Foundational Skills for Writing: A Brain-Based Guide to Strengthen Executive Functioning, Language And Other Cornerstones For Writers by Melanie Meehan & Maggie Beattie Roberts

Foundational Skills for Writing: A Brain-Based Guide to Strengthen Executive Functioning, Language And Other Cornerstones For Writers 

by Melanie Meehan & Maggie Beattie Roberts

Published May, 2026

Corwin 

232 Pages

Paperback

Professional Learning Text

I am a bit of a professional book addict. I love reading professional texts to deepen and broaden my own knowledge and skills so that I can be the best teacher for my students. While I always learn something, not every professional text is as helpful as I hope it will be. Every now and then, a professional text comes along that is a game-changer--one that has the potential to impact the practice of everyone who reads it. Foundational Skills for Writing is one of those books. 

It is an understatement to say that Melanie and Maggie have done their homework. They have done a deep dive into how executive functioning, oral language, large and small motor skills, handwriting, spelling, syntax, and sentence construction all play important roles in writing development. They provide predictable progressions of developmental skills, which will help educators determine next steps for students. Each chapter is grounded in classroom practice by presenting a student scenario. Then the student is revisited at the end of the chapter, and the authors give an update on how the students have progressed using the information and strategies presented in the chapter. 

Most importantly, the authors provide replicable instructional strategies to address each foundational skill in a section called "Leveraging Literacy". These strategies are accompanied by sequential steps, visuals, and even direct links to resources. I got some new ideas that I will share later in this post. A section called Researchers to Know, includes a list of prominent researchers in the field presented in the chapter, including a brief description of their contributions. Each chapter ends with Conversations With a Colleague, where a practitioner in the field shares their experience, expertise, and advice. 

The mark of a good professional text is in how it will impact the practice of an educator who reads it. Books like this one make me wish I were back in the classroom so that I could use what I have learned with my classroom writers. But now I read professional texts through a library lens. Below are the strategies and activities I will implement (or continue to implement) in my library program to support foundational writing development after reading and processing Foundational Skills for Writing.

Executive Functioning

• Allow extra think time
• Leverage quick-writes
• Use sketchnoting with students
• Incorporate more oral storytelling

Oral Language

• Turn & talks (pairing similar "talkers" together
• Asking students to share what they heard rather than what they said. 
• Verbal rehearsal before writing
• Incorporate visuals like sketches as options
• Incorporate the use of sentence frames during discussions
• Ask questions to think deeper about characters from read-alouds, such as What would be the character's least favorite food? 
• Have students orally tell the story of wordless picture books

Large Motor Skills

• Utilize large motor movements before read-aloud
• Encourage students to read books on their bellies propped up on their arms
• Incorporate yoga poses in the library

Small Motor/Handwriting/Spelling Skills

• Offer a variety of writing utensils 
• Have a variety of paper choices on hand
• Offer Jigsaw puzzles
• Incorporate STEAM activities such as Legos 
• Bookmaking activities
• Incorporate the use of sticky notes and mini notebooks throughout the library and during play activities
• Keep letter-sound charts and high-frequency word lists available during writing activities
• Do high-frequency word hunts in books
• Orthographically map tricky words 
• Incorporate Interactive Writing 
• Label the library
• Use magnetic letters for choice activities

Syntax & Sentence Construction

• Mentor sentence activities
• Sort a sentence
• Collaborative sentence construction
• Sentence scrambles 
• Magnetic poetry

I would strongly encourage any educator to get a copy of Foundational Skills for Writing: A Brain-Based Guide to Strengthen Executive Functioning, Language, and Other Cornerstones for Writers by Melanie Meehan & Maggie Beattie Roberts.  

Anansi and the Talking Cloth

Anansi and the Talking Cloth 

By Ekua Holmes 

Illustrated by Caroline Brewer with Kwasi Asare

Expected Publication August 25, 2026

Charlesbridge

40 Pages

Hardcover Picture Book

Review copy provided by publisher

Publisher Summary

Illustrated by Caldecott Honor Award winner Ekua Holmes, this modern and original Anansi the Spider story explores traditional kente-cloth making, written by award-winner Caroline Brewer, in cooperation with weaving expert Kwasi Asare.
When kente-cloth weavers stop weaving, Anansi the Spider must save the city in this rhythmic African folktale, a rhyming read-aloud trickster picture book.
This rhyming and rhythmic original Anansi fable finds Anansi the Spider needing to save the city. One day the sun stops shining because the kente-cloth making spiders stop weaving in protest against mass-produced cloth. Handmade kente cloth has made Africa famous and the spider city wealthy. Without it, the city is doomed.
Anansi faces the biggest challenge of his spider life, and his clever trickster past, coupled with help from his wife, will restore harmony.

