to a chocolate chip cookie on a picnic blanket?
Little Black Ant on Park Street (Smithsonian’s Backyard Collection)
Little Black Ant on Park Street welcomes you into a busy ant city beneath the ground with many rooms connected by little tunnels–a lot like your ant farm. The text reads as a beautifully written story that weaves in plenty of facts about the little black ant. Young readers will learn how there are different rooms underground, how ants wiggle their antennae to smell food, how squirting little drops of liquid provide a scent trail, and how the sharp jaws of an ant can slice off bits of caterpillar twenty times heavier than they are.
The illustrations by Kathleen Rietz are amazing, making you feel as though you’re a black ant nestled on a rosebush alongside tiny green insects called aphids.
Smithsonian’s Backyard is a world of wonder for children and Little Black Ant on Park Street will continue to excite children about a creature that plays such an important role in their very own backyard.
To learn more about Janet Halfmann, please visit www.janethalfmann.com and to see some of the beautiful illustrations in Little Black Ant on Park Street, please visit the blog of Kathleen Rietz.
Additional Information:
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Soundprint (December 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1607270021
ISBN-13: 978-1607270027
Source of review copy: Publisher
Nonfiction Monday takes place at various wonderful blogs throughout the Kidlitosphere! Today, you can check out the Roundup at Great Kids Books. If you’d like to see the schedule for Nonfiction Monday, please visit Anastasia Suen’s Picture Book of the Day.
Disclosure: Some of the books I review are received from publishers , PR agencies, and authors, but it does not sway my opinion of the book. I maintain affiliate accounts with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase a book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). You can support this site by originating your purchase via these links and I appreciate your support of Lori Calabrese Writes!
Get the bare facts on skin
February 1, 2010 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
All of us at some point will wake up, look in the mirror, and find a bright red dot that decided to pop up in the middle of the night. Usually it’s right before some big event at school, when you have to step in front of the class for a speech or when you know you’re going to come face to face with that person you’ve secretly had a crush on! That’s why you need to grab a copy of Skin: The Bare Facts
Skin is the largest organ on your body. It covers your frame to protect your bones, organs, and muscles from injury and UV radiation, and much more. This book is amazing in that it covers it all in an easy to read fun style for young adults.
Let’s face it–what are the chances you’ll sit and read a book on skin from cover to cover? Pretty slim, right? That’s why Lori Bergamotto sets the tone of the book right from the beginning…
“You know what type of person you are and the kinds of things that make you happy, irritate you and totally piss you off. In the same way, it’s important to know what type of skin you have.”
I can see young adults picking this book up when they have a skin emergency, or when they’re just looking for the right ways to care for their skin. What also makes it fun are the odd tidbits scattered throughout the book. For example, we all know people will do some pretty crazy things for perfect skin. Did you know the Japanese have been using nightingale droppings as a facial cleanser for centuries? Apparently, as the book says, “these little bird doodles help to remove pollutants and blackheads and produce smooth, porcelain-like skin.”
I can’t say enough great things about this book. You’ll learn about good skin practices, scientific explanations for zits and other skin problems, advice on skin cancer prevention, the lowdown on hair removal, tips and tricks for using makeup and fun recipes for at-home facials.
Additional Information:
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 120 pages
Publisher: Zest Books (December 16, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0980073251
ISBN-13: 978-0980073256
Source of review copy: PR agency
Nonfiction Monday takes place at various wonderful blogs throughout the Kidlitosphere! Today, you can check out the Roundup at Wild About Nature. If you’d like to see the schedule for Nonfiction Monday, please visit Anastasia Suen’s Picture Book of the Day.
Disclosure: Some of the books I review are received from publishers , PR agencies, and authors, but it does not sway my opinion of the book. I maintain affiliate accounts with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase a book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). You can support this site by originating your purchase via these links and I appreciate your support of Lori Calabrese Writes!
