Originally published in French, this picture book couldn't be more timely as droughts around the globe and increased populations make water a particulOriginally published in French, this picture book couldn't be more timely as droughts around the globe and increased populations make water a particularly precious natural resource. While most individuals think about humans when they are made aware of problems caused by climate change, the planet's animals are also at risk since they need water just as much as the rest of us do. This book's text and illustrations take readers to a savannah in Africa where various animals come to drink and cool off. Over the course of a day more animals arrive, and they drink, draining the watering hole. It's quite clear that the larger, more dangerous, animals have it easier in some respects than the smaller ones since they can make it impossible for the others to drink. A lone ostrich, a latecomer, finds no water there. But an elephant, relying on centuries of passed-down wisdom, arrives and digs until she finds water so that the thirsty animals who missed out earlier can drink and survive for another day. Back matter includes practical tips about how to save water. Of course, the solution is much more complicated than that, but this book raises youngsters' awareness. Add it to a science classroom library or share it as a class read aloud to generate a discussion about the topic. The author's careful use of words makes the text flow nicely. It isn't hard to imagine how one of us might feel if we drank the very last drop or watched as someone else did so. ...more
There are certainly many things that youngsters and adults dream of having or happening. But the dream of the narrator, a young girl, turns out to be There are certainly many things that youngsters and adults dream of having or happening. But the dream of the narrator, a young girl, turns out to be quite big and quite important. The girl awakens to familiar sights and sounds on a farm in west Texas. She checks the tomatoes, only to see that they are withering on the vine due to the drought. In fact, several plants are dying without the much-needed respite that would be brought by rain. The girl's father has told her that horned toads can bring about wishes and that the land once was rich and fertile with a river running through it. She captures a horned toad and makes a wish. The powerful text and moving illustrations, created with pencil and Adobe Photoshop, effectively capture the mingled hope and despair of the family as well as their helplessness to combat the changes caused by others. The father's wish is simple but oh, so moving: "I would wish to change the hearts of the men who ran these rivers dry. I would wish for them to stop thinking about their own dreams and start thinking about yours instead" (unpaged). The father's wish reminds readers that they need to think of the impact of their actions on future generations, and the last lines of this story are filled with hope. How I wish some of our elected officials and the captains of industry would read this book and reconsider their actions. ...more
The author's approach to air pollution is an interesting one since she points out how air can carry good or bad things. Using events from history suchThe author's approach to air pollution is an interesting one since she points out how air can carry good or bad things. Using events from history such as Krakatoa, the Dust Bowl and Black Sunday, she explains how Mother Nature and humans changed the air around them and how legislation such as the Clean Air Act of 1956 in Great Britian tried to reduce the use of coal and other pollutants. While there are some suggestions for young readers about how to solve the problem of air pollution, they tend to be rather simplistic and avoid blaming those industries whose profits and unwillingness to change are at the root of the problem. While I appreciate her intention to help youngsters feel empowered and as though they can make a difference, I also worry that the solution is a lot more complicated than simply turning out a light when leaving a room or knowing about fire safety. The artwork, which consists of images created with watercolors, gouache, and crayons, is visually appealing and filled with interesting shapes and patterns. ...more
Oh, what a delightful--and hopeful--read this one [3.5 for me!] is! The success story of the brown pelican, almost wiped out by DDT in the 1950s, is oOh, what a delightful--and hopeful--read this one [3.5 for me!] is! The success story of the brown pelican, almost wiped out by DDT in the 1950s, is one of encouragement as well as a reminder that individuals can make a difference, that science matters and can prompt change, and that the Environmental Protection Agency's work is important and should not be undone. This book's design is eye-catching and clever as some of the words in the text are stacked or positioned so that they resemble the path a pelican, its subject, takes when searching for, spotting, and diving down for its food. The text is just an engaging, drawing readers into the mystery behind the bird's demise as scientists tried to find answers as well as describing the pelicans in such a way that readers can't help but appreciate them. The text also credits Rachel Carson's writing and the support of many individuals who fought for change as contributing to the recovery of this particular species. But as much as it celebrates this