Periodic Table : Elements With Style - Simon Basher & Adrian Dingle (2007)

           "I am deadly serious"; that is how the periodic table element Plutonium introduces itself, in this book. And, that is only a very small preview of fun-info combo in this book.

Fun-chemist

           The periodic table, developed by chemist Dmitri Mendeleev, is a tabular arrangement of all the chemical elements. The elements are classified into groups, as alkali metals, alkali-earth metals, the boron elements etc., based on their properties.

Wabi Sabi - Mark Reibstein (2008)

 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (Picture Books) - 2009 

        Is it the heart? Or, the eyes? Which sees beauty? The ancient tradition of Japan, Wabi Sabi, (rooted from Chinese origin) can give a perfect answer to this question. Wabi Sabi is an aesthetic Japanese tradition, where the heart sees the beauty in simple, modest and imperfect things.

Malala Yousafzai : Warrior With Words - Karen Leggett Abouraya (2014)

          Words are mightier than sword, whether they are on a paper or a blog. This is the story of a warrior who fought with words, for opening access to educate girls in her valley.

A battle for learning

         Malala Yousafzai was born in the 'Swat' valley of Pakistan, a peace haven where tourists come and rejoice the scenic snow-clad mountains and green meadows. Her family, her books and her school formed the life of her. Everything in her life was happiness-filled, until the 'Swat' valley was captured by Taliban.

Mighty Mars Rovers - Elizabeth Rusch (2012)

       The planet Mars is our "next-door neighbor" in the solar system. But, it needs a vast array of engineering minds and years of hard work to photograph and explore this planet.

A Mighty Mission

          Mars Rovers (brain child of geologist Steve Squyres) are robotic rovers, launched by NASA, to explore Martian land. In 2003, two rovers, named Spirit and Opportunity, were launched.

Gandhi : A March To The Sea - Alice B. McGinty (2013)

ISBN 10 : 14778 16445
ISBN 13 : 978 14778 16448
(Hardcover)

     (Note : India was ruled by British government for over 200 years. Mohandas Gandhi and various other leaders fought their way against British, for Indian freedom. This book talks about one of the non-violent protests, led by Gandhi, called 'Dandi March'.)

The Sweetest Salt

             A march for salt forms the pivotal movement of Indian freedom fight. When salt is very crucial to human life next to air and water, a protest can break out, at the point when people are denied their right to take salt from sea.

The Best Night Out With Dad - Lisa McCourt (1997)

ISBN 10 : 1 55874 5084
ISBN 13 : 978 1 55874 5087
(Hardcover)

  (Note : This story is adapted from the story 'The Circus' by Dan Clark. This book is part of the series "Chicken Soup" Books, for young readers, marked as "Chicken Soup For Little Souls".)

It's Not Just A Fun Night

        Rocket Science can be taught and learnt. But, how to teach the kids about empathy, nurturing, sharing and caring for others? Well, we can rely on children's literature for this purpose and this book is one such best example for that.

Any Questions? - Marie-Louise Gay (2014)

ISBN 10 : 1 55498 382 7
ISBN 13 : 978 1 55498 382 7
(Hardcover)

A story starter pack

        Where does a picture book start? Is it from a word, a setting, a doodle or from a scribble? With a fictional twist, author Marie-Louise Gay, has sketched and developed a story on how to build a story.

         Believe it or not, every story starts from a blank page. In first person narration, the author first suggests some (imaginary) kids, to check for different colored canvases. (A white color - snow storm, blue - ocean theme, black - horror story and so on.) If canvas does not strike well, some introductory phrases or doodles could work. 

Gone Wild - David McLimans (2006)

ISBN 10 : 0 8027 9563 3
ISBN 13 : 978 0 8027 9563 2

                            (Caldecott Honor - 2007)

Wildly Graphical
          
         Various animals, which walked on earth once, are now extinct. But, wait, this book is not about dinosaurs. It lists the animals, which have endangered existence. Before you start to think how this book fits for a child, I should say that it is the graphical rendering of animals and their alphabetical listing make this, a wonderful children's book.

The Hundred Penny Box - Sharon Bell Mathis (1975)

ISBN 10 : 01424 0702X
ISBN 13 : 978 01424 07028
(2006 Puffin Books Edition)

             Newbery Honor - 1976

A Hundred Year Memory

       What could be a hundred years of life like? Is it burdened with pains of past, or flashes with delightful memories? Or does it dangle between the array of emotions? Maybe, this book can tell you that.

       Dewbet Thomas, the great-great-aunt of Michael John Jefferson, is one hundred years old. She cherishes an old wooden box, as dear as her life, where she collects a penny for every year of her life. As she moves to Michael's house, Michael grows attached to her and the box. His favorite time is counting the pennies from the box and hearing the past stories from Aunt Dew, as her memory relapses to past.

Candle Making For Fun! - Dana Meachen Rau (2007)

ISBN 10 : 07565 32760
ISBN 13 : 978 07565 32765

       Which feeling would you get when thinking of candles? Godliness, Relaxation, Love, Celebration or Sadness? Almost every one of these feeling is expressed by lighting a candle. So it would be fitting for a kid to know about candles and candle making.

Make, Decorate & Illuminate      

       The book starts from the history of lights. It details how candles are used as a source of light and how they are made. As it progresses to the current age, it focuses on how candles are centered during festivals and celebration. In between, the book classifies the type of candles and demonstrates making of and other varieties of candles.

