Results tagged “family” from What's Simmering?
InfoSoup's summer reading blogs are now available! Kids and parents can visit Be Creative @ Your Library to find book reviews, coloring sheets, craft projects, puzzles, and more. Why not add your own review of your favorite book or comment on a posted review from someone else? We hope you'll tell us about what you're reading this summer.
Teens are also welcome to post their own reviews and comment on posted reviews at Express Yourself @ Your Library. We have also collected some links to interesting web sites for you to check out this summer. If you don't see your favorite site, be sure to tell us about it so we can add it to our list.
The blogs were created to supplement the reading programs taking place in InfoSoup libraries this summer. Be sure to check out your local library to see what they have planned for you!
The following materials were recently reviewed in InfoSoup. Take a look - maybe you'll discover something new to enjoy with your family! And remember to visit InfoSoup's Family Page for access to award winning books, reading lists, and TumbleBooks (online animated talking picture books).
InfoSoup Reviews
Bubble Homes and Fish Farts by Fiona Bayrock
Author Fiona Bayrock explores animals that use bubbles for a functional purpose, from violet sea snails to humans! Each description is accompanied by a beautiful watercolor by illustrator Carolyn Conahan and the scientific name of the animal. Additional materials include “More amazing facts about bubble makers” (you will want to find out how herring farts were accidently discovered) and a glossary. Young readers will want to listen to you read this book to them (one animal at a time or the whole book in a sitting) and older readers can explore this book on their own. Older readers may want to dive into other books to learn about the physics of snapping shrimp bubble popping.
If the World Were a Village: A Book About the World's People by David J. Smith
David Smith condenses the world population into a village of 100 people to make a meaningful summary of the world's 6.6 billion people (in 2007). Did you realize if you lived in this village and only spoke English that you would only be able to communicate using language with eight other people? Is it alright for only 30 of the village members to always have enough to eat? These and other facts are conveyed in simple terms and displayed with vibrant illustrations by Shelagh Armstrong. The book also contains tips on how to teach children about the global village and a listing of data sources.
A Personal Tour of Monticello by Robert Young
As an adult, I often look to children's nonfiction for an introduction to a subject that I'm not familiar with. The maps and house plans provided in this book are quite good. Large photographs also provide a good sense of Monticello. This book is partially written as the daily experiences of contemporaries at Monticello in Jefferson's time. These stories seemed fragmented and uninteresting to me. Inventions and tools, such as a dumbwaiter, could have been explored in more depth.
One Well: The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss
All of the earth's water makes up the one well that we all share. Plants and animals, including humans, all depend on this well. Did you know that there is ten times the water in our atmosphere than in our rivers? This and many other facts are presented along with brightly color illustrations. Additional information includes "Becoming Well Aware," Notes to Parents, Guardians, and Teachers," and an index.
Add Your Review
If you'd like to add a review but need a little help, take a look at Using Community Reviews in InfoSoup. Or, feel free to add a review here in the comments. We'd love to hear about what you're reading lately!
InfoSoup Reviews
Bubble Homes and Fish Farts by Fiona Bayrock
Author Fiona Bayrock explores animals that use bubbles for a functional purpose, from violet sea snails to humans! Each description is accompanied by a beautiful watercolor by illustrator Carolyn Conahan and the scientific name of the animal. Additional materials include “More amazing facts about bubble makers” (you will want to find out how herring farts were accidently discovered) and a glossary. Young readers will want to listen to you read this book to them (one animal at a time or the whole book in a sitting) and older readers can explore this book on their own. Older readers may want to dive into other books to learn about the physics of snapping shrimp bubble popping.
If the World Were a Village: A Book About the World's People by David J. Smith
David Smith condenses the world population into a village of 100 people to make a meaningful summary of the world's 6.6 billion people (in 2007). Did you realize if you lived in this village and only spoke English that you would only be able to communicate using language with eight other people? Is it alright for only 30 of the village members to always have enough to eat? These and other facts are conveyed in simple terms and displayed with vibrant illustrations by Shelagh Armstrong. The book also contains tips on how to teach children about the global village and a listing of data sources.
A Personal Tour of Monticello by Robert Young
As an adult, I often look to children's nonfiction for an introduction to a subject that I'm not familiar with. The maps and house plans provided in this book are quite good. Large photographs also provide a good sense of Monticello. This book is partially written as the daily experiences of contemporaries at Monticello in Jefferson's time. These stories seemed fragmented and uninteresting to me. Inventions and tools, such as a dumbwaiter, could have been explored in more depth.
One Well: The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss
All of the earth's water makes up the one well that we all share. Plants and animals, including humans, all depend on this well. Did you know that there is ten times the water in our atmosphere than in our rivers? This and many other facts are presented along with brightly color illustrations. Additional information includes "Becoming Well Aware," Notes to Parents, Guardians, and Teachers," and an index.
Add Your Review
If you'd like to add a review but need a little help, take a look at Using Community Reviews in InfoSoup. Or, feel free to add a review here in the comments. We'd love to hear about what you're reading lately!
At the end of January, the American Library Association announced their selection of top books for children, including the winners of the prestigious Caldecott and Newbery awards.
The 2009 Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to children's literature was awarded to The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson, won the 2009 Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Learn more about the Caldecott and Newbery Medals on the ALA web site and visit our Family Page on InfoSoup to find more award winning books for kids.
The 2009 Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to children's literature was awarded to The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.
The House in the Night, illustrated by Beth Krommes and written by Susan Marie Swanson, won the 2009 Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
Learn more about the Caldecott and Newbery Medals on the ALA web site and visit our Family Page on InfoSoup to find more award winning books for kids.
Stories Without Words is a new booklist on the Family Page on InfoSoup. This list highlights some of the very creative artists/illustrators that tell wonderful stories though wordless or almost wordless picture books. Be sure to take a look at Lights Out and Hogwash by the ever inventive Arthur Geisert. Thanks to Sue from the Waupaca Area Public Library for sharing this list!
New highlights on the Family Reads page on InfoSoup include Fall booklists, the October selections from the Read On Wisconsin book club, and a plug for the Meet the Illustrator offerings from Bookletters. A new Meet the Illustrator
feature is posted on the 26th of each month. These are clever graphical
interviews with talented children's book Illustrators/Authors. They are lots of fun and a great way to learn about new (and old) picture
books.
Check out our Family Reads page for an ever-growing collection of booklists. Just in time for Fall are two new lists, Apples and Halloween. Also, for parents and teachers looking for storytime ideas, take a look at the Autumn Books & Media list. Enjoy!
The Appleton Public Library children's staff have been busy this summer! They have published new buggy booklists, including Insects & Creepy Crawlers (fiction) and Insects & Creepy Crawlers (nonfiction). Other new lists include Community and Community Helpers and Summer Books & Media.
Visit the InfoSoup Family Page for more booklists, award winners, Tumblebooks, and BookLetters features!
Visit the InfoSoup Family Page for more booklists, award winners, Tumblebooks, and BookLetters features!
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