success story, the text also points out that other species are under threat and urges youngsters to let their voices be heard and follow the science. The back matter offers additional information about the EPA and the Endangered Species Act and their importance. When reading this, I wondered about the future of both as well as other species like the pelican that are at the tipping point. The gouache and acrylic artwork is stunning, bringing the pelicans and those who cared about them to life and carefully depicting their environment and those nests containing eggs so fragile that they shattered with the birds' weight. The concept of bioaccumulation is particularly strong in one vertical double-page spread, enabling readers to see how much DDT built up inside a penguin's body because of what it ate, which contained DDT. Another double-page spread is haunting and mysterious as it shows a pelican resting on top of a piling as various vessels move across the waters. It needs no words to express the loneliness and despair that bird must have been feeling. Add this one to an elementary or middle-grade science classroom collection. We need more books such as this one to remind us that we are stewards of nature and the planet's living things depend on us to fix what we've messed up. ...more
When eleven-year-old Marcus and his mother travel to Malmo for the summer for her job, Marcus is excited to have a brand-new start where others see hiWhen eleven-year-old Marcus and his mother travel to Malmo for the summer for her job, Marcus is excited to have a brand-new start where others see him as the boy he is rather than deadnaming him. He and his new friend Mikkel couldn't be closer as they share all sorts of adventures and spend time skateboarding. But all that changes when Mikkel sees his passport photo and becomes convinced that Marcus has been lying to him all along. This short glimpse into the life of a trans boy also contains a secondary plot concerning the inability of Marcus's father and his grandmother to accept him as he is rather than what they wish he might be. While the topic is important, especially today, its seriousness is offset by plenty of humorous moments. Middle-grade readers will root for Marcus to find his place and his happiness. Interestingly, this book was originally published in Germany in 2016, but it doesn't seem dated at all. ...more
Oh, how I wish our elected officials and those that support building a wall to keep people out of the country would read this book [4.5 for me!]! WellOh, how I wish our elected officials and those that support building a wall to keep people out of the country would read this book [4.5 for me!]! Well-researched and well-written, it follows the journeys of a handful of smugglers in Latin America. The author, an anthropologist, spent seven years getting to know some of the men and women who engage in this particular activity. Not surprisingly, this particular topic [human smuggling] is far more complex than many would have it. The possible solutions are just as complicated and multifaceted and would require worldwide changes since it's typically poverty, violence, environmental disasters, and fears that drive many to leave their homes. Yes, many are seeking a better life, for sure, but often, they're simply hoping to HAVE a life and not be killed, the victim of the violence in their hometowns. The smugglers or coyotes often have been in the same shoes as the individuals who are trying to cross the border into the United States or Mexico. Having failed to make it across the border or having succeeded but then sent back for one reason or another, they try to survive by helping--for a high price--others reach the Promised Land. But the smuggling business has many layers and much cost, even for the smugglers themselves, and no one in this book gets wealthy through this way of making a living. Many are living on the street, along train tracks, even in the jungle, and they come from all over, including Nicaragua and Honduras. The author delves deeply into some of the smugglers' formative years, their relationships, and the dangers they themselves face on a daily basis as well as moments of joy or times when drugs, alcohol and/or sex help them blot out some of the painful memories and reality. Because this is an ethnography, De Leon himself is present in many of the pages and exchanges with his subjects, sharing a laugh or a beer, mourning lost lives and futures, trying to understand, and feeling guilty over certain choices or missed opportunities. The individual stories and experiences are as real as things can get, and readers are likely to be fully invested in the fates of Chino, Flaco, Jesmyn, Kingston, Marina, Papo, and Santos, and feel curious about where they are now. Parts of this account are shocking, and it may be impossible to consider trains, knitting needles, knitting or iguanas the same after reading the book. It's necessary to sit quietly for a few moments after finishing this intense, immersive read, pondering one's own responsibility for the problems the author highlights. The only aspects that were missing for me were inclusive of some of those who truly profit off those migrants and the sometimes-confusing structure of the narrative. But those possible flaws are easy to ignore when faced with these examples of humans striving to survive against all odds. ...more
