Science
I was : the stories of animal skulls
Katherine M. Hocker
j573.7616 Hocker
Picture Books, Animals, Nonfiction, Science
"Strong, smooth domes, skulls are more than remnants of creatures that used to be. They are artifacts that allow us to travel back through time. Every ridge, hollow, and crevice of a skull reveals something about an animal's habitat, food source, and skill set. By observing the characteristics of six different animal skulls, readers can learn about the lives once led by a lynx, a deer, a beaver, a hummingbird, a wolf, and an owl. Katherine Hocker's lyrical text and Natasha Donovan's fluid artwork, paired with sound scientific data and back matter resources, will ignite a child's native curiosity and encourage mindful observation of the wonders hidden in nature-and ourselves"--
Math, 100 ideas in 100 words : a whistle-stop tour of key concepts
Sam Hartburn
510 /Hartburn
Nonfiction, Science
One of the first titles in a cutting-edge new series created in partnership with The Science Museum, this book introduces 100 key areas of math such as geometry, algebra, probability and pure math, and explains each topic in just 100 words. Perfect for getting your head around big ideas clearly and quickly, or refreshing your memory of the fundamentals of math, this book covers the most up-to-date terms and theories and inspires a heightened level of understanding and enjoyment to the core areas of math.
Having a grade-schooler allows me to remember all the fun I had in school (yes, I was a schoolie). Particularly in math, where games like "Around the World" allowed me to relish in competitive arithmetic. Weird, I know! For me, high school was the last time I studied any math, having chosen a creative/literary path instead, and so I'm enjoying reading these blurbs about all the theories and philosophies I used to know. Favorite quote so far? "...It is beyond doubt that many things became easier once people became comfortable with the concept of nothing..." -Melody
Comet chaser : the true Cinderella story of Caroline Herschel, the first professional woman astronomer
Pamela S. Turner
j520.92 Herschel
Science, Picture Books, Nonfiction
"Once upon a time there lived a girl who swept floors and washed dishes, and was little more than a servant to her family. Until, one day, an invitation arrived. It was an invitation to a new country and a new beginning--a place where Caroline's dreams, her fascination with the night sky, and her extraordinary talent would open up a world of beauty and renown, and make her the belle of the scientific ball. From humble beginnings and in spite of many obstacles, Caroline Herschel and her brother William developed and built the best telescope in the world--in their back yard! Together they went on to discover a new planet, new moons, and vast arrays of unknown nebulae and comets. From a child who seemed doomed to a life of servitude, Caroline grew into a woman recognized by kings and queens-and a scientist whose work and discoveries continue to shine today. Pamela S. Turner and Vivien Mildenberger invite readers into Caroline Herschel's true Cinderella story in this inspiring account of the transformative power of curiosity and the magic-better than any fairytale-of science"--
Long-overdue recognition for Caroline Herschel, a European female astronomer working in the late 1700s who did not receive a formal education and seemed destined to be the unpaid servant for her family, until she left home and moved in with an adult sibling, who discovered a latent talent for advanced mathematics. The brother-sister duo built what was then the world's most advanced telescope and Caroline used her mathematical ability to calculate the position of stars and other celestial bodies, leading to precise and detailed catalogs and maps of the solar system that are still used to this day. She discovered and mathematically mapped over 2,000 comets, a feat that was truly mind-blowing at the time. Also, she and her brother literally discovered Uranus. -Anne W
The snow man : a true story
Jonah Winter
CATALOGING /
Science, Biographies
"Discover the true story of a man who lived alone in the mountains with a hobby of measuring snowfall that led to groundbreaking data tracking in climate change studies"--
I am obsessed, I tell you, OBSESSED with this new picture book biography of billy barr, who moved alone to a rustic, isolated cabin in the Rocky Mountains and ended up doing some of the earliest and most groundbreaking tracking related to the heating of the planet when he measured snowfall over time. Jonah Winter has penned more than forty picture book biographies related to environmental, social, and racial justice. Jeannette Winter's illustrations in predominately shades of purple and blue are a phenomenal accompaniment. Check it out! -Anne W
Giraffe math
Stephen R. Swinburne
j513.2 Swinburne
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Animals, Science
"Told through the voice of Twiga the giraffe, this picture book shares knowledge about giraffes through math, using measurements, graphs, fractions, time, elemental geometry, and percentages."--
Giraffe Math is wonderful and so fun! Add this to the ever-growing list of fabulous picture book nonfiction. -Casey
The moon tonight : our moon's journey around earth
Chang-hoon Jung
j523.3 Jung
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Nature
"Astronomer Jung Chang-hoon provides easy-to-follow scientific explanations of first- and last-quarter Moons, ebb and flow tides, where the new Moon goes, and more."--
Another new picture book nonfiction title! "The Moon Tonight" is gorgeously illustrated, and the breadth of information is perfect for sharing with younger elementary students. I'm excited to try the included science experiment at home as well! Don't miss this title if you like creative nonfiction or have a little one interested in celestial bodies. -Casey
The Monkey Trial : John Scopes and the battle over teaching evolution
Anita Sanchez
CATALOGING /
Kids, Science, History
"Arrested? For teaching? John Scopes's crime riveted the world, and crowds flocked to the trial of the man who dared to tell students about a forbidden topic--evolution. The year was 1925, and discussing Darwin's theory of evolution was illegal in Tennessee classrooms. Lawyers wanted to challenge the law, and businessmen smelled opportunity. But no one imagined the firestorm the Scopes Trial would ignite--or the media circus that would follow. As reporters, souvenir-hawking vendors, angry protestors, and even real monkeys mobbed the courthouse, a breathless public followed the action live on national radio broadcasts. All were fascinated by the bitter duel between science and religion, an argument that boiled down to the question of who controls what students can learn--an issue that resonates to this day."--Page [2] of cover.
