Nonfiction Monday: Amy's Light

Amy's Light
Written and Illustrated by Robert Nutt
32 Pages, Ages 4-8
Dawn Publications, 2010
Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher
Bio by Laura Crawford

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

Tucked in her bed on a warm summer night, Amy is mesmerized by the shadows dancing on her walls. She jumps out of bed and looks out her window.

Out in her yard
such spectacular sights....
billions and zillions
of flickering lights.

The magical light of fireflies draws Amy out into the yard.

Now she ran, then she jumped,
as she gathered with glee,
first thirteen, then sixteen,
and now twenty-three.

Amy admires her jar of fireflies, but quickly becomes sad when they stop shining their beautiful light. Amy soon realizes that in order to be truly happy and full of light, the fireflies need to be free.

She ran to the window,
took the lid off to see,
and the lights became brighter,
now suddenly set free!

Robert Nutt's beautiful book also has interesting and educational back matter. Readers will learn what inspired this story and also lots of firefly facts. Did you know that there are over 200 species of fireflies in North America and over 2000 throughout the world?

View the book trailer for Amy's Light here.

As Robert Nutt and his wife walked down the street in Asheville, North Carolina, he was inspired when he saw a house with a yard filled with flickering lights. That night as he lay in bed, Robert began writing Amy's Light. "It just started spilling out of me, and I wrote it down," Robert said. As an experieiced designer, he used pictures of his own daughter as the basis of the photo-illustrations for the book. Amy's Light is his first book.

This book is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Lori Calabrese Writes blog.

Nonfiction Monday: Lily's Victory Garden

Lily’s Victory Garden

by Helen L. Wilbur

Illustrated by Robert Gantt Steele
Ages 4 and up, 32 pages
Sleeping Bear Press, 2010

Reviewed by Heidi Bee Roemer

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

Eleven-year-old Lily dreams of someday having a big garden of her own. One day she learns that her town is offering a lottery for land plots for Victory Gardens. Lily tries to apply, but is told that she’s underage. Undeterred, Lily summons her courage and asks her cranky neighbor, Mr. Bishop, if he’d be willing to let her plant a Victory Garden on a small portion of his land. Reluctantly, he agrees, cautioning Lily not to disturb his wife who is grief-stricken over the loss of their son, killed in action. Eagerly, Lily prepares the soil and plants seeds. As beets, beans, and carrots blossom, so does Lily’s friendship with Mrs. Bishop. Lily discovers that a garden is not just where vegetables and flowers thrive, but a place where a fragile human heart can be nurtured and find healing, too.
Old-fashion seed packets decorate the end pages while charming, full-page watercolor illustrations take readers back to America’s "yesteryear" through accurate depictions of 1940’s clothing fashions, car models, and building styles. This story set during WWII offers opportunities for discussion on topics such as community spirit, patriotism, civic duty, rationing, overcoming obstacles, loss of a loved one, and, of course, gardening and its therapeutic effect. The book’s final two pages, "World War II and the Home Front," contain information about wartime recycling, rationing, Victory Gardens, and more. Check out Sleeping Bear Press’ fabulous collection of classroom worksheets in this 26-Page Teachers’ Guide: http://www.gale.cengage.com/pdf/TeachersGuides/LilyGuide.pdf

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by 100 Scope Notes blog.

Nonfiction Monday: Older Than the Stars

Older Than the Stars
Written by Karen C. Fox
Illustrated by Nancy Davis
Ages 4-8, 32 Pages
Charlesbridge, 2010
Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher
Bio by Laura Crawford
Book Source: We would like to thank Charlesbridge Publishing for providing a copy of this book for review.
Told in a “House That Jack Built” style of cumulative rhyme and paired with fact-filled side bars, Older Than the Stars explains the Big Bang Theory of how our universe came to be. The bold illustrations that pop with oranges, reds, pinks and purples and the fun rhyme will entertain and educate younger children.

This is the star of red hot stuff
that burst from the gas in a giant puff
that spun from the blocks
that formed from the bits
that were born in the bang
when the world began.

While the rhyming text is fun, it is the side bars that provide the meaty information for older children to really dig in, learn and understand this scientific theory. Back matter includes a timeline of the universe and a glossary of terms.
On the whole, the art and text present scientific information clearly and in an enjoyable way!

Karen C. Fox knew as a child that she wanted to be a writer and a physicist. After earning degrees from Amherst in English and physics, she began writing about science. She has worked in almost every area of communications including newspapers, magazines, radio, the web and is the author of two adult books. After two decades of being a full-time science writer, her first picture book, Older Than the Stars, was published by Charlesbridge. Karen lives near Washington, DC with her family.

This book is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Rasco From RIF blog.

Nonfiction Monday: What the Sea Saw

What the Sea Saw by Stephanie St. Pierre
Ages 4-8, 48 pages
Peachtree, 2006

Reviewed by Heidi Bee Roemer

Bio by Laura Crawford

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

Beach lover or not, readers will fall under the spell of this gentle read-aloud, as exquisite lyrical language describes the seashore’s panoramic beauty: blue sky, foaming sea, slivery fish, perfect pink shells, ripened beach plums, and a purple night full of stars. Delicious-sounding words and phrases mimic the rise and fall of ocean waves and evoke a feeling of calm. Told from the point of view of the sea and sky, the text is paired with stunning air-brush illustrations. Lush images of the gull, fish, shark, starfish, sandpiper, seaweed, lobsters, crabs, oysters, fox and spider are shown in their natural habitat. What a captivating introduction to various plants and animals that live in and near the ocean!
Junior scientists will find the final pages of the book equally intriguing: information on the ecosystem, specifically, the shoreline, dunes, and ocean, and "Eco-tips" of what to do and not do when visiting the beach. This is a fitting title for youngsters studying ecosystems and a mesmerizing tribute to ocean life.

Stephanie St. Pierre has been writing books for young readers for over twenty years. One of her favorite topics is nature; her titles include Pill Bugs, Dragonflies, and Earwigs. Stephanie has also written many books in the Sesame Street series. When presenting to schools, she stresses the importance of how a scientist uses observation and then records it in pictures, sounds or movements. Stephanie lives in Brooklyn, New York.

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Picture Book of the Day blog.

Nonfiction Monday: Meet the Howlers!

Meet the Howlers!
Written by April Pulley Sayre
32 pages, Ages 4-7

Charlesbridge, 2010

Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher

Bio by Laura Crawford

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

They are loud, impatient and selfish. They are lazy and they do not brush their teeth. If they were people, we would say that these boys and girls are pretty ill-mannered and wild. But, they are not people. They are howler monkeys, and this behavior is just what is expected of this animal.

Using fun rhyming text paired with fun facts in prose, April Pulley Sayre introduces readers to this wet, wild, and interesting rain forest animal. We learn that howlers are named for the Woo-hoo-hoo! Ah-Uh Oh! sound that they make. We learn how they keep themselves clean, how often they sleep, what they eat, how large their family groups are, and how they mark their territory.
Back matter gives us even more insight into these fascinating creatures. If you’re looking for a nice read aloud for your rainforest unit, I highly recommend this book.

April Pulley Sayre uses her B.A. in biology from Duke University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Vermont College when creating picture books for young children. With over 55 titles to her name, she strives to educate readers about nature through unique perspectives, storytelling and the use of rhythm. She speaks to 15,000 children each year on the writing process and her adventures which include her adventures to Madagascar, Panama and the Amazon.

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