Saturday, December 31, 2016

Books of Heroes and Heroines from National Geographic Kids

The Book of Heroines: Tales of History's Gutsiest Gals
by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Published November 2016
National Geographic Kids
Nonfiction
176 Pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
Everybody needs a role model! Discover true stories of superstars, war heroes, world leaders, gusty gals, and everyday girls who changed the world. From Sacagawea to Mother Teresa, Annie Oakley to Malala Yousafzai, these famous females hiked up their pants and petticoats or charged full-speed ahead to prove that girls are just as tough as boys...maybe even tougher. Complete with amazing images and a fun design, this is the book that every kid with a goal, hope, or dream will want to own. 

Personal photo taken of pages 116 and 117 of the book. 


by Crispin Boyer 
Published November 2016
National Geographic Kids
Nonfiction
176 Pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
Everybody needs a role model! Discover the true stories of superheroes, rebels, world leaders, action heroes, sports legends, and many more daring dudes, all of whom played their part to make their mark, make a contribution, and make the world a better place.

From Abraham Lincoln to Sitting Bull, Stephen Hawking to Galileo, these cool guys had the boldness, bravery, and brains to meet the challenges of their day. With a fun design, engaging text, and high-quality photographs, this is ultimate hero guide and keepsake for 21st century kids.

Personal photo of pages 84 and 85 of the book.

My Thoughts
I enjoyed both of these books about influential men and women throughout history. Readers will learn about people from every historical time period giving kids an opportunity to learn about important people they may not have known about. What a great way to gain exposure to positive role models. 
Each book is organized into eight chapters including gutsy gals and daring dudes in sports, politics, science and peace makers to name a few. Facts are accompanied by photographs, captions, and images of paintings and historical artifacts. The font size is quite small so younger readers may need help from adults. 
I would highly recommend both books for every school or classroom library for grades 3 and up. 

See what others have to say about this book:
Kirkus
Smart Mommy, Healthy Baby
Chat with Vera

Friday, December 30, 2016

National Geographic kids-Famous Fails! by Crispin Boyer

Famous Fails! Mighty Mistakes, Mega Mishaps & How a Mess Can Lead to Success!
by Crispin Boyer
Published October 2016
National Geographic Children's Books
Nonfiction
128 pages
Review copy provided by publisher


Goodreads Summary
This fun book of quirky failures and famous flops will keep kids laughing while they learn the importance of messing up in order to get it right. Science, architecture, technology, entertainment -- there are epic fails and hilarious goof-ups from every important field. Silly side features help to analyze the failures: "Lesson Learned," "It Could be Worse!," "Losing Combinations," and a "Fail Scale" to help readers navigate the different kinds and scope of the mistakes made. The stories will include what went wrong, what went right, and what kids can learn from each failed attempt.

My Thoughts
There are several books about learning from mistakes, but this one is one of the most interesting and comprehensive I have seen. It contains hundreds of real, relatable examples of mistakes, mishaps and misconceptions that turned out differently than expected. This book is not afraid to show fails that ended badly and were never completed successfully. However each "fail" is accompanied by a "Lesson Learned" box that shows what we can all take away from the experience. It is organized into eight chapters such as Poor Sports, Botched Buildings, and Pop Culture Catastrophes. 

This book is visually interesting with photographs, colored text "boxes" of varying shapes and multi-colored backgrounds. The index and table of contents help the reader locate information. The text is a bit small at times and youngest readers may need help reading from adults.
Personal photo taken of pages 84 and 85 of the book. 

My students love books about facts. I can see them enjoying this book and sharing facts they learn with their friends. I would recommend this book for children ages 8 and up. 

See what others have to say about this book:

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Two Interactive Science Kits from Silver Dolphin Books

Are you looking for a unique gift for an animal enthusiast of budding biologist? Today I would like to share two excellent interactive science kits from Silver Dolphin Books that would make great gifts! 

Animal Adventures: Sharks
by Cynthia Stierle
Published April 2016
Silver Dolphin Books
Interactive Kit 
Book 40 pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
Animal Adventures: Sharks will take you beneath the ocean’s surface to meet the many sharks that lurk in the depths. Have fun while learning, encounter sharks—large and small, gentle and fierce—with colorful illustrations and fascinating facts, and then build a diorama. Everything you need to explore the ocean is right here.
*This unique set includes a book full of colorful illustrations and intriguing facts about sharks, plus 3-D animal models and a diorama with reusable stickers.
*Journey to all the world’s oceans to learn everything you need to know about these mysterious creatures.
Animal Adventures: Sharks offers a unique learning experience as you meet wild and exotic animals face-to-face.

