Blog Archives

The Bee's Knees

4/25/2017

Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton

Fascinating information, lively dialog, and a large dose of humor make this book the bee's knees!

Following the success of I'm Trying to Love Spiders, Bethany Barton migrates away from an arachnid's web and drops into a hive for her latest nonfiction picture book, Give Bees a Chance.
Readers meet the narrator and "Best Buddy" Edgar. This twosome shares a love for many cool things such as dinosaurs, board games, and honey. However, the unnamed friend is shocked to discover that Edgar does not like bees. It becomes apparent that the basis of Edgar's fear is the bee's stinger.
Now it's up to his friend to allay these fears by pointing out many fascinating facts about bees including: history (ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics of bees), anatomy (five eyes, including two compound eyes), and honey production (bees barfing honey into a honeycomb cell).

The narrative emphasizes the importance of bees in the earth's ecosystem and explains the dangers of a reduced bee population. End papers feature color wash backgrounds that highlight line drawings and brief descriptions of various bees identified by intriguing names such as Cuckoo Bee, Metallic Green Bee, and Hornfaced Bee. Interesting fact: Did you know that there are about 25,000 different species of bees?

Hand this to kids who collect factoids, relish playful banter, and those interested in protecting the environment.

Companion Sources: Give Bees a Chance

Several large corporations sponsor bee-related initiatives. Here are a few to check out.

Honey Nut Cheerios have a website with information and activities, including the video "A Future Without Bees."

Whole Foods Market initiated "Give Bees a Chance." This informative video shares information on bumblebees.

Burt's Bees campaign to "Help Bring Back the Bees" includes a social media post-a-selfie campaign.

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With each mistake...

4/17/2017

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The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken

What is a mistake?

A slip of the pen?
An unintended blob of ink?
Misjudging the size of a shape?

And what are the results of a mistake?

Erasure?
Crumpled paper in the trash?
Giving up?

Corinna Luyken explores errors, glitches and slipups in The Book of Mistakes. Beginning with an oversized black ink blob meant to represent an eye, readers follow the pen of an illustrator. An initial attempt to correct the mistake doesn't work out. However a subsequent idea; i.e., enclose the black blob inside eyeglass frames, becomes an effective solution.
With each successive page, readers witness the evolution of an illustration. Some artistic expressions are good ones. Others appear to be blemishes.
Luyken's point becomes evident as the illustration takes form. Mistakes are part of the design. They inform the artist and provide ways for the composition to unfold and grow.

"Do you see -
how with each mistake
she is becoming?"

The dramatic use of black, with spare touches of pastel color emphasizes both the mistakes made and the grand book concept. A visual feast with intricate images and imaginative concepts to explore.
Brilliant inspirational book! Belongs in every classroom, library, storytime, and art studio,

Companion books

Explore the circuitous, often messy, and sometimes serendipitous process of creation with these picture books.

What Do You Do with an Idea?

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes

My Pen

Andrew Drew and Drew

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"I tell you there is a monster"

4/15/2017

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The Loch Ness Monster by Erin Peabody ill by Victor Rivas

"I tell you there is a monster...like all that is darkening and heavy and obstructive in life." H. G. Wells

Big Foot. Zombies. Werewolves. Loch Ness Monster.
Fascinating subjects for young readers. Kids can't seem to get enough of this stuff. Libraries constantly search for titles about these popular topics to include in the children's collection.
That's the brilliance behind this new nonfiction series from Little Bee Books. With 128 pages, kid-friendly trim size, plenty of images, and large accessible font; this series offers an appealing introduction to nonfiction. These subjects are particularly enticing for those who think that they don't like nonfiction.