The Canada Goose and You
January 11, 2010 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Cover of The Canada Goose and You
Everything you wanted to know about Canadian Geese can be found in The Canada Goose and You
This nonfiction picture book explains the life and characteristics of the Canada goose by relating them to the child and his world. Each page ends with a question that is answered by “HONK!” — inviting your young reader to “honk” along!
Young readers will learn fascinating facts such as a mother goose lays 2 to 12 eggs, geese eat insects and grains, are great parents, and cannot fly when they are molting.
A cartoon/ sepia effect to the illustrations make this book unique and young readers are led to further reading and websites listed in the back.
What would a goose say about that? Honk!
Additional Information:
Author: Jennifer S. Burrows
Illustrator: Margery Day
Paperback: 32 pages
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Publisher: E & E Publishing (October 6, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0979160693
ISBN-13: 978-0979160691
Source of review copy: Publisher
Nonfiction Monday takes place at various wonderful blogs throughout the Kidlitosphere! Today, you can check out the Roundup at All About Children’s Books. If you’d like to see the schedule for Nonfiction Monday, please visit Anastasia Suen’s Picture Book of the Day.
Disclosure: Some of the books I review are received from publishers , PR agencies, and authors, but it does not sway my opinion of the book. I maintain affiliate accounts with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase a book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). You can support this site by originating your purchase via these links and I appreciate your support of Lori Calabrese Writes!
In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage
November 30, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Cover of In Her Hands The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage by Alan Schroeder
Augusta Savage is hardly known today, which is why In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage
As a young girl in Florida in the 1890s, Augusta enjoyed nothing more than playing in an open pit behind her house filled with clay. Every afternoon, she sat barefoot at the edge of the pit, sculpting little clay figures. Although her mama didn’t mind, her preacher father disapproved–even going so far as stepping on one of Augusta’s creations.
When her family moved, Augusta missed the clay pits and for nearly a year didn’t make a single clay figure. However, one day, when she was riding in a wagon with her school principal, she saw a sign that read “Chase Pottery.” Augusta knew that meant clay and ordered the wagon to stop. She ran inside, dipped her fingers into a bucket of clay and was happy once again. The potter gave her three buckets of clay to bring home, but when her father found them, he threatened to throw them away. Augusta’s mother talked him out of it and from then on, Augusta began to pursue her dream.
Augusta traveled to New York without much money, and discovered that the trick to art was “sculpting what you know.” She was accepted into the Cooper Union School of Art where she was able to hone her craft.
This picture biography is an inspiration to anyone who dreams of being an artist, but the underlying themes of not giving up on your dreams and perseverance ring true in any profession. Hopefully, through this biography, more young readers will become aware of Savage’s contribution as the “guiding light of the Harlem Renaissance.”
Additional Information:
Author: Alan Schroeder
Illustrator: JaeMe Bereal
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Lee & Low Books (October 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1600603327
ISBN-13: 978-1600603327
Source of review copy: Publisher
Nonfiction Monday takes place at various wonderful blogs throughout the Kidlitosphere! Today, you can check out the Roundup at The Book Nosher. If you’d like to see the schedule for Nonfiction Monday, please visit Anastasia Suen’s Picture Book of the Day.
Disclosure: Some of the books I review are received from publishers , PR agencies, and authors, but it does not sway my opinion of the book. I maintain affiliate accounts with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase a book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). You can support this site by originating your purchase via these links and I appreciate your support of Lori Calabrese Writes!
Encounter dinosaurs like never before
November 16, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Cover of Learning in Action Dinosaurs by John Malam
Just seeing the cover of Dinosaurs (Learning in Action)
Since the cover is just so much fun, it will encourage even the toughest of readers to pick this book up. But the fun doesn’t end there. Open the first page and you’ll be surprised to hear the roar of a newborn Eorapter that literally pops off the page with a 3-D pop-up as it hatches from its egg. I had never heard of a Eorapter until I opened this book and was fascinated to learn that this little two-legged meat-eater was one of the world’s very first dinosaurs.
