Shirley Smith Duke's Blog, page 21

Water, Water, Everywhere, But Not a Drop to Drink

Not a Drop to Drink

By Michael Burgan

National Geographic, 2008

ISBN# 978-1-4263-0360-9

Nonfiction grades 4-7

 

 

With more than 70% of the Earth covered by water, it seems that drinkable water would be available worldwide. But it’s not. With the available drinkable water threatened by pollution and overuse, the unequal distribution of water resources makes the search for water for many people a daily struggle.

 This book is one in a series of National Geographic Investigates. Detailed and well-research

A New World Adventure

Animals Christopher Columbus Saw

By Sandra Markle

Illustrated by Jamel Akib

Chronicle Books, 2008

ISBN # 078-0-8118-4916-6

Nonfiction, 46 pages

Would you believe that, once, worms inspired people to explore the world? In fifteenth-century Europe, silk made from the thread of silkworms was more valuable than gold?

After arriving on what he named San Salvador in his search for a route to the Indies and the silk and spices of Cathay, Christopher Columbus found neither the silks and spices he expected, no

Pumpkins

 

Pumpkins

Life Cycles Series

By Robin Nelson

Lerner Publications, 2009

Nonfiction easy reader, 24 pages

 

The life cycle of a pumpkin is followed from seed to fruit using single sentences under a bright, bold photograph of each step in the life cycle of a pumpkin. A diagram on page 18 reviews the steps of the life cycle and additional pumpkin facts round out the text. The book has a simple glossary and an index. For another life cycle book, see my post about Dandelions.

 

This is a pumpkin. How do pumpk

ALL FROGS FRONT AND CENTER

Frogs

By Nic Bishop

Scholastic, 2008

ISBN# 0-439-87755-5

Nonfiction

Froggy facts fill the pages of this beautifully photographed frog book. Nic Bishop gets up close and personal with a wide variety of frogs, even training one frog with crickets on tweezers to stay nearby until he could photograph it. Large, close-in photographs show the colors, sizes, and habits of the chosen frogs. From travel to rainforests to a nearby pond, Bishop catches frogs being themselves. The text begins with a topic senten

Tooth Talk

 

The Tooth Book

A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums

By Edward Miller

Holiday House, 2008

ISBN #0-8234-2092-2

Nonfiction picture book

 

 

 

Just when you think you’ve read all there is to learn about teeth, this book adds more facts. Ranging in scope from the value of teeth and what they do, growing teeth, first aid and safety, animal teeth, and the don’ts for teeth, this book has it all. Filled with big, bright illustrations and large headings, the book is appealing and accessible for students who want to

A Raft of Information: PUFFINS

Puffins

By Susan E. Quinlan

Lerner Publications, 2009

ISBN# 978-1-58013-944-1

Nonfiction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puffins, with strong, brightly colored bills, and stubby wings are ocean birds, coming to land only to nest. A member of the auks, puffins ride on the waves offshore for weeks at a time with other puffins in great groups called rafts. They live in the frigid Arctic waters.

 

Adaptations from bill to foot enable this hardy bird to thrive in the harsh Arctic environment. From a special gland that lets them ex

Let’s Get Dirty!

 

The Dirt on Dirt

By Paulette Bourgeois

With Kathy Vanderlinden

Illustrated by Martha Newbigging

Kids Can Press, 2008

ISBN # 978-1-55453-101-1

Nonfiction

 

 Dirt is everywhere. Anything and almost everything to do with dirt, from mud pies to dirt homes to the Leaning Tower of Pisa, is covered in this fun to read book that discusses all things dirt. Filled with a mix of short facts and lengthy, detailed passages about dirt, the book provides some dirt activities sprinkled in between the information.

 

 

Lar

Nonfiction Monday Moved!

Nonfiction Monday will be hosted by Anastasia at Picture Book of the Day today. I had a conflict and have traded with Anastasia. Thanks to all of you who made it here and to Anastasia for swapping with me!

Weird Science

When I Grow Up

A young person’s guide to interesting and unusual occupations

By Jessica Loy

Henry Holt and Company, 2008

ISBN #978-0-8050-7717-9

Nonfiction

Grades 3-6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entomologist, alpaca farmer, kite designer, or chocolatier: what do you want to be when you grow up? Fourteen occupations that grew from a passion make up this book of real people, their jobs, and images illustrating a variety of aspects of each one. Readers can use the jobs as a jumping off point to explore their own passions as

A Who-Eats-What Adventure

A Temperate Food Chain

By Rebecca Hogue Wojahn and Donald Wojahn

Lerner Publications, 2009

ISBN #978-0-8225-7496-5

 

 

 

 

 

Following an introduction to the woodland habitat and a review of related terms, this book asks the reader to choose a tertiary consumer from a list on page 7. According to which animal is chosen, the reader is directed to turn to a specific page for more details. From that page, facts are detailed in the text and further choices are provided for the next link in the food chain. In