Nonfiction Monday: What's the Difference Between a Leopard and a Cheetah?

We would like to thank the Elmhurst Public Library for providing a copy of this book for review.

What’s the Difference Between a Leopard and a Cheetah?
by Lisa Bullard, illus. by Bandelin-Dacey
24 pages, ages 4-8
Picture Window Books, 2009

Leopards and cheetahs are impossible to tell apart, right? Wrong. Bullard’s book explains that while these members of the cat family have many similarities, telling them apart is easy if you know what to look for. Simple large-size text offers comparisons regarding habitat, body shape, claws, facial markings, patterned fur, speed, endurance, hunting methods, verbal communications, and life styles. Detailed, full-page watercolor illustrations depict the two cats in double-page spreads for obvious, easy-to-see comparisons. Each page also contains a brief sidebar containing a fascinating fact or statistic. Did you know that an adult leopard can weigh up to 200 pounds, and that cheetahs can run as fast as 70 miles per hour? Or that leopards can be found in more places in the world than any other cat? In addition to a final recap of the differences and similarities between the leopard and cheetah, backmatter contains a glossary, index, fun facts, and list of suggested books and websites for further study. –Review by Heidi Bee Roemer

Lisa Bullard has been writing for years- her first published work was a letter to the local newspaper when she was in grade school. Almost thirty years later, her picture book Not Enough Beds! was published. She continues to write picture books and informational books for the educational market. She enjoys doing school visits to teach students about writing and publishing. Her book You Can Write a Story assists her as she encourages young authors. Check out her website www.lisabullard.com. –Bio by Laura Crawford
This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Capstone Connect blog.

Nonfiction Monday: Fabulous Fishes

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

Fabulous Fishes, written and illustrated by Susan Stockdale
32 pages, ages 4-8
Peachtree Publishers, 2008

Welcome to the underwater world where varieties of fish abound! Stockdale’s deceptively simple text introduces readers to 20 exotic and familiar fish. Youngsters will be hooked by the rhyming, rhythmic lines: “Shiny fish, spiny fish, / Fish that hitch a ride. /Flatfish, catfish, / Fish that ride the tide.” Bold acrylic illustrations depict fish in action— diving, leaping, hitching a ride, hiding in the sand, hunting prey and glowing in the dark. Who wouldn’t be interested in learning more about the swordfish, flounder, remora, lantern fish, mudskipper, porcupine fish and others? The final two-page spread contains a brief factoid about each of the species, noting its proper name, habitat, and an unusual characteristic or behavior. Primary grade school students and young biologists in the making are sure to be reeled in by this fascinating, fun-to-read book.
–Review by Heidi Bee Roemer.

Susan Stockdale is an award winning author and illustrator. She says that her artistic talents were influenced by her childhood experiences in Miami and Ireland. She loved the bright colors she saw at Parrot Jungle and the lush Irish landscape. When studying art in college, she found herself drawn to the ‘fanciful imagery’ from her youth. Susan’s love of words and persistence came from her mother who was an author and poet. Susan has considered writing fiction, but then finds another topic that fascinates her…and she’s back to doing research! –Bio by Laura Crawford.

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Write About Now blog.

Nonfiction Monday: What Holds Us to Earth?

What Holds Us to Earth?
A Look at Gravity
By Jennifer Boothroyd
32 Pages, Ages 4-8
Lerner/ Lightning Bolt Books, 2010
Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher
Book Source: We would like to thank Lerner Publications for providing a copy of this book for review.

Waterfalls, falling leaves, and a young child racing down a slide are some of the examples used to gently introduce young readers to the concept of gravity. A baseball bat hitting a ball illustrates one example of a force stronger than nature. Readers are also introduced to the concepts of mass and weight. In this section, the author explains that thanks to gravitational pull in space, we would weigh much less in space than we do on Earth. I think I would rather go my space weight, thank you very much. J

Interesting photos accompany simple and engaging text. Back matter includes a fun activity demonstrating the concepts covered in the book. I also had the opportunity to read What Floats? What Sinks? A Look at Density. I found it to be just as well done as the gravity title. Both books are part of the Lightning Bolt Series Exploring Physical Science, and both would be a wonderful addition to any elementary classroom bookshelf or library.

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

Nonfiction Monday: Lots of Spots

Lots of Spots by Lois Ehlert
40 pages, ages 4-8
Beach Lane Books, 2010

Book Source: We would like to thank the Calumet City Public Library for providing a copy of this book for review.
This “look and listen” book, featuring a menagerie of creatures with spots, dots, stripes and streaks, has plenty of kid appeal. Each super-sized, colorful collage is fun to study. Look for the stripe that rings the pheasant’s neck, the black splotches that dot the Dalmatian’s white fur, and the Mandrill baboon’s hairy blue-striped face. Compare the zebra’s stripes to tiger’s, the Buckeye Butterfly’s ringed spots with the cheetah’s black furry ones, and the Wood Duck’s speckled breast to the distinctive markings that appear all over the baby Spotted Owl. Each eye-catching illustration is paired with a simple four-line poem. Listen to the delightful rhymes that combine fact and whimsy: “When a toad/ jumps in the air, / it shows off/ spotted underwear.” Or this: “The gaudy macaw / is so conspicuous, / trying to hide/ would be ridiculous.” In addition to the 50 featured animals, the final page includes a note from the author offering more facts about the function of animal markings. This science-and-poetry combo is sure to please emergent readers and their teachers!—Review by Heidi Bee Roemer
Lois Ehlert is a Caldecott winning illustrator. Lois grew up in a very artistic household- her family loved to create things. Her father was a woodworker and her mother was a seamstress, and she was always surrounded with materials for her creations. Using her mother’s leftover fabric or her father’s extra wood scraps, Lois was allowed to ‘leave a mess’ on her table as long as she continued to create. She encourages kids to keep their work area filled with their art supplies at all times, so when they are inspired, they can get right to work before their idea leaves!—Bio by Laura Crawford
This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Picture Book of the Day blog.

Nonfiction Monday: A Day on the Mountain

A Day on the Mountain
Written by Kevin Kurtz
Illustrated by Erin E. Hunter
32 Pages, Ages 4-8
Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2010
Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher
Book Source: We would like to thank Sylvan Dell Publishing for providing a copy of this book for review.

Come spend A Day on the Mountain where readers are introduced to a variety of animals that inhabit the different layers of the mountain. We see big horn sheep, salamanders, snow fleas and many other interesting creatures. Kurtz shares fun facts about each of these animals with his lyrical rhyming text. My favorite stanzas are:

Keep hiking up the mountain,
and it may be hard to see,
but a single Great Grey Owl
perches in a tree.

It looks like it is coughing-
a pellet drops from its beak.
It's the leftover hair and bones
of a vole it ate this week.

Back matter includes more facts about mountain ecosystems and an animal matching activity. As with all Sylvan titles, you can find even more activities on their website.
This book is a companion to A Day in the Salt Marsh by Kevin Kurtz. Both titles would be excellent additions to any study on ecosystems.
This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Madigan Reads blog.