My Thoughts
The Book:
Did you know that a person is more likely to be struck by lightning that to be bitten by a shark? Young readers will learn about many different kinds of sharks, shark adaptations, shark behavior and lots more!
At only 40 pages the book that accompanies this kit (Amazing World of Sharks) is short enough to manage for many young readers. The text font is simple with adequate line spacing and comfortable font size. Text features such as a table of contents, headings, text boxes, photographs and images with labels and captions and a glossary make it easy to locate and organize the information. 

The Kit:
Directions and pictures on how to assemble the diorama and 3-D models are included in the back of the book. They were fun and easy to put together. I did need to use tape on the underside of the tabs for the 3-D pieces of the diorama in order for them to stay up. Adults may need to help with the assembly. Repositional stickers add to the fun and extend the interaction of the kit. Kids will like the small plastic sharks of different types included in this kit as well. To further extend the learning, there are 20 fact cards included with a simple fact on one side and an image of a shark on the other. 
            Picture taken of the contents of the kit. Diorama parts have been punched out and one 3-D model assembled.

This interactive kit is sure to be hours of fun and learning for young scientists. I would recommend it for ages 5+. 



See Inside the Dinosaur: An Interactive 3-D Exploration
by Michael Bright
Published May 2016
Silver Dolphin Books
Interactive Kit
Book 48 pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
Examine the fascinating body of a Triceratops, one layer at a time, with See Inside the Dinosaur. The innovative and interactive 3-D format allows kids to discover the inner workings of a dinosaur’s body with a transparent model that includes removable bones and organs. The detailed text and full-color illustrations in the 48-page book provide readers with an up-close look at how different types of dinosaurs survived in the prehistoric world. Also included is a stand-up cardboard model that provides the reader with a complete overview of a dinosaur’s body.

My Thoughts
The Book:
The book begins with a short and simple overview of the three periods within the Mesozoic Era when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. This is followed by a description of fossilization and how paleontologists learn about dinosaurs. Young scientists will learn about the various body systems of dinosaurs, how they protected themselves, reproduction and finally how they became extinct. 
Numerous text features will help the reader navigate the book including maps, a timeline, text boxes, diagrams, captions, headings and an index. The colorful pages with images and photographs are engaging and informative. 

The Kit:
Included in this interactive kit are a 3-D model of the inside of a triceratops including its skeleton and some inner organs covered in a clear case. Step-by-step diagrams in the back of the book show the organs and bones and how they fit together (the model comes pre-assembled).  Two double-sided cardstock models show the muscles, skeleton and inner organs of a T. Rex. 
The triceratops model is interesting to examine. I would recommend that an adult assist with the initial disassembling and reassembling as there are many small pieces that could get lost. 
Picture taken on the contents of the kit.

Kids will be fascinated by the models and the information they learn from the book. I would recommend this kit for children ages 8 and up. 
Visit Silver Dolphin Books to learn more about their products. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

National Geographic Kids-How Things Work

National Geographic Kids-How Things Work
by T.J Resler
Published by National Geographic Children's Books
October, 2016
Reference Book
208 pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Just like the title says, this book shares the secrets behind what makes some things work the way they do. Curious kids who love to ask questions will enjoy reading this book and sharing what they learned. 

Ever wonder how robot vacuum cleaners know where to go? Well, you will find the answer on pages 68-71 in this book. 
A few other questions that get answered include:
Why don't roller coasters have engines?
Why can I jump so high in a bounce house?
How does changing a bicycle's gears make it easier to pedal?
How do microwave ovens cook so fast?
How do train tracks work?

The book is divided into five chapters. 
Chapter 1 focuses on hover boards, tablets, bionic limbs, etc. 
Chapter 2 focuses on heating and cooling.
Chapter 3 shows how some things at school work such as post-its and photocopiers. 
Chapter 4 is all about extreme fun! 
Chapter 5 shows how many vehicles work such as submarines and escalators. 