Author Caroline Brewer and master kente-cloth weaver Kwasi Asare worked together to create this fresh take featuring the African trickster Anansi the Spider, a classic hero.

My Thoughts

I am always looking for fresh books for my folk and fairytale section in the library. There are many Anansi tales featuring the trickster based on the character created by the Akan-Ashanti people of Ghana. Rhyming and rhythmic text gives a contemporary feel while holding true to a folktale structure. 

In this tale, the weavers of kente cloth, a special hand-woven cloth with unique patterns, have decided to stop weaving after villagers, and even the chief, start wearing cheap machine-woven cloth instead. Anansi attempts to use his trickster ways to try to get the weavers to weave kente cloth again, but will it work this time? It turns out that the weavers want to feel appreciated and recognized for the important work that they do. 

Layered, collage-style patterns fill each page with color and texture, bringing this visually stunning story to life. The back matter includes further information about Anansi folktales and the legend and history of kente weaving. 

Follow-up discussions about the importance of cultural art and storytelling would add to the power of this book. 

Teachers and librarians may want to consider reading this book in September-African Fabric Month.

Below is more information about the book creators. 

Caroline Brewer is an award-winning children’s book author, artist, environmentalist, literacy consultant, and creator of Nature-Wise, a program for students and teachers that blends literacy and nature exploration. Caroline is also author and illustrator of Harriet Tubman, Force of Nature and author of Say Their Names. Her newest book is Anansi and the Talking Cloth, written with Kwasi Asare and illustrated by Ekua Holmes. Caroline lives in the Washington, DC, metro area. Learn more at https://carolinebrewerbooks.com/.

Kwasi Asare was born in Nsawam, near the capital city of Accra, Ghana, and is one of Africa’s most prominent and accomplished weavers known for kente cloth, the highly prized Ghanaian cloth that traditionally symbolizes royalty, honor, and leadership. For the United Nations’ fiftieth anniversary in 1995, he created a new kente cloth design. Until 2017, it replaced the original cloth created by Kwasi’s father, A. E. Asare. www.kwasiasare.com

Ekua Holmes was awarded a Caldecott Honor, Coretta Scott King’s John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award, Robert Siebert Award, and Boston Globe–Horn Book award for Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, her first illustration project. She won the Coretta Scott King Award for Illustration twice: Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets and Stuff of Stars. www.ekuaholmes.com

Sharks in Kansas: The Ancient Sea in the Middle of America by Melissa Stewart and Becca Stadtlander

 

Sharks in Kansas: The Ancient Sea in the Middle of America

By Melissa Stewart

Illustrated by Becca Stadtlander

Expected publication July 7, 2026

Random House Studio

Nonfiction

Hardcover

40 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary from the Publisher

Sharks in Kansas? Yes, it’s true! Take a fascinating journey back 85 million years to a time when Kansas was submerged under a vast ocean teeming with incredible prehistoric sharks.

Sharks in Kansas? Seems impossible, right? After all, Kansas is smack dab in the middle of the United States—more than 1,000 miles from the closest ocean. But the world hasn’t always looked the way it does today.

Once upon a time, 85 million years ago, the middle of America was submerged in water–and incredible creatures roamed the sea. On a typical afternoon, a small herd of Claosaurus munches on plants along the shoreline. Above them, a Pteranodon glides across the sky in search of fish… when, suddenly, a Squalicorax grabs a young dinosaur with its bone-crunching bite. Chomp!

From the flightless bird Hesperonis to the mighty Tylosaurus, here is a fascinating look at many kids’ favorite creatures and the mysteries of an ancient ocean.

My Thoughts

Melissa Stewart's books are always engaging, unique, and jam-packed with information. Sharks in Kansas is no different. This book offers a fascinating glimpse into what our world looked like 85 million years ago, and how scientists have come to understand the creatures that once inhabited many parts of what is now the US. 