Set chiefly in 2008 in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and moving quickly forward to 2024, this novel [3.5 for me!] explores love, loss, grief, aSet chiefly in 2008 in the Red River Valley of North Dakota and moving quickly forward to 2024, this novel [3.5 for me!] explores love, loss, grief, and betrayal through the experiences of various characters who are sure to remind readers of individuals that they themselves know--or are. It could be argued that not a lot happens here, but the characters themselves and their growth and recognition of their roles in the larger world are what matters and what will keep readers engaged in the book's pages. Often, it seems that some of them are content to drift through life, letting things happen to them, while others seize their own agency and make changes. Unfortunately, although I found them interesting enough, it was hard for me to relate to any of them. Former high school football star Gary Geist, who thinks Kismet Poe can save him but who is enamored with bookseller, Hugo, and their parents, all play important roles in this particular story, which also addresses climate change and the human mistakes, including the widespread use of pesticides, that are destroying the planet and in this particular place, the soil, in which large crops of sugar beets are planted. This is a slow burn of a novel with secrets that are revealed late in the storytelling. It's entertaining, but I wish that some parts had been expanded upon and tied together better. Fans of this author will enjoy it well enough. ...more
Fifteen poems celebrate the essential qualities of life-giving water in this collection that might have some use as part of science lessons on water. Fifteen poems celebrate the essential qualities of life-giving water in this collection that might have some use as part of science lessons on water. There are poems about the water cycle and the path water takes to the sea as well as tributes to ocean water, wells, and even a playful one about the delights of the refreshing rainwater in a welcome monsoon. One poem, "Who Uses Water Anyway?" makes it clear that water is a commodity that is spread rather thin. As joyful as most of the poems are, that one and the last two ["Chorus of Danger" and "Our Voices of the Future" are far more somber, attempting to wake up those who waste water and fail to realize the consequences of global warming or climate change. The colorful digital artwork, which fits each poem perfectly, is enhanced with inks and textures that are scanned to add to their visual appeal. ...more
Having read and really liked the first two titles in this series [Little Brown Nut and Small Speckled Egg], I was pleased to see this natural science Having read and really liked the first two titles in this series [Little Brown Nut and Small Speckled Egg], I was pleased to see this natural science series continue. As do all the books in the series, this one boasts a large map that folds out in order to allow young readers to see the big picture of coral, which is the book's subject. The book opens with images and text depicting small coral planula floating in the sea before moving on to various stages of its life as it becomes part of a coral reef, which is part of the Great Barrier Reef, a place that provides shelter for many species. Of course, the bigger picture is the threat that global warming is causing to those reefs and the need to act to save them. It's impossible to miss the message about human responsibility as well as the link between the coral and the creatures that depend on those reefs. The illustrations are colorful, detailed, and eye-catching without being too overwhelming. There's even a die-cut on the cover that allows readers to peek at the coral that is on the title page. A solid choice for an elementary or intermediate science classroom library, this book will give youngsters an appreciation for coral and its importance. ...more
I liked this middle-grade science fiction story [3.5 for me!] a lot. I wasn't sure about its contents, based on the cover, but it drew me in from the I liked this middle-grade science fiction story [3.5 for me!] a lot. I wasn't sure about its contents, based on the cover, but it drew me in from the first page when Michael Rosario is stealing peaches from the grocery store in preparation for Y2K. Not only does Michael worry about what will happen then, but he worries about how hard his mother works. Twelve-year-old Michael is so relatable as he's small for his age, quiet, helpful, and picked on by others. He also has a caring heart as he feeds the stray cats in his apartment complex in Delaware and enjoys spending time with Mr. Mosley, who works in the complex. When he spots a strange boy, Ridge, hanging out nearby, Michael and his babysitter Gibby introduce themselves and are puzzled by his odd use of slang and strange clothing. As it turns out, Ridge is from the future, and he's traveled back in time to 1999 to see what the world is like. The way the story is told is interesting since part of it is straight narrative, and other parts are audio transcripts from 2199 as his mother and siblings try to bring him back. All this is interesting enough, bringing to mind at times Rebecca Stead's When You Reach Me, but what might resonate most with readers is Ridge's advice that Michael learn to live in the present and being fully engaged in the now rather than worrying constantly about the future or bemoaning the past. The notion of "the first state of being" is that present. This one is a fast read with interesting characters and a protagonist with flaws but good intentions as well as hints about what the planet's future will be like--no bees, no tigers, for instance. Some readers will feel cheated because Ridge doesn't explain a great deal about life in 2199, instead, simply saying that "it's complicated," which may make them feel cheated. Readers won't want to miss the Additional Excerpts at the back of the book....more
