Fact Friday: What Breathes Through Its Butt? Mind-Blowing Science Questions Answered by Emily Grossman

Image: Bloomsbury

What Breathes Through Its Butt? Mind-Blowing Science Questions Answered by Emily Grossman. Illustrated by Alice Bowsher. 224 p. Bloomsbury, November, 2020. 9781547604524. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Happy Friday! We made it through another week. It felt like a long one to me, especially when I thought yesterday was Friday. I hope everyone has wonderful plans for the weekend. I hope to plug in an audiobook and get in the garden!

Before I introduce the Fact Friday feature, I'd like to just say the science is amazing! There's just so much to read and learn in the sciences. There's really something for everyone from nature and animals to technology and invention. Still not sold that science is cool? Read on. 

Fact Friday features What Breathes Through Its Butt? Mind Blowing Science Questions Answered by Emily Grossman and illustrated by Alice Bowsher. Don't know the answer to that one? Check out this energetically informative scientific stream of consciousness. Each question comes with multiple choice answers and rather hilarious, rambling answers accompanied by bold black and white illustrations. The questions about poop and farts are the bait. Who can resist? But then, there are questions and answers to other questions you didn't know you wanted to know about. How many bones are in a giraffe's neck? How much does the Internet weigh? What animal has the strongest bite?

This book is for science geeks and science skeptics alike. I'm so looking forward to adding this to my library's collection. One question that wasn't answered in this book was one my youngest son asked when he was in fourth grade twenty years ago: How many dimensions does a sunbeam have? His science teacher at the time couldn't answer it. 

Fact Friday: Fungarium curated by Katie Scott and Ester Gaya

Happy Friday! We made it! It's sharply colder, but the sun is shining and the weekend promises to be fine.

Image: Candlewick Press

Fungarium curated by Katie Scott and Ester Gaya. Welcome to the Museum series. 80 p. Big Picture Press/ Candlewick Press, April, 2021. 9781536217094. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Fact Friday features Fungarium curated by Katie Scott and Ester Gaya. This gorgeous, over-size volume is part of the Welcome to the Museum series and it is not to be missed. Fungi fans will feast on the facts about fungal diversity and biology and linger over the exquisitely drawn specimens. Not a fungi fan? You might become a budding mycologist after spending some time with this book. At the very least, you'll learn more about the fungus among us.

Fungarium is a terrific addition to the STEM library. While the text veers a tad technical at times, there is plenty of fascinating information that is well-organized and appealingly laid out. The illustrations are captivating and beg to be lingered over. At my school, fifth graders do a fun unit on classification in science and I can see this book being a big hit. 

Fact Friday: The Great Shark Rescue: saving the whale sharks by Sandra Markle

Image: Lerner Publishing Group

The Great Shark Rescue:saving the whale sharks by Sandra Markle. 48 p.Millbrook Press/ Lerner Publishing Group, October, 2019. 9781541510418. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Fact Friday features The Great Shark Rescue: saving the whale sharks by Sandra Markle. Did you know that whale sharks are the largest fish in the ocean? Yes, whales are larger, but whales are mammals. There isn't a lot known about the secretive whale shark though. Scientists are using new technologies to track these endangered creatures who are threatened by climate change, fishing nets and poaching. This new entry in the Science Discovery series is beautifully designed and brims with full-color photos and charts to illustrated Markle's cogent storytelling. The volume ends with a page devoted to Great White Sharks, which were labeled as vulnerable in 2017. Back matter includes an author's note; timeline; source notes; glossary; and three books and four websites for further reading.

If you love animals, science, or learning about conservation efforts, The Great Shark Rescue is the book for you. This series really is a first-purchase for any school or public library.

November is Picture Book Month! Review: Mario and the Hole in the Sky: how a chemist saved our planet by Elizabeth Rusch

November is Picture Book Month! Each November, I attempt to highlight/ review a picture book a day. Let's see how many days I can get this year!