Stewart tells the story of the prehistoric creatures and includes sidebars that contain specific facts about them. She incorporates descriptive and content-specific vocabulary that shows a respect for young readers. 

Becca Stadtlander's illustrations help readers see what the creatures looked like. While maps, diagrams, and cross-sections show changes in the Earth over time, and how it is possible to find evidence of prehistoric ocean creatures in the middle of the US. 

Kids love sharks and all things prehistory, and they will love this book. I can't wait to share it with my students. 

Shark Week starts July 6! 

See What Others Have to Say About This Book:

“A solid, well-illustrated introduction to prehistoric North America.” —Kirkus Reviews
“It’s a smartly structured deep dive that brings a long-gone water body vividly into the modern age.” —Publishers Weekly
“An inviting plunge into the deep past.” —Booklist

Info About The Creators:

Melissa Stewart is a leading voice in children's nonfiction, with more than 200 science books to her name. Her work has been translated into more than a dozen languages and garnered such awards as the Sibert Honor, two Green Earth Book Awards, and four ALA Notables. Her best-known titles include Whale Fall, illustrated by Rob Dunlavey, Tree Hole Homes, illustrated by Amy Hevron, and Feathers: Not Just for Flying, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen. After earning a bachelor's degree in biology from Union College and a master's degree in science journalism from New York University, Melissa worked as a children's book editor for nine years before becoming a full-time writer. While gathering information for her books, she has explored tropical rain forests in Costa Rica, gone on safari in East Africa, and swum with sea lions in the Galapagos Islands. She lives in Massachusetts. For more information, including teacher resources, videos, and more, visit melissa-stewart.com.


Becca Stadtlander is an illustrator and fine artist. In 2019, she won the Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Illustration for Made by Hand: A Crafts Sampler. Picture books she has illustrated include Mr. McCloskey's Marvelous Mallards, Sleep Tight, Farm, and On Wings of Words, which received four starred reviews. Her work is also featured in adult books, editorial publications, stationery, home decor products, and book covers.

Monarch & Mourning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal by Melissa Stewart and Sarah S. Brannen

Monarch & Mourning Cloak: A Butterfly Journal by Melissa Stewart and Sarah S. Brannen

Published March, 2026

Beech Lane Books

Nonfiction

Picture Book

48 Pages

Hardcover

Review copy provided by publisher

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Kirkus Starred Review

Goodreads Summary

A luminously illustrated and thoroughly informative picture book poetry collection by Sibert Honor–winning duo Melissa Stewart and Sarah S. Brannen that captures the beauty and complexity of monarch and mourning cloak butterflies.

Monarch and mourning cloak butterflies may seem similar on the surface; they are about the same size and common throughout North America. But following along at a butterfly’s-eye-view, readers will discover how they live in different habitats, eat different foods, and have different strategies for avoiding enemies and making it through winter. Because even though all butterflies have the same basic body features and life cycle, each species has its own special way of surviving.

Delightful and illuminating poems, informational sidebars, and lush illustrations will immerse curious young readers in the lives of these two fascinating butterfly species.

My Thoughts

In a letter to the reader, Stewart and Brannen describe this book as, "...a collage of poems and artwork that captures the beauty and complexity of butterflies while also revealing our creative process." 

It feels exactly like looking through a journal of a scientist or naturalist who has delved into studying the Monarch and Mourning Cloak Butterflies. The book is filled with poems about the butterflies that are illustrated to look like they are taped into the journal. The poems are accompanied by notes, sketches, diagrams, and timelines. There is so much to learn and explore. I found myself noticing something new with each reread. I can just picture my students poring over this book together. 

Reading Monarch and Mourning Cloak would be a great springboard into nature journals. Kids (and adults) will be inspired to start their own journals after reading and exploring this book. 

image from Amazon.com

Don't miss the back matter that could be a book by itself. 

Visit Melissa Stewart's website for more information and resources to deepen and extend the learning. 

I can't wait to add this book to my school library. 

Swapped: Ollie's BIG Adventure by Maggie Testa

Swapped: Ollie's BIG Adventure 

by Maggie Testa

Published April, 2026

Simon Spotlight

Boardbook

Publisher Summary
Based on Skydance Animation and Netflix’s upcoming feature Swapped, coming in 2026 and sure to be a beloved children’s movie for years to come, Ollie’s Big Adventure is a gorgeous and fun-filled board book!

