Month: November 2015 (Page 1 of 3)

3 New Children’s Books About Water

Today we have three wonderful new children’s books about water science and the water cycle. All three have been nominated for the 2015 Cybils award in the Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction category.

First up we have a picture book for the youngest reader, Raindrops Roll by April Pulley Sayre, which explores the science of raindrops in a uniquely beautiful way.

Raindrops Roll features April Pulley Sayre’s fabulous and fresh photographs of wet plants and critters, accompanied by verb-rich, poetic text that captures the very essence of rain.

In the main text, the reader learns that raindrops reflect, magnify and cling. In the two-page spread in the backmatter, the reader can explore “A Splash of Science” to understand more about what they see.

Young children will want to come back to Raindrops Roll again and again. Have a copy handy to read the next time you are trapped inside on a rainy day!

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Beach Lane Books; 1 edition (January 6, 2015)
ISBN-10: 148142064X
ISBN-13: 978-1481420648

Water Is Water: A Book About the Water Cycle by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Jason Chin explores the water cycle in way that is relatable for children.

Written for a bit older reader than the previous book, Miranda Paul’s spare but engaging story arc goes from familiar (getting a glass of water) to less familiar (forms of water/weather) and then returns to drinking water again (familiar).

Award-winning author and illustrator Jason Chin’s paintings of children doing everyday activities help bring the young reader in, as well.

As with the above book, there is a two page spread in the backmatter that helps children learn “More About Water.” In this case, the pages explain the vocabulary of the water cycle, from evaporation to seepage.

Pick up a copy of Water is Water to share with children ready to learn the basics of the water cycle. Perfect for young readers who prefer their nonfiction to look and sound like fiction.

Related:  See our water cycle blog post for activity suggestions and information.

Age Range: 6 – 10 years
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (May 26, 2015)
ISBN-10: 159643984X
ISBN-13: 978-1596439849

Water Runs Through This Book by Nancy Bo Flood takes the study of water to the next level for middle grade readers.

WaterRuns

Mixing stories, poems, quotations, and informational text, author Flood explores all aspects of water and its impact on our world. The topics are wide ranging, from the chemistry of water molecules to the geopolitics of water conservation. It reads somewhat like a folder of fascinating tidbits about water put together into a coherent collage.

The illustrations are color photographs by Jan Sonnenmair, supplemented with stock photographs and some diagrams.

Water Runs Through This Book would be a useful reference text to have on hand for a wide range of topics. It also would work well for young adults and even adults, as well as middle grades.

Related:  Check Nancy Bo Flood’s website for a free 20-page activity guide to download (the link is currently in the right column under the heading “downloads.”)

Age Range: 8 – 12 years
Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing (August 25, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1936218135
ISBN-13: 978-1936218134

See our growing list of children’s books about the science of water and the water cycle.

Children's-Books-About-Water

Disclosure: Water Runs Through This Books was provided by the publisher for review. The other books were from the library. Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.

Plant Science: Plant Families II: Trees

Let’s find out about about some more of the common plant families. This time we’ll focus on trees.

  1. Maple trees – family Aceraceae

Maples have palmate leaves, which means the main leaf veins radiate out from a single point and they roughly resemble a hand.  Most maples are deciduous. The fruit are samaras (maple keys) with two fruit in a cluster.

silver-mapleLeaves of a silver maple.

red-maple-leaves10Some species of maples are known for their brilliant fall colors.

red-maple-keys-461Red maple samara or “keys”

2. Oak or beech trees -  family Fagaceae

Oaks are generally large, spreading trees. The fruit is an acorn for oaks and nuts for beeches. The leaves are often longer than they are wide and have lobes along the margins.

oak-leaves-166oak-leaves-872acorn-0225An acorn

3.  Ginkgo – family Ginkgoaceae

These unusual trees are gymnosperms. There is only one species in the family. The leaves are fan shaped with a wavy edge. The naked seed is within a fleshy covering that resembles a fruit.

gingko-leaves-close-barkgingko-leaves

4.  Mulberry, fig and osage orange – family Moraceae

Mulberry leaves can be highly variable in shape even within one tree, but most have some sort of lobes. Some have an asymmetrical lobe and resemble a mitten. The leaves of trees in this family have a milky sap. The mulberry fruit are formed in clusters.

mulberry-leavestexas-mulberryThese are the leaves of the Texas mulberry.

mulberry-fruit-0234Mulberry fruit

figs-on-tree-2Figs

5. Olive – family  Oleaceae

Olives have simple leaves. The fruit is fleshy with a pit inside.

olives-fruit-greenolive_0416

6. Pines, spruces and furs – family Pinaceae

Members of this family are also gymnosperms. The leaves are in the form of needles and most are evergreen. Usually the seeds are borne in cones.

pine-branchwhite-pine-0083Eastern white pine

white-pine-0453White pine cone

spruce-cones-409Spruce

hemlock-0530Hemlocks

7. Willow – family Salicaceae

Willows have narrow, simple leaves. They are deciduous. Fruits form in a capsule with many small, tufted seeds.

willows-398tree-books-buttonWant to learn more? Visit our giant list of children’s books about trees!

