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STEM Related Books Sponsored by
December-January
SUBJECT: Snow
FEATURED BOOK
Rolling Readers Space Coast, Inc. Commentary:
"Of all the forms of water, the tiny six-pointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied." -- Wilson Bentley
Not all snowflakes look like six-pointed stars. With over 1 septillion snowflakes falling from the winter sky (that's 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000—24 zeros!), there are countless odd-looking crystals dropping from those winter clouds. In nature, snow crystals are typically formed with 6 sides. If you are lucky enough, you may be able to spot an unusual 12-sided or even 3-sided snowflake! Why does this happen? Snowflakes are made of water molecules (Hâ‚‚O). Depending on the temperature, air pressure, and concentration of water in the atmosphere (humidity), there are many different ways water molecules can bond and stack with each other. Because snowflakes are made up of so many molecules, it's highly unlikely that any two snowflakes are exactly the same size and shape... We chose to highlight Snowflake Bentley, by Jacqueline Briggs Martin as our S.T.E.M. book for December and January. “From the time he was a small boy in Vermont, Wilson Bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. He determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. Bentley's enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but his patience and determination revealed two important truths: no two snowflakes are alike, and each one is startlingly beautiful.” Join Bentley as “his story is gracefully told and brought to life in lovely woodcuts, giving children an insight into a soul who had not only a scientist's vision and perseverance but a clear passion for the wonders of nature.”
Design some paper snowflakes with some friends and then try a Reverse Engineer Challenge: Take a snowflake someone else has created and try to create an exact copy! Are your snowflakes alike?
EDITORIAL REVIEW
Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission. Gr K to Gr 3
Ages 5-8. From the time he was a little boy, Wilson Bentley loved snow. Yet snow was frustrating to him. He could pick flowers for his mother or net butterflies, but he couldn't hold on to snowflakes. First, Bentley tried drawing snow crystals, but they would melt too quickly. Then, as a teenager in the 1870s, he read about a camera with a microscope. His family was Vermont farming folk, but they scraped together the money to buy him the camera. From then on, there was no stopping Bentley, who was nicknamed Snowflake. He spent winters photographing the intricate flakes. At first, no one cared ("Snow in Vermont is as common as dirt"); but Bentley found fame as a nature photographer, and even today his photo book of snowflakes is considered a primary source. Martin has chosen her subject well; Bentley's determined life will have innate inspiration for children. Just as important, all parts of the book work together beautifully. The text is crisp and engaging, using word imagery to good advantage: "[his new camera] was taller than a newborn calf and cost as much as father's herd of ten cows." Azarian's woodcuts are strong and sure, just like Bentley himself, and also, like him, show a love of nuance and detail. The book's design allows for snowflake-touched sidebars that offer more specific details about camera technique or Bentley's experiments with snow. There will be so many uses for this book--not the least of which is simply handing it to children and letting their imaginations soar like Bentley's (Reviewed October 1, 1998)
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Wilson Bentley (1865-1931) was fascinated by snow, in childhood and adulthood, and, practically speaking, is the one who ``discovered'' snow crystals, by photographing them in all their variation. As a youngster, he was so taken with these little six-sided ice crystals that his parents scraped together their savings to buy him a camera with a microscope. From then on, despite his neighbors' amusement, he took hundreds of portraits of snowflakes. As an adult, he gave slide shows of his work, and when he was 66, a book was published of his photos, a book that is still in use today. Martin chronicles Bentley's life and his obsession in a main, poetic text, but provides additional facts in careful, snowflake-strewn sidebars. The deep blue snow shadows and fuzzy glow of falling flakes in Azarian's skillfully carved, hand-tinted woodcuts recreate the cold winter wonderland of “Snowflake'' Bentley's Vermont. This is a lyrical biographical tribute to a farmer, whose love of snow and careful camera work expanded both natural science and photography.
School Library Journal © Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.