Each topic has a 2-page spread called "Just the Facts" with diagrams, drawings, photos, text boxes and other features describing the item and how it works. This is followed by more info on the following pages titled "Tell Me More" where the science of how it works is described in more detail. 
                                                               Personal photos taken of finished copy.

Other features in the book includes "Myth vs Fact" sections, "Tales from the Lab" and profile spotlights of important scientists. "Try This" sections invite kids to try an experiment or create something that will help them learn even more. 

The dimensions of this large hardcover edition are approximately 9.5 by 12 inches. 

I would recommend How Things Work for young scientists ages 9 and up. Younger readers will enjoy it as well, but may need more support with the text. 

See what others have to say about this book:
Nonfiction Monday
Justin Talks Books
Always in the Middle

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

National Geographic Science Encyclopedia: Atom Smashing, Food Chemistry, Animals, Space and More!

National Geographic Science Encyclopedia: Atom Smashing, Food Chemistry, Animals, Space and More!
Published by National Geographic Children's Books
October, 2016
Reference Book
304 Pages
Review copy provided by publisher and Media Masters Publicity. 

Goodreads Summary
Food chemistry, atom crashing wave power, food chemistry, and robots! These are just a few of the topics covered in this fantastic new science encyclopedia, which presents a comprehensive overview of physical and life sciences from A to Z. Super smart and kid-friendly, it’s packed with full-color photographs, weird but true facts, amazing statistics, do-it-yourself experiments, plus profiles of scientists and National Geographic's explorers who rock the world of science. Keep up with the changes happening all around us with this stellar science reference book.

My Thoughts
This resource book is a one-stop-shopping experience for science information! It is organized into the two large categories of physical science and life science. Then it is subdivided into topics by sections such as Matter, Energy, Forces and Machines, Electronics, The Universe, Life on Earth, Planet Earth and The Human Body. Each section is then divided into subtopics and color coded with tabs on the sides of the pages. An index makes it easy to locate specific topics and a glossary defines common science terms. 

While the text font is quite small, the information is accompanied by numerous text features to help readers further understand the information. Diagrams, vocab boxes, colored text boxes, tables and timelines are used throughout the book. There are "LOL" boxes where readers can learn science jokes and "Try This" boxes inviting readers to make models or try experiments to further their learning. 
       Personal photo taken of pages 116-117 of finished copy. 
 
But the photographs are just amazing. From close up photos of fascinating animals to gorgeous photos of nature and people, the photographs tie this book together. 

I would recommend this Science Encyclopedia for schools, classrooms or budding scientists ages 9 and up. 
It would also make a great gift! 

See what others have to say about this book:
Always in the Middle
Word Spelunking

Monday, December 19, 2016

It's Monday, What Are You Reading?- December 19, 2016


Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

How is this for laziness? I was able to read a nice stack of picture books on Sunday, but I don't have time for a whole post. So, here is a picture of my stack. Some really good ones here! 


I am hoping to be able to read over the break, but we have 4 more days of school this week. 

What are you reading friends? 



Tuesday, December 13, 2016

The Biggest Smallest Christmas Present by Harriet Muncaster

The Biggest Smallest Christmas Present 
by Harriet Muncaster
Published Oct., 2016
G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
32 Pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
The Night Before Christmas meets Thumbelina in a toy-filled tale that celebrates the excitement and magic of the holiday season.
Clementine is a teeny-tiny girl who lives with her average-sized family. It’s mostly fun being the smallest, but Christmas can be tricky. Santa brings beautiful toys, but they are too big for this little girl.
Every year, Clementine tries to tell Santa she’s small. But the cookies she ices with a message to Santa are eaten, and the words she stamps out on the roof are covered by fresh snow. It’ll take a whole lot of Christmas spirit for Clementine to find the right way to reach Santa—and when she does, she just might get the toy of her dreams!

Harriet Muncaster’s whimsical illustrations shine in this celebration of creativity, gratitude, and the magic of Christmas.

My Thoughts
Many children love tiny things. They love to examine them and imagine what it would be like to be small. Clementine is adorable. She is so tiny that she sleeps in a matchbox and takes baths in a teacup. 
While she appreciates the gifts she gets each Christmas, none of them seem to quite fit her. Then one Christmas, she gets the biggest box ever and inside is a gift that is perfect for her. 