There's something fascinating and mysterious about narwhals with their long, pointed tusks. Youngsters interested in marine animals or those like me wThere's something fascinating and mysterious about narwhals with their long, pointed tusks. Youngsters interested in marine animals or those like me who find these unusual animals ever intriguing. With exquisite, inviting text, this picture book puts readers right into the head and body of a male narwhal during a year's journey. As always, Candace Fleming excels with her use of relatable descriptive words depicting the narwhal and its surroundings: for instance, the tusk is described as "green with algae and alive with sea lice" (unpaged), while its habitat is described thusly: "the whistle and wail of the wind, the rasp and groan of the ever-shifting sea" (unpaged). As the narwhal, readers joust with other males, head to the surface for air, sleep, feed, follow your pod in search of food, return to the Arctic ice, a journey that you will repeat for several years, if you survive. The text immerses readers in the narwhal's world and adds tension when almost impenetrable ice makes it hard to break through a crack where danger in the form of a polar bear looms. The artwork, created with Procreate and analogue features, is just as compelling as the text with a double-page close-up of the polar bear swiping at the narwhal's tusk as it emerges through a hole in the ice as well as close-ups of a walrus, orcas, and the narwhal and its pod, of course. Helpful back matter provides additional facts about narwhals, undoubtedly spurring some readers to want to learn even more. This picture book is a must-have, truly a must-have, for any elementary or intermediate science classroom library. It's impossible to finish the book without thinking of just how perilous a narwhal's existence is. And the fact that narwhals migrate along the same path--increasingly dangerous--as well as returning to a place where the ice is melting in unpredictable ways prompts justifiable concern for these unicorns of the Arctic. ...more
As climate change makes summers unbearable, droughts more severe, and hurricanes more powerful in different parts of the world, it's important to be mAs climate change makes summers unbearable, droughts more severe, and hurricanes more powerful in different parts of the world, it's important to be mindful of the effects rising temperatures and changes in the environment are having on animals. This picture book, written with heartfelt, eye-opening text and illustrated exquisitely with mixed media artwork, provides a glimpse into how they changes are affecting polar bears, who depend on ice and snow to hunt for the food they need. It also offers some suggestions for actions youngsters can take. Even the image on the title page is haunting as a mother bear, body spread across two pages, gets ready to rise from where she's resting. She's eager to move since the first snowfall signals that it's time to head to her den where she will give birth to cubs. But the text and illustrations depict the struggle she had last year when the ice broke up earlier than usual, and food was hard to find. But this time, her slumber is interrupted because warmer temperatures threaten her den's solidity. She settles back down to sleep, eventually awakening and taking her cubs outside to find food. But areas that were once frozen are now slushy, and she worries about how the ice melts earlier each year, a sign that there may one day be no ice in the Arctic Ocean where the bears find their food. The author doesn't sugarcoat the peril in which this species finds itself, even stating that no one knows how the bears will survive with these changes in their habitat. It's a stark and moving reality check that will touch the hearts of anyone who cares about this planet and its animal inhabitants. The mother bear's concern over her future and the future of her offspring is palpable. Helpful back matter explaining climate change, its effects on polar bears, and how to help the bears is provided. Add this one to a collection about polar bears or one on climate change. I wish the large corporations and government agencies that deny climate change or don't acknowledge its effects on animals or their responsibility to make changes would read this book. ...more
