The title of this picture book says it all. The text by Michelle Cusolito and the magnificent illustrations by Nicole Wong provide readers of all ages with an intimate glimpse of ocean. Diving Deep is to be released in June, 2022 from Charlesbridge, but go ahead and pre-order it now! REVIEWThis book will make you and your child or students say "WOW!"Far away from… Continue reading DIVING DEEP: Using Machines to Explore the Ocean: A NonFiction Picture Book Review and Giveaway
"Hot off the minting press, Penny sparkled." That's the first line of Kimberly Wilson's debut picture book, A PENNY'S WORTH (Page Street Kids, 2022). With engaging illustrations by Mark Hoffman, this STEM story of a pretty copper penny will find a special place in a preschool - second grader's heart. REVIEWPenny launches into life ready to be… Continue reading A PENNY'S WORTH: A Picture Book Review, Giveaway, and Mini-Author & Illustrator Interviews
BATTLE OF THE BUTTS (Running Press, 2021) by Jocelyn Rish with illustrations by David Creighton-Pester, is really about a battle to determine which animal has the best buttocks of all. As Jocelyn tells her young readers in the introduction:You're the judge in the Battle of the Butts. As you meet each challenger in this battle and learn about… Continue reading BATTLE OF THE BUTTS: The Science Behind Animal Behinds– A Nonfiction Picture Book Review and Author Interview
I'm always on the lookout for new picture books to share, so when I saw that, Good Eating: The Short Life of Krill (Tilbury House Publishers, 2022) was Matt Lilley's debut picture book, I asked him if he was interested in a review. In the mini-author interview below, Matt talks about the difference between writing for the educational market… Continue reading GOOD EATING: A DEBUT STEM PICTURE BOOK + A MINI-AUTHOR INTERVIEW + A GIVEAWAY
I first "met" Debbie Levy through the pages of her novel-in-verse, This Promise of Change. In her newest book, Photo Ark ABC, Debbie uses more than five different types of poems to playfully describe animals from Aardvarks to Zebra Finches. The accompanying photographs by National Geographic's Joel Sartore are outstanding, cute, and engaging. Children from ages 5-8 will "get" Photo… Continue reading PHOTO ARK ABC: NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK REVIEW, GIVEAWAY, and MINI-AUTHOR INTERVIEW
From the moment you hold The Dirt Book: Poems About Animals that Live Beneath Our Feet (Holiday House, 2021) in your hands, you realize that this is a unique picture book. After all, how many books do you turn 90 degrees in order to read it? I can only think of one other, Tops and Bottoms… Continue reading The Dirt Book: Poems About Animals That Live Under Our Feet
When I picked LITTLE DANDELION: Seeds of the World and THE UNIVERSE AND YOU off my shelf to review this week, I didn't realize the connection between them. Beyond the fact that they are each beautiful STEM books published this year by Sleeping Bear Press, they each have sparse text, wonderful illustrations, and lyrical language. REVIEWSLITTLE DANDELION: Seeds… Continue reading Two Lyrical Picture Book Reviews and One Giveaway
Don't you love this cover? Besides being captivating, the title informs the reader EXACTLY what to expect from Code Breaker, Spy Hunter (Abrams Books, 2021). Written by Laurie Wallmark and illustrated by Brooke Smart, this book will be good for students from 7-10 years old. As you look through these illustrations, make sure you read Elizebeth's quotes… Continue reading CODE BREAKER, SPY HUNTER: Picture Book Biography, a Mini-Author Interview, Plus a Giveaway!
I have two wonderful STEM picture book biographies (courtesy of Sleeping Bear Press) to share with you today. JACK HORNER, DINOSAUR HUNTER ---Written by Sophia Gholz and illustrated by Dave Shephard. "As a baby, Jack's lullaby was the sound of… Continue reading DINOSAUR HUNTER and HEADSTRONG HALLIE! Two Dreamers, Two Picture Book Biographies, and One Giveaway
Nine curious children who grew up to become scientists. Nine adults who discovered new products, new species, and new ideas. These nine individuals are the backbone of Heather Montgomery's latest book, What's In Your Pocket? (Charlesbridge, 2021). Illustrated by Maribel Lechuga, this STEM book will be an asset to any K-3 classroom.REVIEWWhen you explore the great… Continue reading What's in Your Pocket? A Picture Book Review, A Mini Author Interview, and A Giveaway!