Who controls what students can learn - parents or the government? What takes precendence, science or religion? What happens when scientific evidence is turned into a political battle? Find out in this book for young readers about - you guessed it! - the 1925 trial of science teacher John Scopes, who defied the law by teaching about Darwin's theory of evolution in the classroom. Whether the cyclical nature of these struggles provides a comfort or makes you feel hopeless, there's no doubt that history repeats itself. Find out what lessons the "Monkey Trial" holds for us today in this new book aimed at 8-12-year-olds. -Anne W
Tree, wildflower, and mushroom spotting
Mary Kay Carson
j582.13 Carson
Nonfiction, Nature, Science
"With 448 full-color, highly illustrated pages, Outdoor School is your indispensable tool for the outdoors. This interactive field guide to plant and mushroom spotting includes: immersive activities to get you exploring, write-in sections to journal about experiences, next-level adventures to challenge even seasoned nature lovers. No experience is required--only curiosity and courage. Inside you'll find easy-to-follow instructions on how to: grow mushrooms with cardboard, compare bark types, count tree rings, survey leaf patterns, create fern spore prints, press and preserve wildflowers--and so much more!"--
It's spring! Get out there and look at some flowers! I recommend Turkey Creek Nature Preserve (Bur Oak Land Trust) for bluebells. There's a whole series of these Outdoor School books that are worth your time. -Anne W
Is it okay to pee in the ocean? : the fascinating science of our waste and our world
Ella Schwartz
j612.4 Schwartz
Nonfiction, Science
"Explore the human systems that make pee happen, tackle environmental questions about the impacts of human waste, discover surprising uses of urine throughout history-like in mouthwash and skin creams-and even try out at-home, hands-on experiments (with no bodily fluids required, of course!)"--
Did you know that in ancient Rome, buckets were set up along public streets to collect urine from passersby, to use for laundering clothes? That's right, once enough urine was collected, a person would stand in a giant tub filled with pee and dirty clothes, stomping on them to remove stubborn stains. Maybe next time you spill ketchup down your front, try rubbing a little pee on it. That's just one of the many fascinating facts about #1 you can learn from this new book! I won't spoil it by answering the titular question, but you can read to find out the effects of your waste on various bodies of water, how your body makes and eliminates pee, the scientific makeup of pee, and much, much more. -Anne W
When the sky glows
Nell Cross Beckerman
j551.565 Beckerman
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science
"Sunrises and lightning storms, rainbows and volcanoes, meteors and fireflies-these beautiful, and sometimes frightening, events that light up the sky might seem like magic. But there is a scientific explanation for each natural phenomenon. Find out the science behind the magic in this beautiful and enlightening nonfiction picture book"--
When the Sky Glows is gorgeously illustrated, is the perfect length, and has just the right amount of information for budding meteorologists. Add this to the rapidly growing shelf of fabulous nonfiction picture books. -Casey
A simple, satisfying juvenile nonfiction picture book that examines several animal skulls and connects them to characteristics and behavior the animal in question utilized while they were alive. The narrative, while based firmly in scientific knowledge, uses lyrical storytelling - it's not dry facts, but a poignant, beautiful celebration of perfectly-adapted animal behavior as evidenced by bone structure. A great first examination of how our physical selves have evolved to allow us to do specific survival tasks! -Anne W