Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday-Please Be Nice to Sharks by Matt Weiss

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

So I am slowly getting back into blogging after about 2 months away. I am looking forward to reconnecting with my friends and sharing books!

Please Be Nice to Sharks-Fascinating Facts About the Ocean's Most Misunderstood Creatures

by Matt Weiss

Photos by Matt Weiss and Daniel Botelho

Published June 7, 2016

Sterling Children's Books

Nonfiction Picture Book

Hardcover

32 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher. 

Although shark attacks on humans are rare, they never fail to make the news when they occur, sending people into a panic. These events and sensationalized shark movies have made sharks one of the most feared creatures in Earth. I was a child when the original JAWS movie came out and I was terrified to go in any body of water for quite some time. 

Please Be Nice to Sharks seeks to dispel scary rumors and misconceptions about these fascinating animals. 

The book opens by presenting information about the importance of sharks to our planet. Then 14 species of sharks are featured one at a time with simple text and colored photographs. The information is presented by the sharks in entertaining first person narration. Each shark tells what is unique about it and tries to convince the reader that people should be nice to it.  Some of the text is accompanied by a text box of further information about the shark such as length, weight, and adaptations. 

I enjoyed the format and the focus of this book. Unlike many books about sharks, it does not try to teach the reader everything about each animal. The text is simple, short and focused. I can see many students choosing to write persuasive nonfiction pieces about animals following this mentor example. 

I would recommend Please Be Nice to Sharks for grades 3-5. It would make a nice addition to a school or classroom library. I can't wait to share it with my 4th graders! 

See what others have to say about this book:

Publishers Weekly

Examiner.com

Before I Wake Up by Britta Teckentrup

Before I Wake Up 
by Britta Teckentrup
Published April, 2016
Prestel Publishing
Fiction
Hardcover
56 pages
Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

Created by the world-renowned children's author and illustrator Britta Teckentrup, this dreamy, colorful nighttime journey will captivate and soothe young children

everywhere. A young girl falls asleep and travels in her dreams through the sky, down to the ocean's depths, and into a jungle. She is accompanied by a lion friend, who eases her fears, gives her confidence, and helps her explore the world around her. Along

the way she meets whales, jellyfish, grizzly bears and wolves. Then it is time for the moon balloon to take the girl home to her bed, where she awakes, snuggled safely next to the lion, who returns to being a stuffed toy. Award-winning children's illustrator Britta Teckentrup's collage-like artwork creates a magical world of captivating colors, classic shapes, and softly detailed textures. The gently told story reassures children that they are never alone, even in their dreams. Exquisitely produced, this book is certain to become a pre-bedtime favorite for children and their parents. 

My Thoughts

Before I wake up is a sweet bedtime story of a little girl who dreams of animal friends and far off lands. In her dream, the girl, who narrates the story in rhyming verse, finds her special lion friend who makes her feel safe and confident. Together they fly in a hot air balloon, glide on a boat, plays in the forest, and dive in the ocean. 

The illustrations are excellent and start off dark with many layers of muted collage. As the dawn comes, the pages get gradually lighter and brighter until the girl awakens to a bright new day. 

Before I Wake Up reassures young readers that they are safe as they sleep and that the excitement of a new day awaits them when they wake up. I would recommend it for ages 3-6.

See what others have to say about this book:

Kirkus

Publishers Weekly

Picture Books Blogger

Visit the author's website.

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? June 27, 2016

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

It's good to be back. I took a hiatus from blogging since early May! This was not intentional. The end of the year craziness, combined with my poorly planned timing of taking the exam for National Boards, made May-June exceptionally busy.   I am excited for summer and have been reading quite a bit. Here are a few I have enjoyed recently. Click on the covers to learn more about them. 

 

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