Zen Ties - Jon J. Muth (2008)

                       (Note: This book is a sequel of "Zen Shorts" by Jon J. Muth. But this book can be enjoyed as a stand alone book also.)

Some Haiku and a Cup of Apple Tea

        Sometimes, small acts of kindness can change stones. Michael, Addy and Karl understand this, with Stillwater's kind and tender actions (The same characters occurred in Jon J. Muth's "Zen Shorts" also.)

What's in the Coral Reef? - Charley Harper (2014)

ISBN 10 : 07649 68467
ISBN 13 : 978 07649 68464
Image Credits : pomegranate.com

         Coral reefs are fascinating, being the home of vast marine species. What it would be like to have an up close view of a coral reef, thriving with colorful and lively creatures? Oh, wait! you don't need scuba gear. It is the plain old way of grabbing Charley Harper's book and diving into sea bed.

An Underwater Wonderland

       
           There is a Black leather jacket, a Red band, a Yellowtail Parrotfish and some Blue Tangs. The coral reef is vibrant with all these colorful fish around. But, maybe, you are a person of pattern. Then you can enjoy the Spotted Drum, the Spotted Trunkfish and the Four-eye Butterfly fish. 

Show Way - Jacqueline Woodson (2005)

                           (Newbery Honor - 2006)

         We all have a story of our ancestral history to share with our kids. Here is the tender and inspiring story of the author, Jacqueline Woodson, about her maternal ancestors, that she shares with her daughter.

A Way to Moons and Stars

           The story starts with Soonie's great-grandma being sold as a slave (Soonie is the great-grandma of the author). Her slave life starts in another land without her parents, with her only hope being quilting stars and moons. Life remains same for her daughter, Mathis May, but she has the power to make 'Show Way', the quilt that shows the road to freedom.

Recycled Crafts Box - Laura C. Martin (2003)

ISBN 10: 15801 75236
(2004 Edition)

           Every year nearly 13000 pieces of paper (most of them packaging and junk mail) are thrown away, by each household, as trash. Do you think you cannot do anything about that? Maybe, you cannot start a revolution, but you can give this book to your kids.

Go Green; Go Clean

  
        There are cottages made from milk and juice cartons, castle made from cardboard boxes, a cute bug made from plastic beverage bottle and so many other crafts, that would have otherwise ended as trash. 

What's in the Woods? - Charley Harper (2013)

Image Credits : Pomegranate.com
ISBN 10 : 07649 64534

       Bird Watching is a wonderful experience, provided the weather is pleasant. But what if the weather is not working right? Well, there is a way. Just pick a copy of 'What's in the Woods?' by Charley Harper and enjoy a walk through nature in the midst of cozy indoors.

An Indoor Bird-Watching Fun

  
          "Oh, there is a grouse, a scarlet tanager and a blue jay. Wow, a red-bellied woodpecker is pecking that tree. Can you hear the cardinal's song? Is that a chipmunk, that rustles near? Oops! Watch out! A snake slithers there." This is only a short list in our nature watching fun, through Charley Harper's vibrant illustrations. 

Mozart : The Wonder Child - Diane Stanley (2009)

           Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgang Gottlieb Mozart was just three years old, when he first played a clavier. He lived upto the age of thirty five. It is these thirty years, that are covered in this book.

Child prodigy to the wizard of music
 

          Diane Stanley's book, about Mozart, brings out the events that shaped the musical genius, in the form of puppet show.

Daisy-Head Mayzie - Dr.Seuss (1994)

ISBN 10 : 0679867120

      (This is the last book written by Dr.Seuss. The illustrations in this book are not by Dr.Seuss, but are inspired by his other works. This manuscript was found after he died and was published later.)

A Daisy Over-the-top  

    

  
      The world turns upside down for little girl Mayzie, when a daisy sprouts and blossoms on her head. When her teacher, the principal, her parents and a group of other grown-ups are trying to get a hand of the problem, media invites and makes Mayzie popular. When Fame makes her alone, detached her from family and friends, she cannot take it anymore, until she turns to her normal self.

Picture Pie - Ed Emberley(1984 - First Ed)

A circle is not just a circle; but many

  ISBN 10 : 0316234257       

  
          Don't ever think a shape is just a shape. Ed 

Emberley has brilliantly shown in this book, that various patterns, birds, animals can be formed using the basic shapes. A circle cut in half, quarter and so on, called as pies, are arranged in various ways to form the objects (The book cover gives more clue).

The 7 Habits of Happy Kids - Sean Covey(2008)

ISBN 10 : 1416957768
ISBN 13: 9781416957768

     Utilize your time. Work hard. Save your money. I know, no kid would lend an ear to this kind of advice. But what could we do? Maybe, use this book next time.

I wish advising is always this fun and easy

 
         The seven stories in this book branch about seven kids in the '7 Oaks' to emphasize the seven life morals. One kid gets bored. One wants to buy a toy but has no money. One has to study for test, instead he plays. All the seven kids has problems that a typical normal kid can face. Each of the seven morals sets the record straight for each kid.

Once Upon an Alphabet - Oliver Jeffers(2014)

              Oliver Jeffers has tried a new wave of short stories, each one to go with an alphabet A to Z. The story for A is with an astronaut, B centers a bridge, C is about a cup and so on.

A is for Amazing, B is for Brilliant ....... Z is for Zesty    

            Bob and Bernard live on either side of a bridge. As they were battling for a long time, Bob decides to end this battle. He burns down the bridge from Bernard's side, so that Bernard can't use the bridge. Alas, how could he return to his own home now, without the bridge?