"When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth."
Sherlock Holmes, fictional character created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

In July 1933 George Spicer and his wife were traveling on a road adjacent to the Loch (Lake) Ness in Scotland. Mrs. Spicer suddenly exclaimed, "What on earth is that?!" She and her husband watched in astonishment as an "extraordinary form of an animal" lumbered in front of their vehicle. He recounted his sighting to the local newspaper, which set off a fervor that built to a fever pitch as locals and curiosity seekers descended on the Loch. Many were convinced that they had seen the beast. In the intervening years, various expeditions have been organized: everything from an investigation by United Kingdom's Daily Mail, underwater photography, to intensive sonar technology.
The author parses the legends of monsters, reports of sightings, and latest scientific research on the subject.

Peabody's narrative relies on a combination of history, mythology, and science. She does not shy away from using precise terminology such as cryptids, vindication, retaliation, corollary, and pheromones. Some youngsters may be able to deduce the general meaning of these terms from context. Other readers may need additional support with unfamiliar vocabulary.
Quotations at the beginning of each chapter (a few sample quotes included here) are well chosen. Victor Rivas' black and white line drawings effortlessly span the range of styles needed, moving from realistic to fantastical.

"The great tragedy of Science - the slaying of a beautiful hypothesis by an ugly fact." Thomas Henry Huxley

FINAL NOTE:

I'm still keeping one eye open for the "buarach-bhaio" AKA the wizard shackle. This is a nine-eyed eel reported to be found lurking in shallow water, twisting around the victim's ankles, dragging its prey underwater. Following capture of an unsuspecting human, the monster sucks out the victim's blood. Then the ingested blood spurts from the eel's nine eye sockets. Use that little factoid in a booktalk and The Loch Ness Monster will have a request list as long as Nessie's tail!

Companion Books

Looking for more spine-tingling folktales and legends? Try these books for young readers.

Big Foot (Behind the Legend)

Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

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Sheroes

4/11/2017

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Night Witches: A Novel of World War Two by Kathryn Lasky

"I am a daughter. I am a pilot. I am the Nazis worst fear. I am a Night Witch."

They were known as Nachthexen, young female aviators recruited by Stalin's military to destroy specific German targets behind enemy lines. In small wood and canvas biplanes they conducted bombing missions against Nazi military from 1942 until the conclusion of World War II. These aircraft were so small that they could only deliver six bombs per run with about eight missions per night. Under cover of darkness the bombers would idle the biplane’s engine near the target and glide down to a release point. These planes emitted a soft wind-like noise. This whooshing sound was similar to the sound of broomsticks traveling through the skies. Hence the name Nachthexen, or Night Witches.

There were no more than two crew members per flight. Usually the pilots carried no parachute. These young aviators flew over 24,000 missions and dropped 23,000 tons of bombs. The skill, daring, and heroism of these young women in their teens and early twenties is awe-inspiring.

Kathryn Lasky brings the story of these incredible young women to life in the historical novel Night Witches: A Novel of World War Two. At an early age, both Valya and her older sister Tatyana were taught by to fly by their father, head of a flight training program near Stalingrad. Flying was bred into her bones. "To fly is to slip the cords of earth and join the sky." When the Germans invaded Russia, her familiar life is gone: her father is declared missing and her grandmother dead. Tatyana volunteers to join the Russian female aviation regiment. Then Valya's world completely shatters when she witnesses her mother's death at the hands of a sniper.
With nothing left and very little hope, Valya becomes determined to find her sister and to join her "Up there...In the sky, with them. With the witches and my sister." She receives help from an unlikely source and manages to find her way to Tatyana's regiment. Over time Valya proves herself to her superiors and becomes a valuable asset in this military operation.

Lasky describes the bombing missions with breath-taking detail. The terror of each night run is vivid. Readers will feel as if they are in the cockpit with Valya, dodging Nazi searchlights and escaping enemy fire. When her plane crashes she finds herself in danger from Hitler's spies and must plan a daring escape.

Grab a ushanka, don a fur-lined flight jacket and prepare for a thrilling ride through a little-known piece of history.
Once you start reading Valya’s story, you won't be able to put this down until the final page.

