On the ninth day of Christmas...
... my true love gave to me, nonfiction!
And a cold! As the days get closer to Christmas I find my body is ready for a break. So tonight, after a much needed nap, I grabbed by favorite nonfiction books and I am passing them along to you. Nonfiction for kids has come a long way. There are way too many good books to begin to capture here. Anything you want to know, anyone you want to learn about, it is all out there! Here are just some to get you thinking!
ellington was not a street
ages 8 to 12
Ntozake Shange's poem "Mood Indigo" is partnered with stunning illustrations by Kadir Nelson in this autobiographical account of Shange's childhood. Imagine growing up surrounded by influential folks, or men "who changed the world" as Shange recalls. Duke Ellington, W.E.B. DuBois, and Paul Robeson are just a few who were around for her childhood. Young children will probably not understand the references but short bios of the men mentioned are included in the back. This book reminds us that the world has changed and that Ellington was not always just the name of a street.
Lightning
ages 8 to 12
Cool. That is the best word to describe the works of Seymour Simon. Simon is known for tackling the world of science and children's literature. His books not only teach you important vocabulary, interesting facts, and all you need to know about a subject, they also show you some kick-butt photographs. Lightning is just one of many of his titles I suggest picking up. I saw some amazing lightning storms and learned some interesting trivia. Did you know, for example, that when lightning strikes sand, the heat fuses sand particles together in the shape of the bolt's path?? (For those chick-flick fans, yes, this is what we saw in Sweet Home Alabama.) The "thing" that you find when these sand particles fuse together is called a fulgurite, from the Latin word for lightning. What did I tell you? Cool.
The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin
ages 8 to 12
According to Peter Sis, author and illustrator of The Tree of Life, Darwin always regretted that he couldn't draw. Enter Peter Sis. Based on the "dense and vivid written passages" of Darwin, this book introduces a younger audience to the adventure of his life. Darwin's controversial thinking springs to life though many layered pages. Sis starts with Darwin's childhood, those who influenced him, his contentious relationship with his father, and the beginnings of his thoughts on evolution. Sis then dives into the journey aboard the Beagle with pages of illustrations and diary entries, facts on all corners of the page. He ends the book with the culmination of Darwin's book Origin of Species, as well as his personal successes and hardships. Darwin's public life is well-known but Sis opens up the world of his secret-life. Don't let this picture book fool you, there is a lot to read and learn from The Tree of Life.
And a cold! As the days get closer to Christmas I find my body is ready for a break. So tonight, after a much needed nap, I grabbed by favorite nonfiction books and I am passing them along to you. Nonfiction for kids has come a long way. There are way too many good books to begin to capture here. Anything you want to know, anyone you want to learn about, it is all out there! Here are just some to get you thinking!
ellington was not a streetages 8 to 12
Ntozake Shange's poem "Mood Indigo" is partnered with stunning illustrations by Kadir Nelson in this autobiographical account of Shange's childhood. Imagine growing up surrounded by influential folks, or men "who changed the world" as Shange recalls. Duke Ellington, W.E.B. DuBois, and Paul Robeson are just a few who were around for her childhood. Young children will probably not understand the references but short bios of the men mentioned are included in the back. This book reminds us that the world has changed and that Ellington was not always just the name of a street.
Lightning
Cool. That is the best word to describe the works of Seymour Simon. Simon is known for tackling the world of science and children's literature. His books not only teach you important vocabulary, interesting facts, and all you need to know about a subject, they also show you some kick-butt photographs. Lightning is just one of many of his titles I suggest picking up. I saw some amazing lightning storms and learned some interesting trivia. Did you know, for example, that when lightning strikes sand, the heat fuses sand particles together in the shape of the bolt's path?? (For those chick-flick fans, yes, this is what we saw in Sweet Home Alabama.) The "thing" that you find when these sand particles fuse together is called a fulgurite, from the Latin word for lightning. What did I tell you? Cool.
The Tree of Life: Charles Darwinages 8 to 12
According to Peter Sis, author and illustrator of The Tree of Life, Darwin always regretted that he couldn't draw. Enter Peter Sis. Based on the "dense and vivid written passages" of Darwin, this book introduces a younger audience to the adventure of his life. Darwin's controversial thinking springs to life though many layered pages. Sis starts with Darwin's childhood, those who influenced him, his contentious relationship with his father, and the beginnings of his thoughts on evolution. Sis then dives into the journey aboard the Beagle with pages of illustrations and diary entries, facts on all corners of the page. He ends the book with the culmination of Darwin's book Origin of Species, as well as his personal successes and hardships. Darwin's public life is well-known but Sis opens up the world of his secret-life. Don't let this picture book fool you, there is a lot to read and learn from The Tree of Life.
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