This picture-book biography beautifully captures the essence of the life and passion of Wilson A. Bentley (1865-1931), known to many as "The Snowflake Man." A plaque in his hometown honors the work of this simple farmer who labored for 50 years to develop a technique of microphotography in an attempt to capture "...the grandeur and mystery of the snowflake." The story of this self-taught scientist begins with his early interest in the beauty of snow and his determination to find a way of sharing that beauty with others. At 16, his parents spent their life's savings on a special camera with its own microscope so he could make a permanent record of individual snowflakes. After two years of work, he perfected a technique for making acceptable pictures. He spent the rest of his life photographing ice crystals and sharing them with neighbors and interested scientists and artists around the world. Azarian's woodblock illustrations, hand-tinted with watercolors, blend perfectly with the text and recall the rural Vermont of Bentley's time. The inclusion of a photograph of the scientist at work and three of his remarkable photographs adds authenticity. Two articles about his work, one written by Bentley himself, are listed on the CIP page. The story of this man's life is written with graceful simplicity. Sidebars decorated with snowflakes on every page add facts for those who want more details. An inspiring selection.-Virginia Golodetz, Children's Literature New England, Burlington, VT (c) Copyright 2010.
Brevard County Library link to locate this book:
“Small, soft flakes fall quietly from above. It's snowing! People like to sled and ski in it, but what exactly is snow? How does it form? While it is believed that no two snowflakes look exactly alike, most have either six sides or six points. Included in this crystal clear introduction to one of winter's wonders is information about different types of snowstorms, regions where snowfalls, and how to prepare when a snowstorm approaches.”
– Grades Preschool to 2nd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
"What could be more boring than a winter without snow? Even when the weatherman forecasts snow, it doesn't arrive. For now, Sophie will have to do with the paper snowflakes she makes at school. But as Sophie is taping her creations to the window, she notices something outside--a teeny, tiny something that promises winter fun is finally on the way.”
– Grades Preschool to 3rd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER
SUBJECT:
FALL FOLIAGE
FEATURED BOOK
Rolling Readers Space Coast, Inc. Commentary:
The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting cooler, and some of the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors… As we head into one of the most colorful times of the year, nothing says fall like a lot of brightly colored leaves to rake and jump into or just to pick up and admire. Do you know why leaves change colors? Leaves on most plants and trees are green because of a colorful chemical inside them called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll, a pigment, is bright green! But, it does more than just look pretty… It has a special job because it is able to capture the energy that is in sunlight! Chlorophyll and sunlight is what plants and trees use to make their own food. As summer fades into fall, the days start getting shorter and cooler, and there is less sunlight. These are signals for the leaf to prepare for winter and to stop making food… We chose to highlight Summer Green to Autumn Gold by Mia Posada, as our S.T.E.M. book for September and October. Discover more about fall foliage, as you find out what happens when the growing season is over for trees, the leaves stop making food, and they don’t need chlorophyll anymore… You might want to take time and enjoy those pretty leaves while you can… Because not long after they turn color, they begin to fall!
EDITORIAL REVIEW
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
"Art and text move through summer, fall, winter, and spring to explain the science behind the seasonal changes in deciduous trees. ‘What kinds of leaves do you see in the summer?' The opening double-page spread has a stark white background. Seventeen different trees are represented by a scattered array of leaves―each carefully labeled―in many gradations of green. The enticing collage art uses negative space to show the RRSC STEM – September/October 2021 veins. The page turn leads to additional glorious art, affirming the text's use of such words as 'emerald' and 'jade.' Lush canopies of summer leaves part just enough to reveal, in the distance, people and a dog paddling a red canoe across a lake. Although all the illustrations concentrate on tree leaves, they occasionally include similar scenes of seasonal human activities―subtle reminders that humans are also affected by nature's cycles. The text uses some anthropomorphism (trees and/or their leaves conceal 'secrets,' 'wait,' 'make food,' and sleep) as it introduces young readers to chloroplasts, chlorophyll, plant cells, and the process of photosynthesis as well as the role of fallen leaves in an ecosystem. After the final double-page spread, which reveals a world returned to springtime, there are two pages written in a straightforward, scientific manner, supplementing the earlier text with further information about leaves―including differentiation between deciduous trees and evergreens and the names and characteristics of pigments hidden beneath a leaf's chlorophyll. Facts about chlorophyll combine with a sense of wonder."
Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission. In summer, the leaves of trees have secrets inside. Chloroplasts within the cells of green leaves contain chlorophyll, which collects energy from sunlight and enables the tree to make food. When summer ends, the chlorophyll gradually disappears, revealing the other pigments hidden in the cells. The leaves turn shades of yellow, red, purple, and brown. They fall to the ground, slowly decompose, and become part of the soil. Trees rest in winter, but in spring, new leaves sprout, beginning the cycle once again. The text is written in relatively short sentences, but Posada doesn't shy away from using the occasional scientific term and explaining its meaning. While many primary-grade books observe that trees change color in the fall, few mention what's happening within the cells of leaves. Here Posada's simple explanations and two large-scale views of pigments within leaf cells give kids an inkling of how the leaves change color. An appended section comments on the book's subject and related topics. Created with cut-paper collage and watercolor, the striking illustrations capture the leaves' varied forms and colors as well as the sheer beauty of trees in the summer and the autumn. A visually appealing and unusually informative picture book for curious kids.--Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2019 Booklist.
Publishers Weekly © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved In engaging, accessible language, Posada presents the science behind the changing colors of deciduous trees. Beginning with green—“emerald to jade and every shade in between”—she explains how chlorophyll pigmentation uses sunlight to produce energy and obscures other pigments within the leaves. At the end of the summer growing season, “the chlorophyll slowly disappears, and the leaves’ green color fades away. Now the hidden yellows and oranges are finally revealed!” Posada (Who Was Here? Discovering Wild Animal Tracks) follows the leaves from summer to spring, explaining why they fall and how they enrich the soil. Bright collage illustrations capture the papery texture of colorful leaves and the layered textures of vibrant autumnal forests. Supplemental materials include a glossary, links to experiments, and concise explanations of leaf types, pigments, and the role of weather and location on leaf coloration. Ages 5–10. (Aug.)
Brevard County Library link to locate this book:
“Look at all the brightly colored trees! Fall weather causes leaves to change colors. Follow a leaf as it grows, changes color, and falls to the ground. Let's grab a rake! What happens in fall? Find out in the Fall's Here! series, part of the Cloverleaf Books™ collection. These nonfiction picture books feature kid-friendly text and illustrations to make learning fun!”
– Grades Kindergarten to 2nd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
"A child wonders where ice cream comes from and learns about the jobs of a dairy farmer, a sugarcane farmer, and factory workers in an ice cream factory. This illustrated narrative nonfiction book includes a world map of where dairy cows and sugarcane are raised, glossary, and further resources"--Provided by publisher.”
– Grades Kindergarten to 3rd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
“Celebrate fall with the sweet and charming Fletcher the fox! As the leaves fall from his favorite tree, Fletcher worries that something is terribly wrong. But then winter comes, and with it a wonderful surprise. Do you know what it is? Join Fletcher and find out… Fletcher the fox is concerned about nature and wants to understand the changing of the seasons. Young readers will share the feelings of wonder and empathy as they curl up with a parent or gather in circle time to enjoy this beautiful picture book.”
– Grades 1st to 3rd – Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
JULY - AUGUST
ice cream
FEATURED BOOK
Rolling Readers Space Coast, Inc. Commentary:
Can you hear it..? Listen closely…. it’s coming!!! Nothing beats the excitement of hearing that catchy ice cream truck melody playing throughout the entire neighborhood on a hot summer day! Summer is in full swing and what shouts “Summer” better than… I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream?!? Ice cream goes with everything, lasts a long time, is good during every season, can be eaten anywhere, has an endless amount of flavors, and you can even make your own! Store-bought or homemade, there are so many different recipes and various ways to make this frozen delicious treat! With a few simple ingredients such as milk, cream, sugar, salt, and a flavoring of choice - ice cream has the potential for all sorts of amazing STEM learning activities! From a liquid to a solid, or a solid to a liquid, a scoop of ice cream is chemistry in motion, since changing forms is a common thing with ice cream… We chose to highlight Ice Cream: The Full Scoop by Gail Gibbons, as our S.T.E.M. book for July and August. “Cool and smooth and sweet, ice cream has long been a favorite treat. It cools you off when it's hot and is too delicious to resist even in cold weather. How did it get to be so scrumptious?” Ice cream has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a mixture of snow, milk, and rice... Relax with your favorite frozen treat as you read along and learn about the many firsts in ice cream history, from the invention of the first hand-cranked ice cream maker to the invention of the first ice cream cone! There is nothing more fun than eating, we mean reading, about ice cream and how it’s made from farm to factory to freezer!