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Of Overdays

4/6/2017

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Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover
by Audrey Penn ill by Barbara L. Gibson

The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn is one of those classic children's books that will always endure and will endear generations of young readers. Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover is a continuation of this series. Chester sets forth for his first overday, the equivalent of a sleepover for nocturnal animals. Mama escorts her son to the home of his friend Pepper Opossum. Spoiler alert: you will see the kissing hand when she says goodbye to her youngster. Hanging out (literally) with friends Opossum, Squirrel, Badger, and Skunk; throwing darts furnished by Porcupine; and eating grubs and slugs makes the day fun. When it's time to curl up and sleep in the cozy hollow, Chester begins to miss home. Adult animals accept his anxiety and help him return to familiar surroundings.
Like a kiss on the hand, this reassuring tale acknowledges a child's fears and offers a reasonable solution to the dilemma.
Barbara L. Gibson's illustrations and expressive animal faces bring warmth and delight to the tale. Take a look at the eyes. Raccoons have never looked more winsome.

Sleepover companions

The Kissing Hand with Stickers

Chester Raccoon Plush

Raccoon blanket

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Wranglers Wanted

4/3/2017

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Lexie the Word Wrangler by Rebecca Van Slyke ill by Jessie Hartland

Attention all of you would-be wranglers: Grab your boots, your hat and that most essential piece of gear: your lariat. Get ready to join Lexie, the "best wrangler west of the Mississippi." Her skill with words is unmatched. She can lasso an ear of corn and a loaf of bread to create cornbread. She can grow trees of words from a tiny root word. She can even stir up a pot of letters to make several tasty new words. It is not surprising that this word wrangler is the "best in the west."

Until... one day our heroine notices a problem. The calf pen is no longer filled with dogies. Some varmint has been adding an extra "g" to create a passel of yapping doggies. Camping out under the star-studded sky is a disaster when the stars become rats. This can only mean one thing: a word rustler is on the loose. It's up to Lexie to track down the rascal and bring this culprit to justice.
Fortunately for her and for our readers there is a happy solution to the problem. Lexie convinces the rustler to change his ways and join her in word wrangling.

Lexie the Word Wrangler is the cleverest way to introduce etymology to young readers that I have ever encountered. Rebecca Van Slyke uses delightful word play and humor to teach root words, word families, anagrams, and compound words. Who knew that learning about word structure could be this much fun? Illustrations by Jessie Hartland add a whimsical and somewhat primitive touch to the whole shebang.
Every reading specialist and language arts teacher should head out right now and round up a copy this book. It beats all the worksheets, flash cards, and "drill and kill" sessions that have ever been devised. Share the story of Lexie with your posse of youngsters. Hand out badges and deputize students. Then be prepared for a cavalry of word wranglers to lasso every word in sight!

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The Bee's Knees

Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton

Companion Sources: Give Bees a Chance

With each mistake...

The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken

Companion books

"I tell you there is a monster"

The Loch Ness Monster by Erin Peabody ill by Victor Rivas

Companion Books

Sheroes

Night Witches: A Novel of World War Two by Kathryn Lasky

Of Overdays

Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover
by Audrey Penn ill by Barbara L. Gibson

Sleepover companions

Wranglers Wanted

Lexie the Word Wrangler by Rebecca Van Slyke ill by Jessie Hartland

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

The Bee's Knees

Give Bees a Chance by Bethany Barton

Companion Sources: Give Bees a Chance

With each mistake...

The Book of Mistakes by Corinna Luyken

Companion books

"I tell you there is a monster"

The Loch Ness Monster by Erin Peabody ill by Victor Rivas

Companion Books

Sheroes

Night Witches: A Novel of World War Two by Kathryn Lasky

Of Overdays

Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover by Audrey Penn ill by Barbara L. Gibson

Sleepover companions

Wranglers Wanted

Lexie the Word Wrangler by Rebecca Van Slyke ill by Jessie Hartland

Category

Archives

Barbara Moon

Chester Raccoon and the Almost Perfect Sleepover
by Audrey Penn ill by Barbara L. Gibson