Harriet Muncaster's illustrations have a whimsical quality that will draw readers in. She builds anticipation as each Christmas approaches. Kids will be rooting for Clementine to get the perfect present.

This book would make a great addition to any holiday collection. 

See what others have to say about this book:

Monday, December 12, 2016

It's Monday, What Are You Reading-December 12, 2016


Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

Click on the covers to learn more about each book.

Thanks to the snow day, I was able to get a Monday post ready. I have not read a ton lately, but here are some I have enjoyed. 

This seed needs to make some changes. 
Coming 2017

A wonderfully thoughtful picture books with so many applications!

LOVED this middle grade novel about finding where you belong!

Currently Reading


What are YOU reading friends? 

Friday, November 11, 2016

Animal Planet Strange, Unusual, Gross, & Cool Animals by Charles Ghigna

Animal Planet Strange, Unusual, Gross, & Cool Animals 
by Charles Ghigna
Published Oct. 2016
Time Inc. Books
Ages 8-11
Nonfiction
Hardcover
128 pages

Goodreads Summary
Did you know that an archerfish can spit water up to 16 feet? Or that the giant weta is the world's largest and heaviest insect? Animal Planet's fascinating exploration of animal oddities introduces young animal lovers to some of the most astonishing, gorgeous, and obscure animals in the world-including some brand new discoveries! Packed with more than 200 vibrant photographs and fun facts about animals with unusual behaviors, strange appearances, and remarkable stats, this deluxe gift book is perfect for reluctant readers or anyone who loves totally gross and amazing animals. 
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of books in the Animal Bites series benefits the principal partners of R.O.A.R. (Reach Out. Act. Respond.), Animal Planet's initiative dedicated to improving the lives of animals in our communities and in the wild.

My Thoughts
Strange, unusual, gross and cool all seem fitting words to describe the animals in this book. I learned about so many animals I never knew existed before including the markhor, maleo, rhombic egg eater and the kakapo. 
The book presents animals in large sections, Strange Animals, Unusual Animals, Gross Animals, and Cool Animals. It includes a glossary and interesting sections that focus more closely on body parts such as "The Eyes Have It" and "Fabulous Feet". 

The pages are big and covered with gorgeous photographs from Animal Planet. 
Strange, Unusual, Gross and Cool Animals would make a wonderful addition to a school or classroom library and a great gift for young animal enthusiasts. 

See what others have to say about this book:
Purple Owl Reviews

I am excited that Charles Ghigna agreed to do a guest post today. Below he describes how this book was "born". 


From a Treehouse in the Middle of Alabama
by Charles Ghigna

    It’s no wonder an author with a name like “Goose” for a pseudonym was asked to write another book about animals. But this is no ordinary book. This is a book full of well-researched animals animals, strange, unusual, gross and cool.

    I live in a treehouse in the middle of Alabama where I’ve written more than a hundred books. I like to look out the window and make up poems and stories about fictitious animals who live only in my imagination — and the imaginations of my young readers.

   But they wanted a book about real animals! Exotic animals that roam the forests of the world and swim the depths of oceans. This was not going to be a typical book of poems and stories. This was going to be a tome of timeless importance to inspire and intrigue, to captivate and gross out the preteen crowd of cool kids, kids who love to read and explore, and kids who do not like to read and explore but who would be tempted to open a book that has the word “gross” on its cover.

   So, I got up out of my cozy treehouse and drove directly to my local library asking for help. There in the wonderfully inspiring confines of the Homewood Public Library I told my librarian friends about my new project. They saw the fear in my eyes. “Help,” I said in the voice of a bug-eyed Blobfish.

   In less time than it takes for the Rosy Wolfsnail to capture and devour its prey, my arms were stacked high with books about some of the world’s most exotic animals, animals from the tops of the Amazon mountains to the bottom of the seas off the coasts of Australia.

   And so I waddled my way back to the treehouse like a happy Bluefooted Booby where I would spend the next nine months reading, writing, researching, and revising information about some of the world’s coolest animals, many of them newly discovered. I called scientists, teachers, librarians, family and friends, and asked them to suggest animals they thought should be on the list. I researched all the books I could find, as well as websites and blogs. I stayed up late at night and into the wee hours of the morning, catching late afternoon catnaps on the sofa of my treehouse.