But that’s just the beginning of what young readers will learn as they enter the age of dinosaurs and experience them like never before. And what I like about this book is that it will appeal to all ages. My four year-old used it as a tool to learn the names of the dinosaurs that appear in Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs and older readers will learn everything from what a dinosaur was to dinosaur weapons to the end of an era.
And as they learn, they’ll be fascinated at the paper engineering by Alison Gardner and James Diaz. Flip a dinosaur egg open to spy a baby dino inside, lift flaps to see a dino’s bones, stretch one of the longest dinosaur’s necks, and sink your teeth in as an Allosaurus snaps right off the page.
Not only is this book a wonderful addition to any dinosaur lover’s collection, but with the holidays right around the corner, it will make a truly memorable present. After all, there aren’t many dinosaur books that allow your young readers to see, hear and encounter prehistoric creatures while also learning so much about them.
Additional Information:
Author: John Malam
Illustrator: John Francis
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 12 pages
Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books; Pop edition (August 11, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1592239404
ISBN-13: 978-1592239405
Source of review copy: PR agency
Nonfiction Monday takes place at various wonderful blogs throughout the Kidlitosphere! Today, you can check out the Roundup at Tales from the Rushmore Kid. If you’d like to see the schedule for Nonfiction Monday, please visit Anastasia Suen’s Picture Book of the Day.
Disclosure: Some of the books I review are received from publishers , PR agencies, and authors, but it does not sway my opinion of the book. I maintain affiliate accounts with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase a book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). You can support this site by originating your purchase via these links and I appreciate your support of Lori Calabrese Writes!
How We Are Smart
November 2, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Cover of How We Are Smart by W. Nikola-Lisa
Have you ever compared yourself to others? Perhaps you’ve wondered, “Why is he good at sports and I’m not?” or “Why is she such a great ballet dancer and I’m not?”
How we are Smart
The book starts off with a letter from Nikola-Lisa and Qualls, asking the reader to think about all the people they know. “Are some really good at sports? Do others excel in art? Can some play musical instruments well?” Then they introduce readers to the eight basic ways people can be smart: body, logic, music, nature, people, picture, self, and word smart.
Then Nikola-Lisa and Qualls go on to highlight twelve fascinating people who come from many different backgrounds, and whose gifts range from physics to ballet to politics. Each person is given a full-page spread that includes a quote, short bio, illustration, and a poem that wraps up each person’s accomplishments. After each poem, Nikola-Lisa asks, “Are you smart like them?”
The back of the book gets young readers thinking about multiple intelligences and how there are different ways to express each intelligence. It includes activities, so readers can learn more about the people in the book and discover new and exciting things about themselves. This book is a gem in that it teaches the importance of self-expression, how everyone has something different to offer, and how everyone is unique. What a wonderful message to send in a world that’s so competitive.
Additional Information:
Author: W. Nikola-Lisa
Illustrator: Sean Qualls
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Lee & Low Books (May 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1584302542
ISBN-13: 978-1584302544
Source of book: Publisher
Nonfiction Monday takes place at various wonderful blogs throughout the Kidlitosphere! Today, you can check out the Roundup at the Books Together blog. If you’d like to see the schedule for Nonfiction Monday, please visit Anastasia Suen’s Picture Book of the Day.
Disclosure: Some of the books I review are received from publishers , PR agencies, and authors, but it does not sway my opinion of the book. I maintain affiliate accounts with Amazon and Barnes & Noble. If you purchase a book through one of my links, I will receive a small commission (at no cost to you). You can support this site by originating your purchase via these links and I appreciate your support of Lori Calabrese Writes!
Meet the Witch of Agnesi
September 16, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Ever wonder what goes on in the amazing brains of the world’s “whiz kids”? No one knows exactly. What we do know is that throughout history some young people have shown amazing abilities. Meet them in this month’s issue of APPLESEEDS.