Meet Ollie and Ivy. Ollie is a Pookoo, the smallest and most vulnerable creature in the valley. Ivy is a Javan, a beautiful bird species that eats the Pookoo’s main food source.

When they magically switch bodies, these two natural competitors have to learn to work together to survive in a world that is both awe-inspiring and very dangerous. In fact, both of their species’ survival depends on it. Come along for a soaring adventure that will delight readers and fans of the film.

The book makes a nice companion to the popular animated movie on Netflix. Kids will love revisiting adorable animated characters and scenes from the movie. 

Here is more info about the movie:

ABOUT THE MOVIE: A buddy comedy about a small woodland creature (voiced by Michael B. Jordan) and a majestic bird (voiced by Juno Temple)—natural sworn enemies of The Valley—who suddenly swap bodies and must team up (while walking in each other’s feathers and fur) to survive the wildest adventure of their lives.

Sounds of Trash from Steamworks

 

Sounds of Trash

by Tina Athaide

Illustrated by Neha Rawat

Expected Publication August, 2026

Charlesbridge

Fiction

Hardcover

40 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary From Publisher 

Join Pran and his friends in an exploration of sound and the engineering design process, because STEAM is everywhere and for everyone!

Part of STEAMWORKS, a series of fiction picture books for ages 4-7 that relate science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) to kids’ everyday lives.

When Pran and his friends learn that the neighborhood block party is moved to the park where it won’t have music, they are determined to find a way for it to be part of the celebration. After some trial and error, and more than a few prototypes made from recyclables, they are ready to engineer their way to a jazzy, bhangra-filled day!

Extend the learning beyond the story with expertly crafted back matter, including additional information about sound and the engineering design process and fun STEAM activities.

STEAMWORKS features children of all backgrounds and abilities using scientific and mathematical thinking to solve everyday problems and answer questions that matter to them. Playful stories and extension activities ignite excitement for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and empower children as thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators.

My Thoughts

Teachers are always asking me for picture books that show examples of using teamwork to reach a goal. This is one I will be recommending. Pran and pals use recycled items to make items that make musical sounds. Throughout the book, readers are exposed to musical vocabulary such as bhangra, vibration, twang, percussion, and more. 

The backmatter contains a short glossary and information about the science of sound. A visual cycle of an engineering design process shows readers how engineers design and modify designs. Then, readers are given suggestions to expand on the content of the books by counting, playing, and exploring further.  

Characters are depicted with various skin colors and features, suggesting that they are different races and from various cultures. 

Image from Amazon.com

Sounds of Trash is a great book to read any time, but especially during units on recycling, Earth Day, neighborhoods, and music. 

Manny y el tiempo hacen juego~Manny Matches the Weather from Steamworks

Manny y el tiempo hacen juego~Manny Matches the Weather

by Jenny Lacika

Illustrated by Antonieta Muñoz Estrada

Published May 5, 2026

Charlesbridge

Board Book

20 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary From Publisher

SIMULTANEOUS IN ENGLISH AND BILINGUAL SPANISH-ENGLISH! Join Manny in an exploration of temperature and weather, because STEAM is everywhere and for everyone!

Part of STEAMWORKS, a series of fiction board books for ages 0-3 that relate science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) to kids’ everyday lives

Manny has style! But sometimes, Manny’s style does not match the weather. Can Manny learn to observe both the temperature and the weather to build outfits with fashion and function in mind?

Perfect for parents and caregivers of independent toddlers exploring the world of dressing themselves.

Extend the learning beyond the story with expertly crafted back matter, including additional information about temperature and weather and fun STEAM activities.

STEAMWORKS features children of all backgrounds and abilities using scientific and mathematical thinking to solve everyday problems and answer questions that matter to them. Playful stories and extension activities ignite excitement for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) and empower children as thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators.

My Thoughts

This bilingual book is perfect for very young readers who speak English, Spanish, or both languages. Manny faces a common and very relatable problem that kids face: how to wear clothes you like, but also dress for the weather. He learns to use the weather forecast and the weather he sees outside to decide how to mix and match his outfits. 

