Little Science Stars Series-New

This series of books just arrived from Independent Publishers Group. I normally would include a book series of this type on my blog for children. Since many of you don't know I have Bookworm's Dinner Children, I thought I would share this post with you.






Little Science Stars
Tick-Tock Media LTD
24 pages, pb.
978-1846961984
$5.95, C$6.95

What you first notice when you open any of these short paperback science books is the colorful pictures that pop off the page and great your eyes. They are realistic and up-close. Your child will not have to squint to see the worker bees in the honeycomb. The pages are laid out with a super balance of pictures and large text. The vocabulary is age appropriate. The pictures of children are a diverse population which is not always easy to find.

The format is higher level questioning, for example, What happens to flowers in summer? Why are flowers important? What's so good about milk.
It is refreshing to see the use of essential or critical thinking questions that lead to more than a yes/no answer in the young grades. Questions like these found in this series can easily be used as research questions for older students.

The series has text features common to a non-fiction book: contents, index, and a glossary. (A note in the beginning explains that bold faced typed words are included in the glossary.)

I would recommend this series for a library and home use. My only caveat is that they are paperback and in a library a layer of mylar covering would be needed for reinforcement. Otherwise they are super. The books are appropriate for ages 4-8. There are ten books in the series.

Wednesday's Child-Author Nick Butterworth

I recently received books from the Independent Publishers Group that included three written by the extremely creative author and illustrator Nick Butterworth. As a media specialist in an elementary school my knowledge of children's literature is keen, but this author was new to me. Here is a short bio from the Harper Collins UK website:



Nick Butterworth is the author of many internationally acclaimed children’s books including ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘QPootle5’, ‘Tiger’ and ‘The Whisperer’ which won the Gold Award at the Nestle Book Awards. He is best known for his stories about Percy the Park Keeper. Nick has also presented children’s stories on television, created a cartoon strip for The Sunday Express Magazine and worked for major graphic design consultancies. He has two grown-up children, and lives with his wife in Suffolk.

Tiger........................................

By Nick Butterworth, Illustrated by Nick Butterworth
New edition
9780007257720
$10.95
Paperback, including CD

Tiger is a small kitten who thinks he is a big tiger. This is an adorable picture book for ages 4-7. Butterworth's illustrations will draw young readers to this book. What little child doesn't like kittens and tigers, the perfect combination. There is an accompanying CD which is comprised of a Read Aloud version with sound effects, a poem, and a Read Along to help in differentiated instructions. Very cute and cuddly book.

Thud....................................................

By Nick Butterworth, Illustrated by Nick Butterworth
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins UK (April 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0006646468
ISBN-13: 978-0006646464

A great tale to use to teach diversity and acceptance. Basil the young bush baby had no sleep one night because he was disturbed by an ugly beast who appeared out of nowhere. Then when he woke up he was afraid of a loud sounding thud, thud, thud he guessed was from a huge monster. Basil asks and gets help from many friend and the ending will surprise you. Great details and expressive faces will keep kids starring as you turn each page. The illustrations are somewhat reminiscent of Maurice Sendak in Where the Wild Things Are. However, where Sendak's book often frightened children, Butterworth creates a huggable menagerie of friends that children will eagerly embrace.

Q Pootle 5..........................................

By Nick Butterworth, Illustrated by Nick Butterworth
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 32 pages with poster
Publisher: Harper Collins UK
Re-Isaue, Pub. Date: 05.01.09
ISBN-13: 978-000717235-1

On the way to a moon party Q Pootle 5 ends up on Earth with a broken rocket booster.
His first earthling is a frog who unfortunately can't help him. What will it take for Q Pootle 5 to blast off again? He really doesn't want to stay on Earth. The text is simple with easy to read print and vocabulary that is appropriate for the age. Dear Q Pootle 5 is an originally sweet and non-threatening creature. Butterworth's expressive faces are humorous with attention to crafting each with a human persona. No doubt you will hear, "Please, can you read it again?"

Mailbox Monday, March 10,2009

Yes, I'm a little behind this week, I could rattle off a bunch of reasons, but I don't want to bore everyone with my drama. In any case, I am offering you my Mailbox Monday...just a little late this week. I hope you still care to know.


I posted this image of Mrs. Morton, the first female letter carrier delivering mail taken in 1917 to recognize Women's History Month. (provided by nypl.org.

Last week I received quite a few interesting books in the mailbox and many for children.

*Fragile Eternit by Melissa Marr
*Every Human Has Rights by National Geographic
*Salvos on Backwater by Erwin Wunderlich
*Daddy's Little Spy-Isabella by Isabella Rose
*Summer on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber
*Sonata for Miriam by Linda Olsson
*The Kings and Queens of England by Ian Crofton...via my delivery
*Space Captain Smith by Toby Frost (IPG)
Children's Lit..............
~Princess Prissypants Wishes the World Pink by Ashley Putnam Evans(IPG)
~Ricky and Mia the Chicken gy Guido Van Genechten (IPG)
~I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll(IPG)
~The Horse Race based on a Chinese Classic Tale (IPG)
~Daddy Does the Cha Cha Cha by David Bedford and Bridget Strevens-Marzo(IPG)

I started a new column on Wednesday called Wednesday's Child where I am posting reviews of children's literature. If anyone would like to join this group please use my logo and sign up. I will have a statement you can add to your blog that I will post this week on Wednesday. The books can be from primary through young adult. Whatever you feel like posting. I hope you join me as our group Wednesday's Child grows.
Here is last week's post of Wednesday's Child to get an idea.