EDITORIAL REVIEW
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
At long last, the prolific Gibbons weighs in with a characteristic treatment of this ever-popular topic. She opens with the supposed invention of iced milk 3,000 years ago and closes by warning readers not to eat too much of the stuff (the nearest thing to any cautionary or nutritional information here). In between, she takes a visiting class from dairy farm to modern factory, with side jaunts to hand-cranked ice cream, an ice cream social and the invention of the cone. The prose is, as always, relentlessly matter-of-fact, the cartoon illustrations both colorful and easy to follow. Though even smaller libraries will be able to dish up similar titles by others, Gibbons’ fan base will guarantee this one’s popularity. (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Brevard County Library link to locate this book:
“Dear Grandpa, Summer is going well. I am very busy. But don't worry, I am not forgetting about school! I read every day. I practice my math facts. And I am even studying world history! Peter Sís's delicious tongue-in-cheek vision of summer dishes up the whole scoop on everyone's favorite frozen treat, and proves that ice cream is every bit as enriching for the mind as it is for the taste buds. Readers everywhere will be begging for seconds and thirds!”
– Grades Preschool to 3rd –
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Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
"A child wonders where ice cream comes from and learns about the jobs of a dairy farmer, a sugarcane farmer, and factory workers in an ice cream factory. This illustrated narrative nonfiction book includes a world map of where dairy cows and sugarcane are raised, glossary, and further resources"--Provided by publisher.”
– Grades Kindergarten to 3rd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
“Did you know that immigrants to Ellis Island were served ice cream as part of their first meal in America? Or that George Washington spent more than $200 on ice cream during the summer of 1790? Learn all about the cool history of everyone’s favorite frozen treat in this fun, fact-filled Level 3 reader.”
– Grades 1st to 3rd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
May-June
Becoming an Astronaut!
FEATURED BOOK
Rolling Readers Space Coast, Inc. Commentary:
Have you ever found yourself gazing up at the twinkling, starry night sky, dreaming about the possibilities of one day exploring the UNIVERSE? With our country’s recent return to human spaceflight this year, perhaps you have seen astronauts from Crew 1 or Crew 2 working on the International Space Station, or overheard NASA's plans to send the first man and woman back to the Moon by 2024, or maybe you've been following the ongoing exploration of Mars and want to prepare for that trip one day… Inspiration from all around has motivated you, and now you know you want to become an astronaut! Did you know that the term “astronaut” is derived from the Greek word meaning “space sailor?” Seeing Earth from space, exploring the wonders of deep space, experiencing zero gravity, and studying the planets is an amazing opportunity that astronauts have to educate, prepare, and train for. Becoming an astronaut doesn’t have to be a childhood fantasy… So how do you get there, and what can you do to make it possible? Start with STEM. According to NASA, attain a master's degree in a STEM related field, including engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics, from an accredited institution and you will be well on your way! We chose to highlight Mae Among the Stars, by Roda Ahmed, as our S.T.E.M. book for May and June. Working on an assignment for school, Mae was pondering the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”, when she told her parents that she wanted to see Earth from “out there!” as she directed their attention to the sky above their heads. Aspiring to one day be an astronaut, Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents' encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space. While becoming a member of an exclusive group of individuals who explore the universe is no easy feat, do not give up on your dreams… “Because, if you dream it, believe in it, and work hard for it, anything is possible.”
