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.

Daylight Starlight Wildlife - Wendell Minor (2015)

         When the sun and the moon swap their places in the sky, there is a whole scenario of changes happen in the animal kingdom. While the diurnal animals return to their cozy home, all the crepuscular and nocturnal animals start their active life.

Nature's balance
       
        The concept of this book expands into "For every animal that rules the world by day, there is equally an animal, active at night". When a red-tailed hawk soars through sky by day, a barn owl swishes through by night. If cotton tail rabbit and her kits bustle through a field by day, night is the time for pink-nosed opossum and her family. At night, Luna moth takes the place of a butterfly in the morning. Nature has a perfect balance of everything.

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.

Time To Sleep - Denise Fleming (1997)

       When we get ready for winter with our snow gear and other preparations, some animals in the forest are tuning themselves for winter sleep, called hibernation.

A call for winter sleep

     
        It is time for winter. Bear can smell it in air. But before starting her winter routine, she calls up Snail and informs the arrival of winter. Of course, Snail has also seen frost on grass in the morning. One more task before the long sleep, Snail meets Skunk with the news of winter. Not to wonder, Skunk has been also noticing the yellow and red leaves on the trees.

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.

My First Big Book of Why - Amy Shields (2011)

ISBN 10 : 14263 07934
ISBN 10 : 978 14263 07935

           Why are sweets, sweet? Why is salt salty? Why is the sun hot? Why is the moon waxing and waning?  Do you have a kid around, who has a 'Why' question, about everything in this world (like mine)? Then, this is the book you should consider. 

For All The Big 'WHY's      

        The series of 'Why?' questions are classified into four broad categories in this book. 

       A)  Starting with self exploration, the book answers questions about every person's self. (Why does skin wrinkle when wet? When do baby teeth fall out? etc.)

The Very Lonely Firefly - Eric Carle (1995)

ISBN 10 : 03992 27741
ISBN 13: 978 03992 27745 

      (Note: Eric Carle has written a 'The Very' quartet, starting with 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. This book is the last one among them.

Is it Science, or, Poetry?

     Science - Fireflies have bioluminescence. 

     Poetry   - Fireflies are little stars, that flicker.

     Apart from science and poetry, Eric Carle shows a little firefly, who is searching for a place, where it belongs. (Eric Carle's words classify that "The Very Lonely Firefly" is about belonging (to a group)).

      A lonely firefly, born at the time of sunset, sets out on a search for other fireflies.  But, the night takes the firefly to various lights such as a light bulb, a candle, a flashlight and a lantern. Even, the firefly flies towards the gleaming eyes of a dog, a cat and an owl. 

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. 

The Crunching Munching Caterpillar - Sheridan Cain (2000)

ISBN 10 : 04392  98008

Eat, Sleep, Dream, Fly 

           A pair of wings and a feather-light body are needed for flying. Where on earth, a caterpillar can get those, if he wishes to fly? Simple, all he has to do is crunch and munch fresh blackberry bush leaves and sleep well.

           There is a cute caterpillar who wanted to fly. The caterpillar meets a bumble bee and tells his wish. But bumblebee says that the caterpillar don't have wings and he cannot fly. Then the caterpillar meets a sparrow, who says that the caterpillar is heavy and he cannot fly.

          But finally he meets a butterfly. The butterfly asks him to sleep well and says that his dreams might come true. After eating, sleeping and Voila!, the caterpillar is now a ...........

       Illustrated By : Jack Tickle

       Publisher : Tiger Tales

       Classification : Moral (Never Let Negative Words Drown You)

                                 Emotional(Dreams & Wishes), Science(Butterfly Life cycle, Flying)

       Age : Preschooler, Kindergartener, Grades 1- 3

My Comment:

       No kid is ever going to get bored with caterpillars and butterflies. This book would be another successful example for this theory. Apart from a cute story, that any kid would love, this book has adorable layout designs and lovely pleasant illustrations:

• The bitemark at the corner of the book, similar to the marks on leaves bit by the caterpillar (I think this is only in paperback format).

• The font changes with the moods of the story, in some places: The dream version has a different font. The font of the phrase 'stretched and stretched' really stretches and stretches.

• I can see that adorable caterpillar with his lovely smile, again and again.

• The Background colors are vibrant and the exquisite illustrations can hold the attention of even impatient kids.

       In the background of this story, I can see two science lessons: 1. Life Cycle of Butterfly 2. Science of Flying. If you want, you can extend the lesson by asking what are the basic necessities for a thing to fly.

       For the love of butterflies and caterpillars, travel along with this caterpillar's life.

        What is your 'book thoughts' about this book? Best, Good, Okay or Yet to Read. Mark your options down.

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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. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle(1969 - First Ed.)

         Caterpillars and butterflies never get old in children's world. They are always delightful and lovely. That's how this book is also to kids.

Spread your proud wings                                         

           It is a Sunday Morning. An egg pops and a caterpillar comes out. On Monday, he eats through one apple. On Tuesday, he eats through two pears and on Wednesday, he eats through three plums and so on. After he becomes a big caterpillar, he builds a cocoon around himself and emerge out as a butterfly.

The Foolish Tortoise - Richard Buckley(1985 - First Ed.)

A Bold Message - "Consider the Consequences"

ISBN 10 : 0689820585

       Everyone makes bad decisions at times. A tortoise is no exception. The  tortoise in this story hates being always slow and takes off his shell to move fast. But before the end of the day, he learns that his shell protects him from various dangers and harsh weather. Finally reaching the shell, he feels safe once again.

             Illustrator : Eric Carle 

               Publisher : Little Simon

               Classification : Moral, Science (Shells)     

              Age : Preschooler, Kindergartener, Grades 1 - 3

My Comment:

    I have always felt certain messages are hard to tell in a kid-friendly way. But this book broke my opinion. It comes with a high level message of "understanding the consequences", in a way even kids can get it. The poetic narration makes it a pleasure to read again and again. 

     Eric Carle's illustrations should be noted separately, as they carry the  entire background of the story in bright colors.(Obviously, the reason why small kids get attached to Eric Carle's books much. They love to go through the pictures repeatedly.) I am also happy that I can explain to my younger son why tortoises and turtles need shells. So, a lot is packed in this simple book - moral story, poem, bright and meaningful pictures, science. Whichever angle you read this book, you can interpret good things from here.

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