Marvels in the Muck by Doug Wechsler - ADVISABLE

Marvels in the Muck: Life in the Salt Marshes by Doug Wechsler. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Boyds Mill Press, 2008. $17.95. 

EL, MS - ADVISABLE

Explore the flora and fauna of the salt marshes in this non-fiction title. Beautiful photographs on each page accompany detailed in formation on life cycles, food webs, and the interdependence of the species of the marsh. A classroom teacher could pick out certain pictures and pages to share with their students, but also any student doing biome research will find exactly what they need for their reports.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Bell’s Star by Alison Hart - ADVISABLE

Bell’s Star (Horse Diaries) by Alison Hart, 144 pages. (including appendix). Random, 2009. $6

Content: G

EL – ADVISABLE

Bell’s Star is a beautiful Morgan Horse, bred to work hard, but longing to run free with his beloved human Katie. Then one day Kate and Bell rescue a runaway slave girl and Bell and Kate must out themselves in danger to save her from the slave catchers. 

These books are very cute, have good back information on the specific horse breed in the book and horse-crazy little girls, who aren’t quite ready for Black Beauty, will love them.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame - OPTIONAL

The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame, illustrated by Inga Moore, 182 pages. Candlewick, 2003, 2009. $13

EL – OPTIONAL

Inga Moore’s abridgement of Grahame’s classic work is now out in paperback. The illustrations have lost none of their charm (Toad in a dress is adorable). The only thing I don’t like is that it an abridgement – less than half of the original text – so best suited for younger readers.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Galileo’s Leaning Tower Experiment by Wendy MacDonald and Paolo Rui - ADVISABLE

Galileo’s Leaning Tower Experiment by Wendy McDonald, illustrated by Paolo Rui. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2009. $8 

EL, MS – ADVISABLE

A young boy who is dropping his uncle’s lunch to him from a bridge, catches Galileo’s attention and leads the two to experiment. Based on a legend (never documented) of Galileo throwing things from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in order to disprove Aristotle’s teachings about falling objects.

Share this one with your science teachers, but be careful – if you read this one to your students, they will probably start dropping all manner of things from all manner of heights!

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Keep On! The Story of Matthew Henson by Deborah Hopkinson and Stephen Alcorn - ADVISABLE

Keep On! The Story of Matthew Henson, Co-Discoverer of the North Pole, by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Stephen Alcorn. Peachtree, 2009. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK.

EL, MS – ADVISABLE

This very dense picture book contains a wealth of information about Matthew Henson and his trip with Robert Peary to find the North Pole – first. Whether for Black History Month or for a unit on Scientists and Explorers. This is not a book that could be read in one day – instead using only parts of it would be best in a classroom situation.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Dinosaur by Stephanie Stansbie - ESSENTIAL

Dinosaur by Stephanie Stansbie, 40 p. Little, Brown, 2008. MOVABLE BOOK.

EL, MS – ESSENTIAL

You really need to get your hands on this book! Stansbie has distilled the new information about dinosaurs and added amazing graphics and all kinds of flappable flaps and foldout pages that will fascinate anyone who picks it up. 

If you have dinosaur books that are older than three years, its time to replace them – the whole realm of dinosaur classification has changed and this book contains a wealth of facts, figures and pictures. Yes, you may lose a few of the removable pieces, but what is left is still well worth having. And any dinosaur crazy child would love this as the perfect gift.

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight by Kathleen Krull and Amy June Bates - ADVISABLE

Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight by Kathleen Krull, illustrated by Amy June Bates. Simon, 2008. PICTURE BOOK.

EL – OPTIONAL, MS – ADVISABLE

The Hillary Clinton’s dreams are laid out as Ms. Krull looks at her life from just a little girl to the woman who almost became the candidate for president. Ms. Bates’ illustrations are a perfect companion for the succinct text, and together they make their point without preaching. This is as much a book about the change in the opportunities available to women as it is a look at Clinton’s life.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Artful Reading by Bob Raczka - ESSENTIAL

Artful Reading by Bob Raczka. First Avenue (Lerner), 2007. $10. PICTURE BOOK.

EL, MS, HS – ESSENTIAL

Through 24 paintings and a simple rhyming text, Raczka unfolds the worlds and dimensions of reading. Old masters and modern classics are side by side, showing how easy it can by to collect art that relates to a theme. I adore Raczka and I want to share this book (now in paperback) with both my art teachers and my Language Arts teachers.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Oooh! Picasso by Mil Niepold and Jeanyves Verdu- ADVISABLE

Oooh! Picasso by Mil Niepold and Jeanyves Verdu. Tricycle Press, 2009. PICTURE BOOK.

EL, MS – ADVISABLE, HS – OPTIONAL

Nieplod and Verdu have taken five of Picasso’s sculptures and brought them to life through re-imagining the parts and the whole, as they explore the whimsy and the expression of his art. While there are few words with the pictures, the multitude of lessons ideas that can come from this one book make this an important title to share with your art teachers.

Cindy, Library-Teacher

Galileo’s Leaning Tower Experiment by Wendy MacDonald and Paolo Rui - ADVISABLE

Galileo’s Leaning Tower Experiment by Wendy McDonald, illustrated by Paolo Rui. PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2009. $8 

EL, MS – ADVISABLE

A young boy who is dropping his uncle’s lunch to him from a bridge, catches Galileo’s attention and leads the two to experiment. Based on a legend (never documented) of Galileo throwing things from the top of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in order to disprove Aristotle’s teachings about falling objects.

Share this one with your science teachers, but be careful – if you read this one to your students, they will probably start dropping all manner of things from all manner of heights!

Cindy, Library-Teacher.

Too Perfect by Trudy Ludwig and Lisa Fields - ESSENTIAL

Too Perfect by Trudy Ludwig, illustrated by Lisa Fields. Tricycle Press, 2009. PICTURE BOOK.

EL, MS – ESSENTIAL

Maisie thinks that she is a little too pudgy, a little too messy and not all together perfect, just like she thinks Kayla is – a girl who seems to be everything that Maisie is not. When the girls are assigned a project together, however, Maisie learns that what you see from a far is not always what is inside. Maisie’s mother helps her to learn to be happy with herself.

Trudy Ludwig has a way with books that help us to look at ourselves. Her books are not just for children, but for anyone who has a child or works with children. Perfect for a Teacher Advisory lesson.

CINDY

The Story of Samson by Kathleen Duble - OPTIONAL

The Story of Samson by Kathleen Benner Duble, illustrated by Alexander Farquharson. NON-FICTION. Charlesbridge, 2008. $8. PICTURE BOOK

EL – OPTIONAL

From its creation in 1885 and on through its destruction in 1953, the sailing ship Samson lead a varied and wild life of rescue, exploration and exhibition. The most disputed part of the Samson’s tale is that it might have seen the sinking of the Titanic, but did nothing to help. Told through the reminiscing of an old man as he retells the various pieces of the story to his grandson.

As much as I enjoyed reading the book, I am a little stumped on how it should be used, or what audience it would appeal to. Any suggestions?

Cindy, Library-Teacher.