Image: Charlesbridge

Mario and the Hole in the Sky: how a chemist saved our planet by Elizabeth Rusch. Illustrated by Teresa Martínez. unpgd. Charlesbridge, November 5, 2019. 9781580895811. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Regular readers of this blog know that one of my mottoes is, "One is never too old for picture books." Regular readers also know that I developed a picture book biography unit for my sixth graders. I believe a picture book biography is a terrific entry into the world of biography. Choosing a full-length biography to read as an assignment can be daunting. A well-researched picture book biography can give middle school readers a glimpse into the person before committing to a full-length biography. I am so happy to add Mario and the Hole in the Sky to the cart.

Mario Molina grew up in Mexico. He had an intense interest in science from an early age. This was supported and encouraged by his family, who gave him a microscope for his birthday as well as full access to chemicals and a rarely used bathroom. He just loved to experiment. His love for chemistry, especially, continued through boarding school in Switzerland and into college. Around the same time, new products were being introduced into the markets that contained chemicals that Mario knew could be harmful. Shortly after completing his PhD and moving to the U.S., Mario heard about harmful chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and worked with a fellow scientist, F. Sherwood Rowland to find out how. Of course, no one believed them; but they persevered. 

The story is fascinating - direct and compelling. The vibrant illustrations featuring a big-eyed, big-headed Maria exude energy, humor and warmth. Useful back matter includes an epilogue, which includes a photo of the scientist; comparisons of the Ozone Hole and Global Warming; books and websites for further reading; tips for doing more to decrease greenhouse gases and an author's note. 

Mario and the Hole in the Sky is a first-purchase. It belongs in a variety of teaching situations - from STEM classes to a read aloud to model resilience and perseverance. 

Fact Friday: A Ray of Light by Walter Wick

Image: Scholastic Inc.

A Ray of Light: a book of science and wonder by Walter Wick. 40 p. Scholastic Press, Scholastic Inc., February, 2019. 97804391655877. (Review of finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

Happy Friday TMS Readers! If you're a fan of Walter Wick's "I Spy" series, as I am, you will be intrigued by our Fact Friday feature. Wick took his formidable photography skills to illustrate scientific concepts. He did it a few years ago with the book, A Drop of Water. His newest project is called, A Ray of Light: a book of science and wonder. Everything you want to know about incandescence, iridescence, the color spectrum, magnification, refraction and more is explained briefly and illustrated with remarkably beautiful photographs. Back matter provides more in-depth explanations of the concepts. 

This is a book that requires more than one close reading. Some of the concepts are quite hard to wrap one's mind around! Give your science teachers a heads up about this one. A Ray of Light is a first-purchase for any STEM collection. 

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller

The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller. Unabridged downloadable audiobook, 313 minutes. Read by Jennifer Kim. Listening Library, March, 2018. 9780525525707. 

Middle Grade Monday features The Science of Breakable Things by Tae Keller. This first-person narration is seventh grader Natalie Napoli's "Wonder Notebook," as her hashtag-loving, overly enthusiastic science teacher likes to call it. Natalie used to love science, especially botany and she adored spending time with her vivacious botanist mother in her lab at the university. For weeks now, her mother has virtually disappeared into her bedroom and Natalie wants her back. She doesn't want to join two classmates in an egg-drop competition until she learns the prize for winning is $500. Enough money to bring her mom on a trip to find a rare blue orchid. Maybe this will bring her mother back.

Along the way, Natalie learns a lot about herself as well as a desire to connect with her Korean grandmother and culture, something her bi-racial father has always avoided. She also connects with her two lab partners in unexpected ways. There's a lot to like in this debut. The pace is brisk. The tone is introspective. The characters are unique and complex. There's a smart, science-loving girl and a complicated family situation. Jennifer Kim's narration brings Natalie to life but have the book handy, as it is illustrated. 

The Science of Breakable Things is a wonderful addition to the collection.