EDITORIAL REVIEW
School Library Journal © Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. - Gr K to Gr 2
K-Gr 2-Born in Alabama, Mae Jemison dreamed of going to space. When she grew up, she attained a degree in chemical engineering before finishing medical school in the 1980s. After a stint in the Peace Corps, Jemison wasn't content with just being an engineer or doctor-she satisfied her love of the stars by becoming an astronaut-the first African American female astronaut and the first African American woman in space. Ahmed and Burrington have created a love letter to Jemison with this appealing picture book biography. The recurring line, "If you can dream it, if you believe in it, and work hard for it, anything is possible" is a chorus sure to resonate with children. The emphasis on Jemison's lifelong passion for space science will inspire readers to have confidence in the trajectory of their own interests. Burrington's bright, kid-friendly illustrations were created with ink and Adobe Photoshop. An epilogue provides the dates and details of Jemison's life and career. VERDICT A starry addition to picture book biography collections.-Deidre -Winterhalter, Oak Park Public Library, IL © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission. Gr K to Gr 3
Aqueous watercolor backgrounds and sweet, round-faced figures illustrate this empowering account of the childhood of Mae Jemison, the first black woman in space. As a child, Mae dreams big, telling anyone who'll listen (and even some who won't) that she wants to be an astronaut. Her white teacher and classmates are cruelly dismissive, but her parents are always encouraging, telling her, if you believe it and work hard for it, anything is possible. That exhortation becomes a mantra, and after years of hard work, Mae makes good on her aspirations and waves to her parents from her spaceship. Ahmed focuses primarily on Mae's childhood dreams of space, skipping over the hard work she did to finally achieve her goal, but a closing note fills in some details about Jemison's groundbreaking career. Burrington's cute, playful paintings match the dreamy focus of the story, particularly her star-splattered nighttime scenes. Though kids looking for a meatier account of Jemison's work might be disappointed, the inspirational tone will strike the right note for those just learning about the astronaut.--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2018 Booklist
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Pioneering African-American astronaut Mae Jemison's childhood love of space and supportive parents led to her illustrious career. Little Mae's pastoral childhood home is presented in warm yellows, blues, and greens, visually establishing the atmosphere promoted by her loving parents, who encourage her dreams. When Mae's school assignment asks her to write about what she wants to be when she grows up, Mae responds that she wants to see Earth from space. Her parents tell her she must become an astronaut to do that, and when Mae asks if they think she can, their response weaves its way throughout the narrative: "Of course you can. If you can dream it, if you believe it and work hard for it, anything is possible." Thus begins Mae's obsession with space: reading about space, creating homemade astronaut costumes and spaceships, and drawing spacescapes. But when she shares her dreams in school, her white teacher discourages her, and her mostly white classmates laugh. Mae is crestfallen, her despondency captured with deceptively simple lines and a blue wash. Her dismay is short-lived, as she is buoyed up by her parents' continued support and encouragement. Uplifted, Mae promises to wave to her parents from space one day and she does just that, as the first African-American astronaut. An enchanting, inspirational account of Jemison's early life that illustrates the importance of encouraging and supporting children's dreams. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Brevard County Library link to locate this book:
"If you decide to go to the moon," writes Faith McNulty, "read this book first. It will tell you how to get there and what to do after you land. The most important part tells you how to get home. Written in the second person, the text allows the reader to participate in every aspect of the journey, from packing ("don't forget your diary and plenty of food") to liftoff (at first you'll feel heavy; don't worry") to traveling through space (where "the moon glows like a pearl in the black, black sky"). The reader lands at the Sea of Tranquility, the site of the first lunar landing.”
– Grades Preschool to 1st –
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Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
“Astronaut Mark Kelly flew with "mice-tronauts" on his first spaceflight aboard space shuttle Endeavour in 2001. Mousetronaut tells the story of a small mouse that wants nothing more than to travel to outer space. The little mouse works as hard as the bigger mice to show readiness for the mission . . . and is chosen for the flight While in space, the astronauts are busy with their mission when disaster strikes--and only the smallest member of the crew can save the day. With lively illustrations by award-winning artist C. F. Payne, Mousetronaut is a charming tale of perseverance, courage, and the importance of the small.”
– Grades Preschool to 3rd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
“How many kids aspire to become an astronaut one day? Wouldn't it be great to float in space and do neat experiments? But before all the "fun" begins, it takes an incredible amount of hard work to prepare oneself for the ride of a lifetime. Before they are sent to space, astronauts have to go through spacecraft systems training, wilderness training, underwater training, roller coaster-like flight training, and teamwork training, not to mention science, technology, medical, engineering, and math training. Training for flight also depends on being prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally, having the right attitude and learning to deal with problems calmly. With its first-hand photos and amusing illustrations, Go for Lift Off is the go-to book for aspiring astronauts.”