Seventeen-year-old Hannah Lynn is eager to leave her small Maine town behind when she starts college, hopefully at Tufts where her mother went but faiSeventeen-year-old Hannah Lynn is eager to leave her small Maine town behind when she starts college, hopefully at Tufts where her mother went but failed to graduate. Having lost her mother when she was four, Hannah has become quite independent and distant due to her father's less than organized way of life. When her troubled [and often troublesome] older sister, Pauline, gets in trouble one again and her two sons need a place to stay, Hannah reluctantly agrees with her father that they should take in Henry and Simon. Feeling guilty for the mistakes he made with his own girls, her father, a former baseball star, turns over a completely new leaf. But nothing is easy with the boys. They are anxious about their places in their new home, uncertain about how long they will be able to stay, and understandably confused. Hannah never planned for them to be with the Lynns for long, just long enough for her sister to be in recovery and come get them or until a different placement can be found. But along the way, no matter how hard she tries to harden her heart, Hannah falls in love with her two nephews as well as someone else who has become important to her. While her choices aren't easy and she questions her decisions constantly, there are rewards for those decisions. This well-written story, told from Hannah's perspective, is filled with hope, heart, and insight into the foster care system. With several passages describing how Hannah deals with enormous grief and falls apart at times as well as coping, t's a 3.5 for me. Because of her flaws, she is all the more relatable. ...more
This delightfully accessible and informative picture book--a 3.5 for me and a winner of the Green Earth Book Award--briefly introduces readers to batsThis delightfully accessible and informative picture book--a 3.5 for me and a winner of the Green Earth Book Award--briefly introduces readers to bats, where they live, their importance, and some of the perils they face. Since the endpapers consist of maps showcasing North America and the geographic range of nine different bat species, including the Mexican free-tailed bat and the Evening bat, youngsters can look at the visuals in order to identify bats that might possibly be living in their area. As she does with the other titles in this important series, the author provides some ideas for how anyone who loves bats can help them. The main narrative is short and easy to read, supported by information boxes that provide more detail. It's clear that humans have acted in ignorance toward bats for hundreds of years, which is heartbreaking, given their importance in eating insects that might destroy crops. Stewart makes the complex issues behind some of the challenges bats face understandable. The acrylic artwork is simply stunning, intricate, and glowing with life. It's clear that the author and illustrator have a keen appreciation for bats, something that will be shared by anyone who reads this book. Add this one [new and revised with additional facts and updates] to your science classroom library collection, even if you have the other two editions. ...more
Elementary and intermediate science teachers love this particular series, and it's easy to see why. In this new and revised edition of the kid-friendlElementary and intermediate science teachers love this particular series, and it's easy to see why. In this new and revised edition of the kid-friendly book [3.5 for me!], youngsters learn about the importance of various types of frogs, some of the threats they face due to humans, and steps that they can take or that scientists are taking to help them. Since some of them are threatened as their numbers dwindle, this raised awareness is particularly crucial if there are going to be any frogs left on the planet. The text makes it clear that frogs and humans can coexist, but that humans must take action if that is to be the way forward. Some steps are as simple as planting native plants and removing grass that isn't native to the area or creating ponds that flourish only part of the year or even keeping dogs on a leash when hiking through the woods. The endpapers feature maps of North American and the range of nine different types of frogs. The readable text and the luminous, detailed acrylic illustrations highlight frogs in a variety of locations and positions so that the importance of their habitat and how they move is clear. It's hard to think that a species that has been on Earth for 200 million years might disappear because of humans, and this book makes readers care about those frogs. For those educators unfamiliar with author Melissa Stewart's work, this book is a good place to start. ...more
This futuristic novel might appeal to teen or middle grade readers who think they don't like science fiction. As other reviewers have said, reading itThis futuristic novel might appeal to teen or middle grade readers who think they don't like science fiction. As other reviewers have said, reading it really is downright scary since the events described in it due to climate change or global warming and the poor stewardship of humans seem increasingly likely. Don't be fooled by the book's title. The story is nothing like what most folks will have read before. Tasmania, where the story is set, is in bad shape. The narration shifts between two girls who have never met but have quite a lot in common. Both are about to be displaced, one due to impending ecological disaster and the other one due to bullying and the need to start fresh. Readers won't realize at first that the girls are separated by decades: It's 2093 in Nyx's story, and 2023 in Bea's vows, When Nyx pours out her anguish about the future on a scrap of paper that she hides in a tall pine tree near her home, her words are read by Bea, who responds through a notebook. Improbably, a friendship forms between the two girls, and Bea is determined to somehow help Nyx even though she knows that others will doubt her and make fun of her. For such a short book, this one packs quite an emotional wallop and will make many readers think how close this sort of a future may be. I liked it much more than I expected to....more