There are so many fascinating articles in this jam-packed issue, including my article on Maria Agnesi. Agnesi was an amazing woman to research because she was educated at a time when females were expected to take care of the house. She was the eldest of 21 children (yes, you read that right–how times have changed!), tutored her brothers and wrote the first mathematics book by a woman that still survives.
Definitely check out this issue to learn about an amazing group of child prodigies!
A Beloved Mexican scholar and poet
September 14, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Hispanic Heritage Month begins tomorrow and is celebrated until October 15th. Introduce young readers to the amazing ethnic diversity in our country and honor exceptional hispanics with a wide variety of children’s books, including A Library for Juana: The World of Sor Juana Ines
This picture book biography focuses on the amazing, true story of one of Mexico’s beloved scholars and poets, Sor Juana Ines. Mora, the author of Tomás and the Library Lady, introduces us to Ines when she was just a little girl in a village in Mexico. When Juana was only three years old, she followed her sister to school. As soon she found out she could learn to read in school, she begged to go. One thing Ines was always amazed at was her grandfather’s collection of books and she desired to start her own. Education became very important to Ines and when she later learned that only boys could attend university, she dressed like a boy, determined to further her knowledge.
She fulfilled her dream, studying at the university, and ultimately joined a convent where she wrote and collected books. Juana Ines became known as one of the best scholars in the Americas–something unheard of for a woman in the 17the century. Today, her poetry is memorized by schoolchildren all over Mexico.
The beautiful watercolor and gouache paintings by Vidal compliment the text and give the book a Mexican folk art feel. This inspirational story will introduce students to a poet, dramatist, scholar, nun, and outstanding writer of the Latin American colonial period.
Additional Information:
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (November 12, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375806431
ISBN-13: 978-0375806438
Nonfiction Monday takes place at various wonderful blogs throughout the Kidlitosphere! Today, you can check out the Roundup at Wild About Nature. If you’d like to see the schedule for Nonfiction Monday, please visit Anastasia Suen’s Picture Book of the Day.
Tomorrow always brings a new day
September 11, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
It’s important for teachers and parents to take the time to share such an important event in America’s history as September 11th with young readers. Our children learn from us and they pick up on our tone of voice, body language, and change in routine. What better way to ease students’ fears than with a book written and illustrated by their peers–a group of first graders from Kennett, Missouri?
In September 12th: We Knew Everything Would Be All Right
Eight years later, this book is an excellent resource to teach about understanding our feelings, and the unfortunate reality of terrorism and violence.
Additional Information:
Authors: Masterson Elementary Students
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Tangerine Press (September 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 043944246X
ISBN-13: 978-0439442466
Ask Me Anything
August 31, 2009 by Lori Calabrese · View Comments
Young readers love trivia, they love to explore and they love to learn as much as they can about the world around them. How many times has your child asked you a question and your reply is, “I don’t know. That’s a good question. We’ll have to look it up online?”
Instead of powering up the computer, grab a copy of Ask Me Anything
The book is divided into sections that make every fact easily accessible. You’ll find sections such as “Space,” and “Society and Culture” and the topics are kept to a two page maximum. Photographs, maps, and fast facts make the layout appealing and to keep you on your toes, some of the book’s pages are printed sideways and upside-down! With a turn of your wrist, you’ll have the answer to every question you’ve ever wanted to ask.
Ask Me Anything is a wonderful resource for school reports, long car rides, or to entertain and expand your knowledge. Young readers love to amaze their friends with random knowledge, and trivial facts that others don’t know. You’ll probably smile when you hear your child say, “Wow! I didn’t know that!”
Additional Information:
Authors: Richard Walker, Carole Stott, Claire Watts, Dougal Dixon
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: DK CHILDREN (June 15, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0756651956
ISBN-13: 978-0756651954
Nonfiction Monday takes place at various wonderful blogs throughout the Kidlitosphere! Today, you can check out the Roundup at Simply Science. If you’d like to see the schedule for Nonfiction Monday, please visit Anastasia Suen’s Picture Book of the Day.
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