Book Review: Arbordale Publishing 2015 Collection

 

This Land Is Your Land by Catherine Ciocchi, illustrated by Cathy Morrison

Take a trip around the world to discover a wide variety of Earth’s landforms and geological features through the rhythmic verse in This Land is Your Land. On the journey encounter plains, plateaus, and rolling hills. Find out how a stream can make a canyon or lava creates an archipelago. Read aloud and discover new terrain with the flip of each page. http://www.catherineciocchi.com/#!books/cnec

 

My Review: Follow Author Catherine Ciocchi, as she takes you around the world and discover the variety of Earth’s landforms with its geological features. What a great way for children to discover how lands are formed by massive movements like weather, wind, water and more.

Learn that where land meets sea, there’s a coast; sandy beaches cover most lands. Some of the highest mountains peak are capped in snow and cooler than the base. Read about the plateau, canyon, tranquil valley, volcano lava and many more. The last four pages includes learning activities: Earth Movers, Landform Sorting, Landform Matching, and Map Skills.

The illustrations by Cathy Morrison show great geographic details. Colors are bold and bright with clear text. I recommend this book for classroom teaching.

 

 

FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Arbordale Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.

 

 

 

About the Author: Born and raised in New York in the beautiful Hudson River. She is the youngest of 6 children in the Muller family who spent alot of time camping and hiking in the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains. Her father, George and her mother, Ruth, taught her 3 brothers ad 2 sisters to appreciate the wonders of nature. I was fascinated with Earth Science in high school so much that I went on to study geology and I’m happy to say that I am an Earth Science teacher today.   Rhyme is something else I love and use it to explain science concepts to my students. It takes a lot of practice and perseverence to get a rhyme just right. Fifteen years ago, I joined the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Through this organization, I was able to find a fun local writer’s group. This dynamic group  has established another organization called Children’s Writers of the Hudson Valley. Being part of this group has inspired and motivated me in my writing. Every writer needs the support of a writer’s group. http://www.catherineciocchi.com/#!bio/c1ktj

Achoo! Why Pollen Counts by Shennen Bersani

About the Book: Spring has arrived and pollen is in the air. Baby Bear does not like the pollen—it sticks to his fur and makes him itchy and sneezy. He’s allergic! Achoo! He just wishes the pollen were gone. But when his friends gather to tell him why they need pollen, Baby Bear learns that pollen is good for the forest and provides food for many animals, including him!

My Review: It was interesting to know that pollen is good for the forest and also provides food for many animals. Some types of pollen are light and float in the air, while some are heavier and cling to flowers. Many insects ear pollen, the spiders catch pollen in their web and eat it for dinner. The bees use pollen and nectar to make beebread. Ladybug snack on pollen in the fall, they find that it has plenty of protein to help them hibernate in the winter.

Also, it’s interesting to know that pollen floats high in the cloud. It clings to water, freezes, and form ice crystal. They grow, fall and form snowflakes. Pollen makes some humans and animals sneeze but it also provides food for many animals.

The last 4 pages include learning activities from understanding allergies, flower parts, pollination process, bees are the great pollinators pollinator matching – animals spreading pollen from flower to flower. Great illustrations which helps tell the story.

 

FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Arbordale Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.

 

 

About the Author: Shennen Bersani is a children’s book author and illustrator. Interests: She love the ocean, and drawing, and bike riding. She is an avid reader, researcher, writer, and painter. http://www.shennenbersani.com/

Fibonacci Zoo by Tom Robinson

About the Book: When Eli and his father visit an unusual zoo, they count the creatures in each exhibit. Eli sees one alligator, then one bison, and next two camels. Soon a number pattern emerges and Eli thinks he can predict how many animals will be in the next exhibit. Explore the zoo with Eli as he runs ahead to test his hypothesis.

About the Author: Tom Robinson is a high school math teacher with more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. He wrote Fibonacci Zoo to introduce young readers to numbers and patterns. Tom is also the author of The Everything Kids Science Experiments Book, The Everything Kids Magical Science Experiments Book, and Forcing Out: A Guide to Better Physics Fitness. Tom lives in Chelan, WA, with his wife and two children.

Wandering Woolly by Andrea Gabriel

About the Book: Little Woolly leaves her mother behind as she chases a toad down to the river. When the glacial ice breaks, she is swept away in the rumbling, rolling water. Now alone, the mammoth calf struggles to survive. She must sneak past cave lions, bears, saber-toothed cats and humans. Exhausted and afraid, she must even hide from stormy weather as she fights her way back to her herd. How can she find them? Will she ever get back? http://bigbearillustration.com/books/

My Review: Wandering Woolly wondered about her surrounding and beyond. She makes her way down to the river to splash water over her head when suddenly the ice splintered and toppled off the glacier throwing woolly into the rolling water sweeping her away from her family. She tried to call out for her mother, but the mammoths couldn’t hear her. The water swept her pass a hunting lion and a giant beaver. Back on land, she came across bears, humans and their hunting dogs and the saber-toothed cats. She desperately needs to get back to her mother and aunties. Was Woolly able to locate the other mammoths? You need to buy the book to find out.

The last four pages include learning activities. Learn about the Ice Age, about mammoths and elephants, the Clovis people as they were the first humans in North America and the extinct ice age animals that Woolly met along the way.

This is a very good educational book. Teaching kids the importance of having to stay close to their parents and that wandering off doesn’t make them safe.

FTC Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from Arbordale Publishing in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion in any way.

About the Author: Andrea Gabriel lives in Bellingham, Washington, where she spends a lot of time making pictures for kids and grown-ups alike. In addition to a busy studio schedule, she loves illustrating books for children and presenting in the schools. http://bigbearillustration.com/about/

About the Book: Gorillas using iPads, lemurs finger painting, squirrel monkeys blowing bubbles…these primates are pretty smart! Could you make the grade in Primate School? Learn how diverse the primate family is, and some of the ways humans are teaching new skills to their primate cousins. Author Jennifer Keats Curtis is once again working with organizations across the country to share fun facts about primates through this photo journal.  http://jenniferkeatscurtis.com/projects/primate-school/

About the Author: Children’s author Jennifer Keats Curtis wants to help bring children closer to the animals in their own backyards. By diligently researching her topic and interviewing real experts, including children working to help preserve and protect local wildlife, the long-time journalist has developed a knack for teaching young children about important ecological issues and what they can do to help. To read more http://jenniferkeatscurtis.com/about-the-author/

About the Books: What are some things we can learn about animals from the shape of their mouths, beaks, or bills? What can we infer about animals with sharp teeth compared to large, flat teeth? Are there any animals that don’t have mouths? In this second book of her “Animal Anatomy and Adaptation” series, award-winning nature photographer and environmental educator Mary Holland shares fascinating animal mouths with readers of all ages.    http://www.arbordalepublishing.com/bookpage.php?id=AnimalMouths

About the Author: Mary Holland, naturalist, wildlife photographer, columnist, and author, resides in Hartland, Vermont. Mary’s work in environmental education has included directing the state-wide Environmental Learning for the Future (ELF) program for the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, being a resource naturalist for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, designing and presenting Knee-high Nature Programs for libraries and elementary schools throughout Vermont, and compiling Vermont’s Rare Bird Alert for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. In addition to writing a natural history newspaper column and magazine articles, Mary has written and photographed a children’s book, Milkweed Visitors, which introduces young and old alike to the insects that visit a milkweed patch.

http://www.arbordalepublishing.com/bookhome.php

 

All books listed are

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Arbordale Publishing
• Ages: 4-8
• Cost: Paperback $9.95

 

Giveaway Books  (2) for Merry