   Then the real work began. The fun work of taking all the information I had gathered about each animal and crystalizing it into a book that no kid of any age could resist. I used my skills as a poet to “show and not tell.” I pretended I was a kid again, a curious kid discovering a new world of the most amazing collection of animals I had ever seen.

   Before long, I had a book full of exotic animals. A strange, unusual, gross and cool book of kid-friendly, kid-scary creatures. I passed my manuscript along to my editors at Time Inc. They magically transformed my text into little attractive packages of words accompanied by some of the world’s most gorgeous eye popping pictures by some of the world’s most renowned photographers.

   And so after nine months in the making, our beautiful book baby was born. We call her SUGAC for short. We love our SUGAC and we hope you like her. We hope everyone whoever wanders this planet, whoever wonders this animal planet, will like her too.


Thanks again Charles for sharing your journey to bring Strange, Unusual, Gross & Cool Animals to readers. 





Charles Ghigna - Father Goose® lives in a treehouse in the middle of Alabama.
He is the author of more than 5,000 poems and 100 award-winning books from 
Random House, Disney-Hyperion, Time Inc., Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, 
Capstone, Boyds Mills, Abrams, Orca, Charlesbridge and other publishers.

Visit his website here

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday-My First Book of Hockey: A Rookie Book and Giveaway!

 My Friend Alyson Beecher at Kid Lit Frenzy hosts weekly link up to share Nonfiction Picture Books. Please visit her amazing website.


Published by Sports Illustrated Kids
September 2016
Ages 3-8
48 Pages

Goodreads Summary
The puck drops, skates flash, and sticks fly-a hockey game is underway! With a fun mix of Sports Illustrated action photography, simple text, a full glossary of terms, and cool graphics, My First Book of Hockey introduces readers to the basics. Kids (and maybe a few adults, too!) will learn how power plays work, how the three-period game flows, what a hat trick is, what's up with the referee's crease, and more.

An illustrated "rookie" character appears on every page, guiding the reader moment by moment, and helping to make My First Book of Hockey an ideal shared reading experience between parents and their young rookies before, during, and after the game.


My Thoughts
I have to admit, I don't watch a lot of hockey. However, I have been to my local hockey team games and wondered about several things. What is "icing"? What makes a "power play"? And what the heck is "off sides"? 
Well Sports Illustrated Kids has answered these questions and more in their latest addition to the Rookie Book series, My First Book of Hockey. I have written about this series before here. It is a wonderful series that teaches youngest fans about their favorite sports. Previously, they have published My First Book of Baseball and My First Book of Football
This book explains the basic elements of the game in simplistic terms with accompanying actual photographs of NHL players. The solid, bold colored backgrounds behind the photos and white text will allow little ones to focus on the information presented. 
Thick, sturdy pages will stand up to the most enthusiastic readers. 

This book is great for any young sports fan! With the holidays coming up, the series would make a wonderful gift. 

See what others have to say about this book.

Enter the Giveaway!
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Saturday, November 5, 2016

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? November 7, 2016


Please visit the amazing blogs: Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers who host this terrific meme each week.

Click on the covers to learn more about each book.

An important story to share with children to build 
empathy and spark their desire to help others.

Just beautiful! Deborah Freeman is amazing! 
Share this with all your shy little ones. 

There is so much to read and examine in this 160 page biography of E.B.White. A must-have for your biography collection. 

What are you reading friends? 

Saturday, October 29, 2016

A Teeny Tiny Halloween by Lauren L. Wohl and Henry Cole

A Teeny Tiny Halloween 
by Lauren L. Wohl and Henry Cole
Published September 13, 2016
Persnickety Press
32 Pages
Review copy provided by publisher.

Goodreads Summary
It happens every fall. The leaves from the tall trees that surround her house drift down until the teeny tiny woman’s teeny tiny house is buried completely. Inside it’s dark and a teeny tiny bit scary, but the resourceful woman has a plan and a few surprises up her teeny tiny sleeve.
Written to be shared through read-aloud or story-telling, the type face indicates where the teller should be whispering and when suddenly s/he should shout – surprising the listeners, even causing them to jump, which puts this book in the realm of jump-tales, so popular at spooky-story times like Halloween and around the campfire on summer evenings. Short enough for even young children to remember after reading or hearing the story a few times, the book encourages children themselves to tell the tale themselves, making a family tradition.