The sturdy pages are filled with colorful illustrations of Manny and his mother dressed in various outfits in different types of weather. The book invites children and caregivers to discuss the weather and various vocabulary to describe weather conditions. 

I would recommend this book to parents and teachers of young children. 

Summer and Autumn Pop-Up Books from Phaidon

 

Summer Pops Up!

by Aurone Petit

Expected Publication May 20, 2026

Phaidon Press

Fiction

Pop Up Book 

12 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary From Publisher 

Winner, 2025 Best Baby Book Prize from the French Ministry of Culture

From family trips to ocean dips, experience summer’s everyday magic in this sturdy, neon pop-up book. With playful illustrations, engaging text, and pop-up surprises that toddlers (and parents) will love!

Designed especially for little hands, this bright, bold pop-up book brims with the joy of summer in every turn of the page. Perfectly portable and shaped for toddlers’ hands, this sturdy board book features six playful pop-up scenes that leap from the pages with high-contrast neon images – the yellow of sunshine and the pink of summer sunsets.

Celebrate the magic of summertime, from a busy bee zipping between blossoms to a bumpy ride in the family van, from spreading sunscreen on our faces to enjoying bare feet on a beach, and from diving into sunset seas to counting the stars at night. This book brings all our most-loved summer moments to life in a way that’s both familiar and fresh, clever and surprising. Every page bursting with the warm wonders of the season.

With Aurore Petit’s vibrant, playful illustrations, simple, engaging text, and pop-up surprises that toddlers (and parents!) will love, this book is a sensory celebration of summer’s everyday magic.

This is the first title in Aurore Petit’s seasonal pop-up series, publishing alongside Autumn Pops Up! and to be followed soon by winter and spring-themed books.

Autumn Pops Up!

by Aurone Petit

Expected Publication July 29, 2026

Phaidon Press

Fiction

Pop Up Book 

12 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary from Publisher

From falling leaves to Halloween, experience the delights of autumn in this neon, sturdy pop-up book. With playful illustrations, engaging text, and pop-up surprises that toddlers (and parents) will love!

Designed especially for little hands, this bright, bold pop-up board book brims with the magic of autumn in every turn of the page. Perfectly portable and shaped for toddlers’ hands, this sturdy book features six playful pop-up scenes that leap from the pages with high-contrast neon images that brighten even the most dreary of days – featuring the orange of pumpkins and fallen leaves.

From autumnal walks through woods filled with mushrooms, to tucking into a steaming bowl of pumpkin soup, sharing an umbrella on a rainy day to Halloween costumes, admiring the falling leaves to watching birds fly away for warmer weather, each spread captures the joy and beauty of the season in a way that’s both familiar and fresh, clever and surprising.

With Aurore Petit’s vibrant, playful illustrations, simple, engaging text, and pop-up surprises that toddlers (and parents!) will love, this book is a sensory celebration of autumn’s everyday magic.

This is the second title in Aurore Petit’s seasonal pop-up series, publishing alongside Summer Pops Up! and to be followed soon by winter and spring-themed books.

My Thoughts

What is more fun than a pop-up book? I remember looking at pop-up books as a child and being mesmerized. I could read them over and over again. These adorable pop-ups are made for the youngest readers. I have not read them with toddlers or babies, but my kindergarteners really love them, and they have stood up to repeated use. 

Each book uses the colors of the season (bright colors for summer and muted earthtones for autumn). 

Images from Amazon.com

Young readers will love these fun seasonal pop-up books!

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea by Janet Lawler and James Weston Lewis

Who's Hiding? Under the Sea

by Janet Lawler

Illustrated by James Weston Lewis

Published by Pahidon

Expected Release April 1, 2026

Board Book

Nonfiction

12 Pages

In this nonfiction board book, young readers will learn about different animals through riddle poems. 

They will love guessing what the animals are and lifting the flaps to find out. 

The flaps are created in the shape of various ocean plants and creatures, such as anemone, kelp, and shells. The illustrations and backgrounds are colorful and show other animals and different parts of the ocean. 

Young readers will LOVE this book!

Lolly on the Ice by Sarah S. Brannen

Lolly on the Ice

by Sarah S. Brannen

Published 2025

Random House

40 pages

Hardcover

Fiction Picture Book

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary

Lolly loves to ice skate. She feels confident and happy on the ice when it is only her father watching. When anyone else is around, Lolly freezes, and is too scared to skate. When she gets an opportunity to skate in an ice show, she is unable to move when she is in front of the judges. But she is given a role as a snowman in the show because the snowmen didn't need to move. 