Fact Friday: Science Comics: Rockets: defying gravity by Anne Drozd and Jerzy Drozd

Science Comics: Rockets: defying gravity by Anne Drozd and Jerzy Drozd. 128 p. Science Comics Series. First Second, June, 2018. 9781626728257. (Review of finished copy borrowed from public library.)

Fact Friday features Science Comics: Rockets: defying gravity by Anne Drozd and Jerzy Drozd. In this latest entry in the Science Comics series, a duck, a rooster, a sheep and a bear walk the reader through 2000 years of history explaining things like Newton's Laws and concepts like thrust and introducing the scientists who calculated, designed, experimented and eventually succeeded. The repartee is witty and the art is vivid in this slim volume. Backmatter includes a timeline, a glossary and suggestions for further reading.

Fact Friday: Poop Detectives: working dogs in the field by Ginger Wadsworth

Poop Detectives: working dogs in the field by Ginger Wadsworth. 80 p. Charlesbridge Publishering Inc., October, 2016. 9781580786504. (Review from finished copy courtesy of publisher)

This short version was on the morning announcements: If our Fact Friday features doesn't grab your attention, you are not listening to the morning announcements. Poop Detectives: working dogs in the field by Ginger Wadsworth features an up-close and personal photo of a dog's nose on the cover and seven information-packed chapters about how the idea came about, how dogs are trained for the jobs and how they help scientists. Plenty of full-color photographs, of the dogs, not the scat, illustrate how much these dogs love their jobs and their handlers.

Review: Oh man, why did it take so long to get to this book? Sadly, it migrated to the bottom of the pile and sat there until yesterday. 

As a dog owner, I know all too well a dog's devotion to scent, especially excrement. If I am not careful, my shepherd will stick his nose up my lab's butt while he's trying to poop! The lab is prone to not only yanking me from one smell to another, but also to pee over where his shepherd brother tinkles. 

The title may be playful, but the narrative is all business. (Ha! Pun unintended.) Fun is definitely had in the sub-titles, like, "The Guru of Doo-Doo." The introduction tells the story of Freddie the border collie who was turned into an animal shelter because of his energy demands. His need for engagement and exercise make him almost un-adoptable; that is until a dog trainer who specializes in working with wildlife biologists arrives bouncing a tennis ball. Freddie's laser-sharp concentration on the ball earns him freedom as the qualities that make him a difficult family pet, namely an over-abundance of energy, make for an excellent sniffer dog. 

We are quite familiar with working dogs who sniff out bomb materials and drugs. Most will not know how a dog's ability to sniff animal excrement can be useful. It seems scientists can learn a lot about the animal's health by examining scat. But finding scat in the wild often proves elusive. Enter air scenting dogs and scientists are able to find their brown gold.

The book is beautifully designed with plenty of white space and at least one full-color photo on each page. The stock is sturdy and will hold up well to repeated readings as this high-interest topic will demand. The text is engaging and well-organized with seven chapters covering the whys and hows of training these working dogs. 

The backmatter is impressive. It includes an author's note, acknowledgements, a photograph depicting what a handler carries in his or her pack; photo credits; a glossary; resources that include books and websites; quotation sources; a selected bibliography and an index. 

Poop Detective is perfect for your fact hounds, dog lovers and budding scientists. Display it prominently and it'll circulate widely.

Review: Karl, Get Out of the Garden! Carolus Linnaeus and the naming of everything by Anita Sanchez

Karl, Get Out of the Garden! Carolus Linnaeus and the naming of everything by Anita Sanchez. Illustrated by Catherine Stock. 48 p. Charlesbridge, March, 2017. 9781580896061. (Review of finished copy courtesy of the publisher.)

The scientist we know as Karl Linnaeus, father of the classification system of plants and animals we still use today was born Karl Linné in Sweden in May, 1707. Apparently, Karl's love of nature began early in infancy as he was calmed when placed in the garden. He was fascinated by everything in nature from plants to insects. He preferred to be in the garden than studying and it drove his mother, who hoped he would become a minister, scholar or lawyer, nuts. Thanks to a teacher who recognized Karl's affinity for plants, Karl went to medical school. He studied hard but soon realized that it was often difficult to tell which plants were which since the same plant went by different names. So he set about trying to name everything!