– Grades 2nd to 5th –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
March-April
Rainbows, Refraction, and Reflection
FEATURED BOOK
Everything is brighter and magical with rainbows… Even a rainy day! Have you ever wondered if there was a pot of gold at the end or just how the colors red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet appear in that arc of delightfulness?!? Spring is the perfect time to explore how the ‘rain’ gets in rainbows! STEM is all around us every day, and emerges naturally just like rainbows in the sky! A powerful illustration of reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light, rainbows are formed when light shines through water. As the sun enters, or shines through, a raindrop the light slows down and bends as it goes from air to denser water. As the light bends it is reflected off the inside of the raindrop, like a reflection in a mirror, and separates into its component wavelengths--or colors causing all of the amazing rainbows that you see! But in order to see the reflection of the rainbow in the sky, we have to look towards the rain with our backs to the sun! Have you ever noticed that the sun is always behind you when you face a rainbow?!? Rainbows normally appear from the rain, but they can happen wherever light is being bent inside of water droplets (raindrops, mist, fog, spray, and dew) as they act like tiny prisms. Actually, what makes rainbows so special is that no two people ever see the same exact thing. Everyone sees something different because it all depends on how the light is being bent and reflected back to you… We chose to highlight The Rainbow and You, by Edwin C. Krupp, as our S.T.E.M. book for March and April! Join rainbow expert Roy G. Biv (mnemonic device, Roy G. Biv: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet), a guide who looks like a leprechaun, as he explains and explores the ins and outs of rainbows, their formations, and even helps you make a rainbow of your own! Is there really a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Does a rainbow have an end?!?
EDITORIAL REVIEW
School Library Journal © Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. - Gr 2 to Gr 5
Through readable text and dazzling illustrations, the Krupps explore this meteorological phenomenon. As in The Big Dipper and You (Morrow, 1999) and The Moon and You (Macmillan, 1993), the highly pictorial format belies a scientifically oriented text. Using Roy G. Biv (a leprechaun-like elf in yellow slicker, blue overalls, rainbow-colored boots, and with matching whiskers) as a helpmate, the author includes a brief assortment of global rainbow myths and legends as well as an explanation of the mechanics of the physics behind the glowing arc of colors. The clear text gives clues to searching for rainbows and rainbow colors in unlikely places, and instructs readers to make scientific observations when they occur. Isaac Newton's experiments with prisms are included, but earlier experiments by Theodoric of Freiburg are not; nor are ghostly moonbows, rare fogbows, and ground-hugging dewbows. Still, this is a brilliantly rainbow-hued, tightly focused investigation of these seemingly miraculous spectacles that inspire wonder and delight in all who view them. Aficionados should also check out Stephen Kramer's intriguing Theodoric's Rainbow (Scientific American, 1995).-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc.
Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission. Gr 2 to Gr 3
The Krupps offer a delightful picture-book study of rainbows without undercutting the magic or the beauty of the phenomenon. Roy G. Biv (his name is a mnemonic for the rainbow's colors--red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet), a gnome-like fellow with rainbow socks and a rainbow beard, helps guide youngsters through the facts. The Krupps mention rainbow stories from various cultures, from the rainbow bridge of the Viking Asgard to the rainbow serpent of the Australian Dreamtime. Isaac Newton's explication of the rainbow, the science behind double rainbows (ever notice that the order of the colors is reversed in the outer rainbow?), and the way to make a rainbow using a garden hose are just some of the intriguing tidbits the Krupps supply in engaging and effortless style. They also provide a handy checklist of questions eager students of rainbows may want to investigate. --GraceAnne A. DeCandido
Kirkus Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
The enthusiasm that lights up the Krupps' previous science books (The Moon and You, 1993, etc.) shines in this busy disquisition on rainbows. The author discusses the conditions (unique to Earth) necessary for rainbows; what exactly we are seeing in the lawn sprinkler or up in the clearing sky; Isaac Newton's demonstration that the rainbow's colors are contained in natural light; and even some of the rainbows in mythology. The illustrator creates a multi-hued leprechaun dubbed with the old mnemonic "Roy G. Biv" to guard that nonexistent pot of gold, and to act as a sort of teacher's assistant. Skipping as it does over so much territory, this refreshing break from the many conventional treatments of the subject is more a consciousness-raiser than a book of specific facts or projects for young experimenters. (Picture book/nonfiction. 6-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Brevard County Library link to locate this book:
“Ned loves rainbows. He even wears rainbow pyjamas One rainy day a beautiful rainbow appears. Ned runs up and tries to reach the colours but they are too high for him. He is so sad, until the next day he finds a painted rainbow of his very own on his bedroom wall.”
– Grades Preschool to 1st –
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Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
“When a glorious, colorful rainbow spreads across the sky after a storm, a girl wonders what might be at the end? Setting out, she gathers traveling companions—a cat, a turtle, a horse. Everyone is excited! But even though the rainbow disappears before they reach the end, it's all right—they found something even better… new friends!”