When a key performer is injured during the show, Lolly needs to decide if she will face her fear of performing in front of people and step up and skate in the girl's place. 

My Thoughts

This book could be helpful for children who experience performance anxiety or stage fright. It is not a common subject of many books in kid lit. 

In the beginning, it is clear how much Lolly loves to skate. When she becomes a snowman, her energy is different, and you can tell from her facial expression and body language that she really wants to skate like the main performers. Lolly ultimately overcomes her fear and performs in the show. I do wish there had been more development and conflict when she needs to decide if she will skate in the show, and more of a resolution and clear lesson at the end. 

The illustrations, created in watercolor and ink, have a softness about them. The characters have various skin tones. The book includes a combination of one and two-page spreads. 

Image from Amazon.com

Image from Amazon.com

Formula Fast: Your Ultimate Guide to Formula One Racing!

by Matt Ralphs

Illustrated by Dragan Kordic

Expected Publication Feb. 4, 2026

Phaidon Press

Hardcover

Nonfiction Picture Book

64 Pages

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary From Publisher

The ultimate illustrated guide to Formula One racing, the world’s fastest sport: from superhuman drivers to legendary tracks to cutting-edge cars.

Packed with facts, stats, and impactful illustrations, this ultimate guide to Formula One answers all the questions car-obsessed kids want to know: How do you become a superstar driver? Which is the most challenging race track? What is the record for the quickest pit stop? (Hint: it’s less than two seconds.)

Young speed-seekers will discover fascinating details about incredible cars, iconic tracks, superhuman drivers, and behind-the-scenes action. Learn about the latest developments in car technology, what drivers wear and how they train, and, of course, the biggest names in racing history – from Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton to legendary greats like Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, plus unsung heroes such as Desiré Wilson.

Featuring a stunning silver-foiled cover, a historical timeline of Formula One cars, and a helpful glossary of key terms, Formula Fast is the ultimate gift for any aspiring gearhead.

My Thoughts

Am I interested in car racing? No, I am not. But that did not stop me from enjoying Formula Fast. The information in this book is interesting, but the format and text features make it truly engaging. Readers will learn everything they ever wanted to know, and lots more! 

Illustrator, Dragan Kordic has filled it with colorful text features including diagrams, lists, maps, biographical information...you name it. 

Image from Amazon.com

Image from Amazon.com

I have just the reader in my library who would LOVE to be the first to read Formula Fast. 

Our Prehistoric Planet by Sue Lowell Gallion and Lisk Feng

Our Prehistoric Planet 

by Sue Lowell Gallion 

Illustrated by Lisk Feng

Expected Publication March, 2026

Phaidon Press

Nonfiction

Review copy provided by publisher

Summary from Publisher

A rhyming, read-aloud introduction to dinosaurs and early life on our planet that, when opened up and folded back, creates a free-standing globe

This exciting addition to the bestselling Our World collection invites children to explore life on our prehistoric planet through rhyming verse and stunning illustrations.

Beginning with the origins of early life in the oceans billions of years ago, Our Prehistoric Planet travels chronologically through the development of giant crocodile-like lizards, the reign of the dinosaurs, mass extinction events, and the rise of early mammals. Along the way, readers will meet incredible creatures from across the globe, from familiar favorites like Stegosaurus to the bizarre Brontothere, an enormous, rhino-like mammal with giant horns over 3 feet long.

Additional text throughout offers more detailed information and friendly interactive questions, encouraging readers to learn about the amazing creatures that, millions of years ago, stomped or swam where we live today.

Inspiring, informative, and one-of-a-kind, this artful homage to our prehistoric world is both an invitation to travel back in time and an object to be treasured for years to come.

My Thoughts
Kids LOVE books about dinosaurs. This book teaches about different dinosaurs, but goes beyond to cover early prehistory and how the world changed and creatures developed as time passed.
The information is presented in both simple text on the right side of each spread and goes into further detail on the right side, making this book relevant for younger and older students.
Then there is the way it opens up into a globe that stands up independently.

Image from Amazon.com

I would definitely recommend adding this book to your collection.