Former Disney Publishing executive, Lauren L. Wohl, tells an all-new story starring a favorite character from folklore with an autumnal chill and a special treat that brings the book to a perfect-for-Halloween ending. Children will want to return to the teeny tiny house again and again to enjoy Henry Cole’s illustrations that capture the mood and the humor of the tale.


My Thoughts
The Teeny-Tiny Woman is a folktale classic. This book features the small character in a fall/Halloween story. The summary does a nice job retelling the story. The woman does some creative things to try to get the attention of anyone who might be able to find her house after it gets buried such as banging on pots and pans and clanging cookie sheets together. Some of these might be fun to act out with little ones while reading the story.
The illustrations are gorgeous with deep autumn colors. The characters are very sweet and endearing. 

This book would make a nice addition to any Halloween collection for ages 4-8. 

See what others have to say about this book:

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Doodle Adventures: The Pursuit of the Pesky Pizza Pirate! by Mike Lowery

Doodle Adventures: The Pursuit of the Pesky Pizza Pirate! 
by Mike Lowery
Published Sept. 6, 2016
Workman Publishing Company
112 Pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
Draw your way through the story!
Doodle Adventures: The Pursuit of the Pesky Pizza Pirate! is a rip-roaring adventure tale starring Carl, the friendly narrator who happens to be a duck, and the reader, who is drawn right into the story—literally. Together, they embark on the very important mission of finding out who has been stealing all of the pizza in town. Could it be the Dread Pirate Slobberts, the meanest, nastiest pirate ever to sail the Seven Seas? And, more important, how are they going to get all that pizza back?

Armed with a well-sharpened pencil and their imaginations, and following Carl’s prompts, readers fill in the blanks on each page until the story is complete. The result is a sturdy, one-of-a-kind book—starring you!—that’s as much a joy to read over and over again as it was to make.

My Thoughts
I wrote about the first book in the "Doodle Adventures" series this summer. Mike Lowery has created a fun way for kids to interact with the story. These book are perfect for kids who need to find a different way to interact with the text and kids who just love to sketch and draw. How fun to be allowed and even encouraged to draw in a book! The use of muted yellows and oranges allows for the child's illustrations to be seen and to feel like they were meant to be in the book. 
With the holidays coming up, I would highly recommend this series for book fans and budding artists ages.

See what others have to say about this book:
Geek Dad

Mike Lowery has illustrated dozens of books including Ken Jennings' Junior Genius Guides. Visit hie website here. 

Visit the publisher's website for more info about this series. 

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Dining With Dinosaurs: A Tasty Guide to Mesozoic Munching by Hannah Bonner

Dining With Dinosaurs: A Tasty Guide to Mesozoic Munching 
by Hannah Bonner
Published Sept. 2016
National Geographic Kids Books
Nonfiction
48 Pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary
Sure you know that T-Rex was the meat-eating king and that brontosaurus muched on leaves, but what else was on the dino dining menu during the Mesozoic era? In this hilarious book, paleontologists reveal all! Meet the 'vores: carnivores, piscivores, herbivores, insectivores, "trashivores," "sunivores," and omnivores like us. Readers will be surprised and inspired to learn about all the crazy stuff dinos ate and they'll get insights into how scientists can tell which dinosaurs ate what just from looking at fossils! Journey through artist and author Hannah Bonner's whimsical world to learn how the dinosaurs and their contemporaries bit, chewed, and soaked up their food.

My Thoughts
Kids will love learning about dinosaurs in this engaging book! They will learn about the different kinds of "vores", what they ate and how they depended on one another in the circle of life. 

The facts are presented in an effective combination of brief text, illustrations, diagrams and captions. There are funny, yet informative cartoony creatures sprinkled throughout the book offering a bit of comedy to the factual information. 

Comic strip panels called. "Ask a Scientist" show scientists further discussing the topic presented on the page. 

At the end of the book, the author makes a connection to food chains today. There is also a great diagram of a food web and where the different "vores" fall within the web. 


Photo taken of page 7. 

There is so much to look at and learn in this book. I would highly recommend it for any dinosaur fanatic or classroom library for grades 3-5. 

See what others have to say about this book:
Kirkus-starred review