Combining their skills in another addition to the excellent About Habitats series, Catherine and John Sill introduce readers to coral reefs in this acCombining their skills in another addition to the excellent About Habitats series, Catherine and John Sill introduce readers to coral reefs in this accessible picture book. Youngsters learn about what those coral reefs are, where they are found, how they are formed, what sorts of creatures depend on them, and recent threats to their future. This important habitat is often overlooked or taken for granted, which makes the book and its focus on these precious places all the more important. As usual with this series, the back matter includes thumbnail sketches of the 17 watercolor plates that accompany the text, with additional information about each plate for diving even deeper. Not only will youngsters in elementary grades find the book useful, but older readers will be impressed with the artwork and the additional information. Elementary science teachers can't miss with a book from the Sills. ...more
This is yet another middle-grade novel [3.5 for me!] by the always reliable Claudia Mills that will have high appeal for its intended audience. While This is yet another middle-grade novel [3.5 for me!] by the always reliable Claudia Mills that will have high appeal for its intended audience. While parts of the plot will be familiar--a new transplant trying to find her way in a new school--others concerning family secrets and family history may seem fresh and new, especially in the hands of this gifted storyteller. Twelve-year-old Sonnet has moved to Indiana with her mother and little sister, Villie, to stay with her grandfather after the death of his wife. After an unpleasant encounter with Zeke, a neighbor boy who has been homeschooled until recently, Sonnet is decidedly not thrilled when she ends up working with him on a class family history project involving interviewing the elderly man. Sonnet prefers to stick to the script during the interviews while Zeke senses that he has stories to tell and allows Gramps to dictate the direction they take, even if it means that he'll have moments of sadness and cry. After all, life has both bitter and sweet moments, something that Sonnet and her mother seem determined to forget. When one of his memories is particularly painful and earthshattering, the revelation challenges what Sonnet knows about her family and her own mother's childhood memories. All of the characters are interesting although Sonnet's poem-writing mother is less developed than the others, and it's encouraging to watch the two neighbors stumble back and forth between enmity and friendship, especially after Zeke makes a very big mistake. The topics of loss and transplantation are woven into the narrative in appealing ways, and readers will recognize that running away from hard things doesn't make them go away. ...more
This picture book gets right to the heart of the matter with no hesitation at all. Climate change is real, and if our planet is to survive, things havThis picture book gets right to the heart of the matter with no hesitation at all. Climate change is real, and if our planet is to survive, things have to change. Consequently, the text provides 14 small steps that youngsters and their parents can take to make a difference. Led by 12 different and colorful heroes with kid appeal, including Energy Hero, Fairness Hero, and Nature Hero, among others, the text urges readers to reduce, reuse, and recycle, take care of the oceans, treat others with respect, and work with others. While the main focus here is the environment, the examples take a broader approach to the topic than most other children's books. Supported by lively illustrations with kid appeal, the text is encouraging and informative rather than dry and didactic, and reading the book leaves readers with hope that they can make a difference by being mindful of food choices, taking care of themselves, and supporting others. Ah, if some of those industrial polluters and political leaders would only read books like this one!...more
Who can believe that this is number 39, yes, 39, in this popular series for young readers? Even readers who are unfamiliar with the series or the prevWho can believe that this is number 39, yes, 39, in this popular series for young readers? Even readers who are unfamiliar with the series or the previous titles will be able to pick this one up without missing a beat. Siblings Jack and Annie are drawn to the treehouse by a golden eagle and then magically transported to Mongolia in 1992, where locals are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Takhi, wild Mongolian horses who have disappeared from their natural habitat and only found in zoos. Some of them are being returned to the reserve, Hustai National Park, to see if they can flourish and restock the area. The youngsters meet Tuya, a local Mongolian girl, who provides background on the wild horses. And then, at night, when part of the herd is threatened by wolves, Jack and Annie rescue them, with help from a mysterious, white stallion. As usual, the plot is simple, fast-paced, and ideal for its intended audience, and the artwork complements the text effectively. It just seemed less engaging and believable to me than some previous titles so it's a 2.5 for me. No matter, young readers will still love the book and series. ...more