 


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Plant-Science-Lessons

To see our complete plant science lessons, either visit the plant science category (newest posts to oldest posts) or the plant science section of our experiment archive page (links to posts in order).

Looking for books about plants for children? Be sure to visit our growing list of gardening and plant science books for kids, as well as our list of children’s books about seeds.

For more activities, try our Gardening/Plant Science for Kids Pinterest board.

Children’s Biography of Fabre: Small Wonders

For STEM Friday, we have a picture book biography, Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre and His World of Insects by Matthew Clark Smith and illustrated by Giuliano Ferri, which delves deeply into the life of one of the first naturalists who explored the insect world with a scientific eye, and who at the same time wrote with the goal of sharing his insights not only with colleagues, but also with essays written for regular people (see a literary review at our sister blog, Wrapped in Foil).

Fabre’s method of studying live insects, particularly in their natural habitats, allowed him to make many new discoveries. His insights included finding out that female great peacock moths produce a scent (pheromone) to attract male moths.

Saturnia (Saturnia) pyri ([Denis & SchiffermŸller], 1775). The Great Peacock Moth. Wood engraving dated 1852. Original hand coloring.Page size: 26 x 20.2 cm ( 10.2 x 7.9 "). Saturnia pyri, the Giant Peacock Moth, is a Saturniid moth which is native to Europe. It is the largest European Moth and is also called as the Giant Emperor Moth or the Viennese Emperor.

Saturnia (Saturnia) pyri ([Denis & SchiffermŸller], 1775). The Great Peacock Moth. Wood engraving dated 1852. Original hand coloring.Page size: 26 x 20.2 cm ( 10.2 x 7.9 “). Saturnia pyri, the Giant Peacock Moth, is a Saturniid moth which is native to Europe. It is the largest European Moth and is also called as the Giant Emperor Moth or the Viennese Emperor. Public Domain image from Wikimedia.

Jean Henri Fabre also studied the behavior of processionary caterpillars, dung beetles , cicadas, praying mantids, bees and wasps, and many other creatures.

Although this book is a biography of a scientist, budding entomologists are likely to find the details of the “Small Wonders” he studied intriguing as well.

Age Range: 6 – 9 years
Publisher: Two Lions (May 12, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1477826327
ISBN-13: 978-1477826324

To accompany Small Wonders, you might want to try this collection of Fabre’s actual works retold by Mrs. Rodolph Stawell from a translation by Alexander Teixeira de Mattos. It is for older children or adults, but parts could be read to younger children.

Fabre’s Book of Insects by Jean Henri Fabre

Frankly, the text is somewhat convoluted and flowery in an old-fashioned way, but due to the fact that his close examination of the behavior of insects was so innovative, it has stood the test of time. He also makes many references to mythology and folklore.

Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Dover Publications (February 6, 1998)
ISBN-10: 0486401529
ISBN-13: 978-0486401522

Finally, if you want to see the insects that Fabre writes about, you might want to try the movie Microcosmos with Kristin Scott Thomas (Actor), Jacques Perrin (Actor, Producer), Claude Nuridsany (Director, Writer), Marie Pérennou (Director, Writer). Although the cover below of the mantis with sunglasses might give you the impression it is a cartoon, but nothing could be further from the truth. This is serious nature cinematography at its finest!

microcosmos

Another reason it is appropriate is because it is set in France, where Fabre lived, and features some of the insects he studied, like the processionary caterpillar.

Check out the French version of the movie trailer (it is also available in English):

Sorry, in a bit of a rush today. Please leave any questions you might have in the comments.

Disclosure: Small Wonders was provided by the publisher for review. The other book and movie are my personal copies.  Also, I am an affiliate with Amazon so I can provide you with cover images and links to more information about books and products. As you probably are aware, if you click through the highlighted title link and purchase a product, I will receive a very small commission, at no extra cost to you. Any proceeds help defray the costs of hosting and maintaining this website.

Come visit the STEM Friday blog each week to find more great Science, Technology, Engineering and Math books.

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