Nonfiction Monday: The Ant's Nest

The Ant's Nest: A Huge, Underground City (Spectacular Animal Towns)
By Miriam Aronin
Ages 9-12, 32 pages
Bearport Publishing, 2009

Reviewed by Heidi Bee Roemer

Bio by Laura Crawford

Book Source: We would like to thank Thornton Public Library for providing a copy of this book for review.

Welcome to the ant city where, in many ways, insect life mirrors human life. Readers will discover that an ant’s nest is similar to a human city, or much like a house with a variety of rooms (chambers) used for different functions. There’s a nursery where young ants are tended to, a chamber for the Queen, chambers for storing food and for resting, and a place deep down in the earth, like a basement, where ants retire for the winter.
Simple text averaging 50 words per page informs readers that in the ant city, every ant has a job! Hundreds, thousands, or even millions of ants may live in one colony, so cooperating with one another is key. Aronin explains how ants communicate, their roles within the colony, habitats, body parts, and life cycles. Ants are found in deserts and rainforests—almost every part in the world except a few of its coldest regions. Brief profiles are offered of predators, herbivores, leaf-cutters, seed-harvesters, aphid-tenders, and fungus-growers. One sidebar notes that the total weight of all ants living on Earth is estimated to be greater than the combined weight of all humans. Wow!
An impressive amount of information about ant life is presented in this 32-page picture book. Irresistible larger-than life, full-color photos dominate each page. No squinting is necessary to see the small creatures; some enlargements result in ant images the size of my hand! You can clearly see the powerful biting jaws of a bull ant, a queen ant carrying a cluster of eggs in her mouth, and a life-and-death struggle between a ladybug and a dairy ant. Here’s a book that will help readers appreciate these diminutive, yet fascinating organisms. One of six in the series Spectacular Animal Towns, The Ant’s Nest provides maps, an Ant Colony fact page, glossary, bibliography, and additional print and online resources. Recommended by NSTA, 2010, (National Science Teachers Association).

For years. Miriam Aronin has been involved in various aspects of writing and publishing. She has been a teacher, a curriculum director, an editor, fact checker and a volunteer literacy instructor. In addition, she is an author of a variety of children’s book about animals and natural distasters. She also wrote the award winning book, Aye-Aye: An Evil Omen. The Ant's Nest is an NSTA recommended book for 2010.

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Simply Science blog.

Nonfiction Monday: Can An Old Dog Learn New Tricks

Can An Old Dog Learn New Tricks?
Written by Buffy Silverman
Ages 9-12, 40 Pages
Lerner Publications, 2010

Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher

Book Source: We would like to thank Lerner Publications for donating a copy of this book for review.

Mythbusters is a popular show in my house, and so it’s no surprise that Buffy Silverman’s new book is also a hit with my family. Have you ever heard the saying, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, or how about, you’re as blind as a bat. Can old dogs be taught new tricks? Are bats really blind? We learn in Silverman’s new book that we can indeed teach old dogs new tricks and that in fact, bats are not blind at all!

Silverman explores the science behind these and many other sayings. She combs through the fiction and myths and gives readers the scientific truths. Her text is thorough and interesting, and the accompanying photographs and illustrations engage the reader further.
Back matter includes a glossary of terms and suggestions for further reading.

To learn more about Buffy Silverman, click here to visit her website.

This book is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Practically Paradise blog.

Nonfiction Monday: Adopted By An Owl

Adopted by an Owl

by Robbyn Smith van Frankenhuyzen

Illustrated by Gijsbert van Frankenhuysen
Ages 4-8, 48 pages
Sleeping Bear Press, 2003

Reviewed by Heidi Bee Roemer

Book Source: We would like to thank Sleeping Bear Press for donating a copy of this book for review.

Because he wants a special pet that no one else has, a young boy climbs a tree, snatches a baby owl from its nest, and stuffs the frightened owlet into a burlap bag. But as the weeks go by, the lad quickly realizes that caring for the baby bird requires a lot more time and effort than he’s willing to give. The boy soon turns the owlet over to Gijsbert (Nick), an animal specialist. Dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of injured and orphaned animals, Nick and his wife, Robbyn, care for the great horned owl and name it Jackson.
Adopted by an Owl is an inspiring true story about Jackson’s return to the wild.
Readers will be wowed by stunning color artwork of the majestic predator bringing home a dead mouse (or skunk!), being attacked by smaller birds such as robins and chickadees, and soaring alone in the moonlit sky. Embedded in the story are interesting bird facts: the owl’s thick downy feathers provide warmth in the winter, and its brown and gray outer feathers are the perfect camouflage. "From the Author" gives insight to the couple’s work of 20 years rehabilitating a wide variety of wild animals and the special permits needed to care for birds of prey. Accurate, educational, and entertaining, this heartwarming story will surely compliment classroom studies of nocturnal animals and wildlife rescue and animal rehabilitation. Adopted by an Owl is a KIND Children's Honor Book and a Michigan Notable Book. A Teacher’s Guide is available on the publisher’s website: http://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/TeachersGuides/HazelRidgeGuide.pdf.

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Art of Irreverence blog.

Happy Valentines Day! Contest Winners Announced!

We would like to thank everyone who entered to win our Anniversary Giveaway, either by commenting, following, linking or all three. We have randomly drawn three winners, and they are:

. Kelly Polark won a copy of Paws, Claws, Hands and Feet by Kimberly M. Hutmacher

. Scotti Cohn won a copy of In Arctic Waters by Laura Crawford

. Mama Librarian won a copy of Marsh Music by Marianne Berkes

Happy Valentines Day to all of our readers!

Nonfiction Monday: Darwin

Darwin
Written by Alice B. McGinty
Illustrated by Mary Azarian
Ages 9-12, 48 Pages
Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher
Bio by Laura Crawford
Book Source: This book was purchased by the reviewer for review.

Paired with notes from Darwin’s own journal, McGinty’s text takes readers into the heart and mind of Charles Darwin. This picture book biography introduces us first to a young curious Charles who is much more interested in observing and exploring the world around him than studying Greek or Latin.
Later, we find Darwin at Cambridge University studying to be a pastor. However, never losing the curiosity he fostered as a child, Darwin soon finds himself aboard the HMS Beagle bound for the South American coast on a five year journey of natural discovery.
Darwin spends this time observing, collecting, journaling and asking questions. As time passes, Darwin comes up with some questions and answers that cause him much inner turmoil and pain. His scientific theories on natural selection and evolution clashing with his longstanding religious beliefs worry him to the point of physical illness.
Darwin eventually makes a realization. McGinty writes, “Charles finally came to believe that there were no answers to his questions about God. He saw the world as too amazing not to have been created by God."
McGinty does a masterful job telling Darwin’s story. Readers will be inspired by his curiosity and love of the natural world around him. They will also gain an understanding and appreciation for Darwin’s work, even if they do not agree with his scientific theories.
This book has been chosen as an NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book. It will also be included on the NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Committee/Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People 2010.

Laura Crawford had an opportunity to interview author, Alice B. McGinty:

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF.

I live in Urbana, IL and I love to write, read, and do just about anything outdoors, such as hiking, running, or going on long walks. My husband and I have two sons, now 18 and almost 20 years old, and we spend a lot of time together as a family, enjoying each other's company. My husband and I have recently taken up ballroom dancing, which we like a lot. As for my writing career, I spend my time writing fiction, nonfiction, and doing freelance educational writing. I am the co-Regional Advisor for SCBWI Illinois, and enjoy working with this terrific writing community in Illinois to plan conferences and help writers and illustrators to connect with each other.

WHERE DO YOUR IDEAS FOR NONFICTION COME FROM?

My first nonfiction book - Eating Right - was inspired by my oldest son's questioning why he had to eat his broccoli (at age 5) and wondering what different foods did for his body. I saw that there was a need for books about nutrition written at his level, and decided to do some research and write one myself. Now, my nonfiction ideas often come from conversations with my agent. My recent book, Darwin, was a product of a conversation with my agent about possible topics for nonfiction books. Honestly, I love to dive into new subjects and I can write about any number of different topics, so it works well for me to get suggestions from others about possible topics.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE HARDEST PART ABOUT WRITING?

Oh, I guess knowing that something needs to be fixed in a manuscript and not having a clue about how to fix it is the toughest part. Sometimes letting a book sit for a while when it reaches that stage is the best solution, if I have the luxury to do that. But, though writing can sure be taxing and frustrating at times, I really love the process of writing, and creating new things with words.
WHAT IS THE STRANGEST FACT YOU HAVE LEARNED?

Hmmm....I remember being blown away by some of the things I learned about spiders, and how they turn the insides of their victims into liquid and then suck the liquid out of the shell. I think that kind of thing is COOL! And I learned so many interesting things about Darwin - like all of the things he studied at length, including earthworms and coral reefs.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR LATEST WORK.

I'm working on a manuscript about Gandhi.

This book is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Great Kid Books blog.