His classification system did not go over well. Rather than argue, he taught and his students loved him. Eventually, he was knighted by the king of Sweden. He also gave himself a scientific name: Carolus Linnaeus.

This picture book biography is just superb - engaging text marries perfectly to gorgeous pen, ink and watercolor illustrations. The added quotes by Linnaeus that are scattered throughout the book are a bonus. The end-page decorations feature field sketch spot art of a variety of plants. The paper stock is nice and heavy and will hold up to repeated usage. Additional information at the end include more about the scientist, a note about names, information about the scientific classification system, a time line, source notes, a bibliography and resources for young readers.

Give your science teachers a heads up about this. In my school, the fifth grade science teachers do a big unit on classification. I can't think of a better way to introduce the unit than to read this book aloud. I'll be adding it to my picture book biography unit my sixth graders will be participating in. Hand this to your patrons who might be a nature lover or a budding naturalist.

Non-Fiction Monday: The Search for Olinguito: discovering a new species by Sandra Markle

The Search for Olinguito: discovering a new species by Sandra Markle. 40 p. Millbrook Press/ Lerner Publishing Group, January, 2017. 9781512410150. (Review from purchased copy.)

I'm a great fan of Sandra Markle's work. She not only writes accessibly but beautifully about her subjects, but they are always unique and fascinating. (Great Leopard Rescue, The Great Monkey Rescue, The Case of the Vanishing Little Brown Bats, to name but a few.)

This short book highlights and celebrates scientific curiosity. What is science, after all, but the work of curious people? People who are careful observers who also have open minds, and, in many cases in the past, a good deal of courage and commitment. (Galileo springs to mind as does Semmelweis.)

In The Search for Olinguito, scientist Kristofer Helgen, who worked for the Smithsonian and was in charge of its mammal collection, noticed that a pelt of an animal classified as an olingo looked rather different than the rest of the olingo pelts. Olingos are mammals that are related to raccoons. They live in Central and South America. (p.7) He wondered if this was just a case of specimens from different regions or whether it was a different species. Museums around the world house olingo specimens as researchers have been studying them for over a hundred years. Thus he set out on what would be a ten-plus year quest to establish the fact that there indeed was a new species in the raccoon family tree!

The storytelling is compelling here as Markle deftly explains the science; folds in past research and not only connects all the dots in Helgen's work, but brings the scientist to life. His work required a load of patience, lots of travel as well as a campout in the cloud forest in Ecuador.

Plenty of full-color photos and maps illustrate the story of scientific sleuthing in action. This is perfect for any science class or career-readyness unit and is just the ticket for getting students excited about science. Backmatter includes an author note, source notes, tips for being a science detective, a glossary and three websites and a book for further reading. The book is beautifully designed as well, with green backgrounds decorated with green leaves lending a color to the already vibrant text. 

I do have one question though - why is it that while it was the reddish fur that first attracted Helgen's attention (photo, p. 9), subsequent photos of the olinguito(s) they found in the cloud forest do not appear to have that distinctive red coat?

Happy Book Birthday! Non-fiction Monday: Sea Otter Heroes: the predators that saved an ecosystem by Patricia Newman

Sea Otter Heroes: the predators that saved an ecosystem by Patricia Newman. 56 p. Millbrook Press/ Lerner Publishing Group, January 28, 2017. 9781512426311. (Review from finished copy courtesy of publisher.)

I will put this right out there - Sea Otter Heroes is a first purchase! The adorable sea otter who appears to be looking directly at the camera will lure your patrons/ students and the author's storytelling skills will keep them interested. Newman delivers another cogent, superb and influential book. The work of scientists is not a rusty, dusty litany of facts, figures and tedious lab experiments. Thanks to writers like Newman, Sy Montgomery, Pamela S. Turner, and more, young people can get up close and personal with real scientists and learn about a variety of careers in science. 