– Grades Preschool to 3rd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
January- February
Growth Mindset
FEATURED BOOK
EDITORIAL REVIEW
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.
Gr. K-Gr. 2. “Simplicity itself, like the dot in the title, this small book carries a big message. Vashti doesn't like her art class. She can't draw. So when her teacher tells her just to make a mark, Vashti belligerently hands in her paper with a single dot. But what a wise teacher Vashti has. She makes Vashti sign the paper, and then she frames it. Seeing her work on the wall encourages Vashti to do better, and she takes out her watercolors and begins experimenting with all sorts of dots. At a school show, her dots are a hit, and when a little boy tells her he can't draw, she invites him to make his own mark. The squiggle he puts down on paper gets him off and running. The pen-and-ink drawings accented with splotches of colorful circles aren't quite as minimalist as Vashti's work, but they reflect the same sparseness and possibility. Art teachers might consider reading this at the beginning of each semester to quell the idea, ("I can't draw.").” - Ilene Cooper
From School Library Journal – Gr Preschool to Gr 4
“Just make a mark and see where it takes you." This sage advice, offered by her intuitive, intelligent teacher, sets our young heroine on a journey of self-expression, artistic experimentation, and success. First pictured as being enveloped by a blue-and-gray miasma of discouragement and dejection, Vashti seems beaten by the blank paper before her. It is her defeatist declaration, "I just CAN'T draw," that evokes her teacher's sensitive suggestion. Once the child takes that very first stab at art, winningly and economically dramatized by Reynolds's fluid pen-and-ink, watercolor, and tea image of Vashti swooping down upon that vacant paper in a burst of red-orange energy, there's no stopping her. Honoring effort and overcoming convention are the themes here. Everything about this little gem, from its unusual trim size to the author's hand-lettered text, from the dot-shaped cocoons of carefully chosen color that embrace each vignette of Vashti to her inventive negative-space masterpiece, speaks to them. Best of all, with her accomplishment comes an invaluable bonus: the ability and the willingness to encourage and embolden others. With art that seems perfectly suited to the mood and the message of the text, Reynolds inspires with a gentle and generous mantra: (“Just make a mark.”)”-Kathy Krasniewicz, Perrot Library, Greenwich, CT Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Brevard County Library link to locate this book:
“Melia is scientific and loves to create things in her backyard laboratory, but something is missing. Her inventions just aren't quite right. Enter Jo, her new friend with an artistic spirit. When you add the Arts to Sciences, something magical happens!”
– Grades Preschool to 3rd –
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Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
“What do you do with an idea? Especially an idea that's different, or daring, or a little wild? This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps to bring it into the world. It's a story for anyone, at any age, who's ever had an idea that seemed too big, too odd, and too difficult. It's a story to inspire you to welcome that idea, to give it space to grow, and to see what happens next.”
What Do You Do With an Idea? Has won several awards, including the Independent Publisher's Book Gold Award, the Washington State Book Award, and the Moonbeam Children's Book Award.
– Grades 1st to 2nd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
“Meet Beatrice Bottomwell: a nine-year-old girl who has never (not once!) made a mistake. She never forgets her math homework, she never wears mismatched socks, and she ALWAYS wins the yearly talent show at school. In fact, Beatrice holds the record of perfection in her hometown, where she is known as The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes. Life for Beatrice is sailing along pretty smoothly until she does the unthinkable-she makes her first mistake. And in a very public way!”
– Grades Kindergarten to 3rd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
“Zoom meets Beautiful Oops in this memorable picture book debut about the creative process, and the way in which "mistakes" can blossom into inspiration. One eye was bigger than the other. That was a mistake. The weird frog-cat-cow thing? It made an excellent bush. And the inky smudges... they look as if they were always meant to be leaves floating gently across the sky. As one artist incorporates accidental splotches, spots, and misshapen things into her art, she transforms her piece in quirky and unexpected ways, taking readers on a journey through her process. Told in minimal, playful text, this story shows readers that even the biggest "mistakes" can be the source of the brightest ideas--and that, at the end of the day, we are all works in progress, too. Fans of Peter Reynolds's Ish and Patrick McDonnell's A Perfectly Messed-Up Story will love the funny, poignant, completely unique storytelling of The Book of Mistakes.”
– Grades Preschool to 3rd –
Brevard County Public Library link for this book:
