Bark Ship Bonnie by Stephanie Staub

 Bark Ship Bonnie 

by Stephanie Staub 

Art by Fiona Lee

Published March, 2023

Cameron Kids

Fiction

Hardcover

32 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

A sailing adventure featuring a girl, her dog, and their boat, complete with a “Ship Slang” glossary and diagram of a real bark ship

Bonnie lass, bark sailor on a bark ship cast off, set sail, chase sea tales, befriend whales, scope islands, outwit squalls, and make it home in time to slip back into the slip and sleep, in this delightfully salty tale of a girl, her dog, and a boat.

My Thoughts

I did not know what a bark ship was prior to reading this book. Thankfully there is a diagram of a bark ship as well as a glossary of "ship slang" at the end of the book. 

The lyrical text is full of these slang and many more rich vocabulary terms that can be explored with children. 

The illustrations are simple and colorful, each page with a nautical feel. This book could make a nice addition to an ocean or boating unit. 

Image from Amazon.

They Are Here!: How Invasive Species Are Spoiling Our Ecosystems

 

They Are Here!: How Invasive Species Are Spoiling Our Ecosystems

by Roland Smith

Published May, 2023

Henry Holt and Co. 

Nonfiction

Hardcover

160 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Goodreads Summary

From the New York Times -bestselling author, Roland Smith, comes a fascinating, fact-filled resource that explores how humans have introduced―on purpose and by accident―plants and animals to parts of the world where they were previously unknown. . .sometimes with disastrous results.

Did you know that brown rats were brought to the United States in the eighteenth century on a ship from England? Or that thousands of exotic pets were released into the Florida Everglades after a hurricane in 1992, leading to today’s booming Burmese python population? All over the country, non-native species from around the world have been introduced to our lands, irrevocably changing the natural balances of their new habitats.

This is the story of some of those newcomers, but also of human error and nature gone wild. By looking at thirty different intrusive plants and animals, They Are Here! explores invasive species, their impact on our environment, and the steps we can take to support local ecosystems under threat.

My Thoughts

I found this book really interesting. It includes definitions and describes ways that invasive species enter ecosystems. I was very surprised by how many animals are categorized as invasive species, the damage they do and the money it costs to try to control them. I do wish there was a table of contents, but the chapters are organized by type of animal. I found the chapter about how Burmese Pythons became an invasive species in Florida because of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. 

While there are very few illustrations and no photographs, the short sections with interesting information will appeal to many students. 

Some Books I Have Read Recently-July 13

 Here are a few books I have finished in recent weeks. 

Tumble

by Celia C. Pérez

A 2023-24 Maine Student Book Award Contender

Addie seeks answers from her absent biological father and learns agreat deal about  herself and what it means to be  family in the process.

Hidden Truths 

by Elly Swartz

Expected Publication October, 2023

ebook copy provided by Netgalley

Can secrets and mistakes destroy a lifelong friendship? 

There is so much to dive into in this thoughtful middle grade book. 

Look for it this fall. 

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library 

Graphic Novel

Expected Publication November, 2023

ebook copy provided by Netgalley

The graphic novel captures all the important events from the original novel. I think this version will appeal to many students and will create new fans of the series. 

Garvey's Choice 

The Graphic Novel

I loved the original Garvey's Choice novel in verse. Although this version sticks closely to the origin text, I prefer the original. Part of Garvey's struggle is that he is overweight, but the illustrated Garvey doesn't really seem to be quite what I would picture. But, many students will enjoy it.