Sea Otter Heroes tells the story of a science mystery and the scientist who worked to solve it. Elkhorn Slough (pronounced slew), is an inlet that sits between Monterey and Santa Cruz in California. Farms surround the estuary and dump tons of pesticides and fertilizer into the waters. This practice has nearly decimated the growth of sea grass, an important plant in the marine ecosystem. The run-off is known as nutrient pollution and allows algae to thrive. This overpopulation of algae prevents photosynthesis and causes the death of sea grass. This, in turn decimates the population of sea animals that rely on sea grass for food and shelter. It also impacts humans in the form of coastal erosion. For some reason, the sea grass population in Elkhorn Slough has recovered and marine biologist Brent Hughes set about studying why this happened. Just how do otters fit into this remarkable recovery? Read Sea Otter Heroes to find out.

Thanks to the publisher/ art department for the beautiful design of this volume. There's plenty of "white" space. It's actually pleasing shades of blues with watery borders. There is at least one full-color photograph, map, or diagram on each page. Pages are also broken up by inserts like "Otterisms: Built to Hunt," which convey easily digestible facts about the otter or "Seagrass Science: What is a Trophic Cascade?"

A double-page spread entitled, "Rethink Your Relationship with Wildlife" offers suggestions for young readers that are easy to start the minute they close the book. Pages containing source notes and a glossary are followed with a two-page selected bibliography. A page with books and websites that young readers might explore and an index round out this important book.

I have mentioned that this is a first-purchase book already. Now, more than ever, we need to nurture young readers' fascination with animals and nature. There is so much at stake. We need to educate and inspire our students to be curious critical thinkers and champions of the environment and more. 

Waylon! One Awesome Thing by Sara Pennypacker

Waylon! One Awesome Thing by Sara Pennypacker. Illustrated by Marla Frazee. Waylon series #1. 208 p. Disney Press, April, 2016. 9781484701522. (Review from arc courtesy of publisher.)

Waylon! One Awesome Thing is a super consolation prize for having no more Clementine books! While darling Clementine makes a couple of appearances, such as describing Waylon as the scienciest kid in the whole school, this is the Waylon show and what a fine show it is. 

Waylon is a scientist. A good scientist is a good observer and Waylon notices that popular Arlo is "choosing teams." Waylon happens to get chosen for Arlo's team. This should please him. Trouble is, his two good friends did not and there's a rule about associating with anyone not on the "team." And what will happen if Arlo un-chooses him?

His sister is now a teenager, dressing all in black, insisting her name is Neon and rolling her eyes at everything family-related. He misses her.

To top everything off, Baxter Boylen moves back to town. He has a huge ropy scar on his face and looks like he needs a shave! Waylon is terrified!

What a terrific new series! It is so great to have a new beginning chapter book series that kids will love. The dialogue is spot on; the issues are very real and dealt with respectfully; and the illustrations are perfect. It's also nice to have an endearing main character who is interested in science.

Waylon has a game called OAT, or One Awesome Thing. This new series is One Awesome Takeoff and surely a must-purchase for school, public and classroom libraries.

Non-Fiction Monday: The Call of the Osprey by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

The Call of the Osprey by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent. Photographs by William Muñoz. 80 p. Scientists in the Field series. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, June, 2015. 9780544232686. (Purchased)

Ospreys are birds of prey that live along rivers and bodies of water because their main prey are fish. They return to the same nest (and mate) year after year. These nests are often high up in dead trees and telephone poles. The human population tends to remove dead trees and telephone poles can be deadly, so conservation folks, power companies and landowners have been cooperatively constructing nesting platforms. Their population was declining during the 1960s due mostly to the spraying of DDT. Scientists at the Montana Osprey Project have been studying the effects of pollution on the osprey population in a large Superfund clean-up sight along the Clark Fork River. This team spends a great deal of time each nesting season observing, counting, tagging fledglings and drawing blood samples. Then, they spend the fall and winter analyzing. 


Dorothy Hinshaw Patent and William Muñoz teamed up to tag along and observe/ record the work of these dedicated wildlife biologists and students. Patent's cogent writing and Muñoz's amazing photos are equally gorgeous and engaging. There is so much packed into these eighty pages. There's an overview of osprey habits and habitats, osprey mating and fledging, and osprey migration. Another chapter relates the effects that mining has on the environment and what a Superfund cleanup is. 

 As usual, the book is gorgeously designed. Plenty of side bars to enhance the narrative. Additionally, pages designed to look like a writer's notebook lay open on double-page spreads and provide biographies of established scientists and budding scientists. An author's note is followed by pages entitled, "To Learn More" and includes books for both adult and young readers and a variety of websites and webcams, as well as four related organizations, sources, acknowledgements, an epilogue and a glossary.

Another must-purchase addition to a stellar series. I'm going to grab my binoculars now and head down to the reservoir for a little birdwatching on this gorgeous summer morning.

Arc Review: The Trouble with Ants by Claudia Mills

The Trouble with Ants by Claudia Mills. Illustrated by Katie Kath. The Nora Notebooks #1. 164 p. Random House Children's Books, September 22, 2015. 9780385391610. (Arc courtesy of Blue Slip Media)

Yay for Nora! Ten-year-old Nora Alpers is self-possessed, observant, practical and mad about science - ants in particular. Ever since she read about an eleven-year-old who earned a world record as the youngest ever to publish a science article, Nora has been thinking about beating that record. She's the daughter of two scientists. She keeps a notebook containing the observations she makes about her ant farm. She knows tons of facts about ants and she's innately curious and willing to test hypotheses. 

She's also a (hilariously) keen observer of human behavior. She has a couple of friends who are boys but would never dream of sitting with them at lunch at school since that's just not done. She notes that there are corollaries in nature where females spend time away from males. She also notes the similarities between queen bee Emma's shrieking responses to alpha male, Dunk's posturing and animal mating rituals. She's wise enough to keep these observations to herself and makes sure she displays enough courtesy and interest in these goings on to maintain cordial relations with her classmates. What an endearing character! 

This engaging upper-elementary/ middle grade novel features not only tons of ant facts and a a girl-scientist, but authentic fourth grade drama, dialogue and social situations. There's plenty of humor here and the spot art nicely illustrates a variety of the more humorous scenes. Additionally, each chapter ends with a scrap of Nora's notebook entries brimming with ant facts.

This is a series starter that is sure to please. Teachers will love the STEM that's embedded in the story and their students will enjoy reading a fun story. 

Non-Fiction Monday: Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre & his world of insects by Matthew Clark Smith

Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre & his world of insects by Matthew Clark Smith. Illustrated by Giuliano Ferri. unpgd. Two Lions/ Amazon Children's Publishing, May, 2015. 978147782624. (Borrowed from the public library)

The lovely cover was the first thing to catch my eye as I scanned the shelf of "new books" at my local public library. The next thing was the fact that it was about an entomologist. While I'm always on the lookout for quality biographies of scientists, I will admit that I thought of the young son of a colleague who is crazy about bugs. I'm not crazy about bugs but I am fascinated by them. I had never heard of Jean-Henri Fabre so I added the book to my stack.

The biography starts with Fabre as an eccentric old man living in a village in southern France. The inhabitants knew very little about him but gossiped about him, debating about whether he was a madman or a sorcerer. They were shocked and amazed when the President of France visited him. Turns out Jean-Henri Fabre had just won a Noble Prize in Literature. He was one of very few scientists to win the prize in literature for his life's work studying insects.

The story then rewinds to the early 1800s and relates how Fabre's youth on a mountainside in rural France shaped his love of nature and insects in particular. Once he started school, he would secrete all sorts of flora and fauna into his desk to study instead of his Latin. His teachers did not appreciate his lack of interest in academics. Eventually, he became a teacher. He married and had children, many of whom died. But he continued to study nature. 

He came down with pneumonia so severe he thought he would die. He made a last request of his son to retrieve some bees from their winter nest. When they stirred from their hibernation due to the warmth of the room, Jean-Henri found a reason to live. He recovered and began writing. And writing and writing. He felt that if his writing awakened an awe of nature in just one person, he had done his job. In his 90th year, he learned that his work earned him a Nobel Prize and a visit from the President of France. He died several years later.

The narrative is engaging and evocative as are the soft watercolor illustrations. They are colorful and energetic. Each contain tons of larger-than-life insects. The end-pages are gorgeous as well. While certainly recommended for elementary school libraries, this picture book biography should find a home in the middle school library thanks to an in-depth historical note; detailed timeline; author's note and sources. This unique and affectionate treatment of a scientist mostly unknown outside of his field should awaken a sense of wonder in young readers. It did for this old one.

Full Steam Ahead by Paul A. Reynolds

Sydney & Simon: Full Steam Ahead by Paul A. Reynolds. Illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. 48 p. Charlesbridge, September, 2014. 9781580896757. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for review.)

Sydney and Simon are spirited and colorful twin mice endowed with a healthy dose of inquisitiveness and a bent for problem solving. Both siblings keep a wonder journal, only Sydney's is a traditional notebook, while Simon's is a tablet. This enables him to take pictures and shoot videos while the two use STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) to learn about the water cycle to try to save the wilting plants in their window box. 

The narrative moves along jauntily as the twins turn to the helpful adults in their lives who support and step back. The whimsical, energetic illustrations add appeal. A glossary of terms and note to the reader asking, "Are You a STEAM thinker?" conclude the volume, the first in a series. This is a pleasing addition to the STEAM (STEM) collection.

Buried Sunlight: how fossil fuels have changed the Earth by Molly Bang & Penny Chisholm

Buried Sunlight: how fossil fuels have changed the Earth by Molly Bang & Penny Chisholm. unpgd. Blue Sky Press/ Scholastic Inc., September, 2014. 9780545577854. (Finished copy courtesy of publisher for review)

Do you need help explaining what fossil fuels are formed and how human consumption is not only outstripping creation but burning a hole in the ozone layer? Look no further than this gorgeous picture book for older readers. It's absolutely gorgeous and absolutely understandable. I know I had to answer questions about photosynthesis on standardized tests way back when and, until my spectacular advanced biology teacher explained it in a way I could understand, I never got it. I wish this book was around then.

The sun is our narrator here. It took millions of years for the Earth to create the oxygen necessary for living things to survive. Tiny bacteria evolved into sea plants, plants that tiny sea animals could eat. Animals and plants eventually moved to land when there was enough oxygen in the air to support them. Over millions and millions of years, the dead plants and animals were buried deeper and deeper into the earth where, eventually, they changed into oil, coal and gas. In the two hundred years since humans have been industrialized, not only are fossil fuels being depleted, but the excess CO2 is burning a hole in the ozone layer and causing global temperatures to increase. 

The palette is dominated by rich greens and blues and the folk style make the illustrations accessible and pleasing. Six pages of notes conclude the book with further explanations of the science and energy alternatives, making this a perfect picture book for slightly older readers. Teachers will definitely want to consider using it (and its companions, Ocean Sunlight and Living Sunlight) to introduce a unit in science or the environment.

Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka

Frank Einstein and the Antimatter Motor by Jon Scieszka. Frank Einstein series #1. Illustrated by Brian Biggs. 180 p. Amulet Books/ Abrams, August 19, 2014. 9781419712180. (Review from arc courtesy of the publisher.)

Young Frank Einstein is a science guy. His interest in science is nurtured by his Mr. Fixit grandpa, Al. He loves to hang out at grandpa's shop with his pal Watson. He's trying to invent a robot to enter into the annual science fair. After his attempt at assembly fails, Frank leaves the parts and a fortuitous bolt of lightning provides just enough juice for Klink and Klank to come to life. Klink is a bit of a stick-in-the-mud and Klank just wants a hug and some good beats to boogie to. 

Frank has an arch-nemesis who is not above performing some industrial espionage in order to make sure that Frank doesn't win the science competition. T. Edison and his simian sidekick, Mr. Chimp, who communicates using American Sign Language will stop at nothing in their quest to win the science fair and ultimately dominate the world. (Insert evil laugh here.)

Scieszka rolls up real science and riffs on pop culture in a fast-paced plot packed with humor. Brian Biggs' illustrations add to the fun. For Scieszka's legions of fans, young and old, this will be an automatic purchase even without the blurbs by Tom Angleberger and Jeff Kinney. This is definitely one to give to your fans of both Origami Yoda and Wimpy Kid. Heck, give it to any kind of reader.

Check out this video of the author talking about the book. TMS students should check out the dedication page because you know Bob and Mary Brown. They are the owners of Books, Bytes and Beyond. It is thanks to them that we've had some fantastic author visits. They brought us Tim Federle, Kenneth Oppel, and Scott Westerfeld, among others in the past. This October, George Hagen will visit fifth and six grades. I can't wait to get back to school and share this with you!

Non-fiction Monday: Before the World was Ready: stories of daring genius in science by Clair Eamer

Before the World was Ready: stories of daring genius in science by Clair Eamer. 124 p. Annick Press, July, 2013. 9781554515363. (Purchased.)

Ah! Outside of the box thinkers have such a tough row to hoe.  Under-appreciated at best, unappreciated by many and occasionally despised, ostracized, ignored or penalized. Really though, what is knowledge? It's tenuous, subject to change and should be challenged. Before the World was Ready presents eight scientists who challenged the status quo and paid a price. Meticulously researched and thoroughly entertaining, Ms. Eamer enlightens the reader about eight trailblazers of science but connects their ideas to others who came before or after. She also engagingly explains the historical context. The book is colorfully designed and the unusual yet humorous illustrations certain fit the theme of the book in that they were drawn with the artist's non-dominant hand. It would be an excellent addition to any collection. Show it to your science teachers and suggest it to not only to your science-minded students but also to students who don't love science. 

Non-Fiction Monday: Eruption! Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch

Photographs by Tom Uhlman. 76 p. (Scientists in the Field series) Houghton Mifflin Books for Children/ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, June, 2013. 9780547503509. (Borrowed from the public library, but purchasing for my school library)

Elizabeth Rusch (Mighty Mars Rover) comes back to Earth to follow Andy Lockhart and his team of scientists who comprise VDAP, Volcano Disaster Assistance Program, the first and only international volcano crisis team. What with 1500 active volcanos spread all over the planet, threatening 20% of the world's population and more than 50 erupting each year, Andy's team is spread a little thin. They try their best to figure out whether the volcano in question will erupt; when will it erupt; how will it erupt; how big the eruption will be and who's in danger from the eruption. Is there a need to evacuate? If so, how far away?

Each page contains at least one illustration, dramatic full-color photos, maps, satellite images, text boxes and side bars. The text is fairly sophisticated and detailed. This will require close reading, not browsing but students will be rewarded with an in-depth look at scientists at work on the edge.

My love for this series is no secret. Each one just gets better. This one is no exception. If anything, it ramps up the edginess. Doesn't that cover just scream blockbuster? These scientists risk losing their lives with each volcano they assess. I liked how the intensity of the work was described without resorting to sensationalism. Photo credits, chapter notes, glossary and suggestions for further reading are included. 

This is a must-purchase for me as the sixth graders at my school do a fairly large unit on volcanoes. I'm sure this will be as popular with the students as I know it will be the teacher.

Author website.

Other blog reviews:
The Nonfiction Detectives
Growing with Science
Stem Friday

Non-fiction Monday is hosted this week by Sally's Book Shelf.