Nonfiction Monday: Elephants: Life in the Wild

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Attention, Readers! Win your very own autographed copy of Monica Kulling’s fascinating new release, ALL ABOARD! ELIJAH McCOY’S STEAM ENGINE. To enter, click on the Follow button and/or leave a comment. Our winner will be notified on Friday, December 3rd.

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

Elephants: Life in the Wild
by Monica Kulling, Ilus. by Michael Maydek
48 pages, ages 4-8
Random House Books for Young Readers, 2000

Are you looking for an engaging book about African and Asian elephants? This is it! Kulling’s easy-reader is jam-packed with intriguing ele-facts. Elephants, the largest land animal, can weigh up to 15,000 pounds—that’s as much as a school bus! These humungous herbivores chow down 20 hours every day, packing away 400 pounds of grass, leaves, and bark. Some readers may be surprised to learn that elephants can live in several habitats—savannahs, rain forests, and even the desert. What other surprising facts will readers learn? The elephant’s truck is strong enough to yank up a tree by its roots, yet delicate enough to pluck a blade of grass. A baby elephant needs almost a week to learn how to drink water with its trunk. Elephants, like people, can be left or right-handed, using one tusk more than the other to dig for water or tear bark off trees.

Realistic, muted watercolors depict elephants in their natural settings, while simple text, averaging 30 words per page, offer facts about the elephants’ family structure, behavior, ability to communicate, intelligence, habitat, diet, and survival techniques. Here’s an informative book that will help emergent readers better understand and appreciate these fascinating creatures of the wild. Check out other titles in Golden Books’ acclaimed Road to Reading Series. Be sure to look up Monica’s newest title, All Aboard!, a delightful biography about Eiljah McCoy and the invention of the steam engine.
—Reviewed by Heidi Bee Roemer

Interview with Monica Kulling

Tell us about yourself.
I live in a big city now — Toronto, Ontario — but grew up in a small town, Chilliwack, in the heart of the Fraser Valley in British Columbia. The natural world was just outside my door. I hiked and rode my bike everywhere. In the early mornings, I would often ride my bike up a nearby mountain, biking as far as I could and hiking the rest of the way. There was a paved road running up the mountain and one or two houses. At the top, I could view the wide, meandering Fraser River and trees as far as the eye could see.

I began writing in my teens. I wrote poetry and nothing but poetry. Then I went to university to study creative writing and in the process took a course in children’s literature. I immediately fell in love with all the wonderful, imaginative works and began writing my own stories and poems for children. My first picture book was published in 1992.

Where do you get your non-fiction ideas?
I get ideas from everywhere—the Internet, the newspaper, listening to people. The world is full of fascinating ideas and not enough time to capture them on paper. When an idea pops out at me, I scribble it down on my handy notepad. I’m never without my handy notepad.

What is the hardest part of writing?
Sticking with a project until it’s finished.

What is the strangest fact you have learned?
I don’t know about strange, but I’ve come across many surprising facts in my research for the animal books and biographies. For example, in researching Life In the Wild: Elephants, I was surprised to learn that elephants mourn when one of their group dies. They even gather round to pay their respects. That made me pause.

In the research I did for It’s A Snap! George Eastman’s First Photograph, I thought it strange that a wealthy, successful man should shoot himself upon learning that he had a debilitating ailment. But Eastman had seen his mother confined to a wheelchair and he didn’t want the same for himself.

What are you currently working on?
I am writing another biography of a 19th century African-American inventor and gathering notes for a middle-grade novel. –Interview by Laura Crawford.

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

Nonfiction Monday: Champ's Story

Champ’s Story: Dogs Get Cancer Too!
By Sherry North
Illustrated by Kathleen Rietz
Ages 4-8, 32 Pages
Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2010
Reviewed by Kimberly Hutmacher

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

Like most dogs, Champ begins this story happy and active. One of her favorite ways to spend her time is running an obstacle course at a local park. One day, after her run, Champ’s owner, Cody, discovers a bump on Champ’s stomach. Readers soon learn that Champ has cancer. Touching illustrations depict Champ’s treatments, her good days and bad days and the constant support of her friend Cody.

The story and back matter introduce the concept of cancer, possible treatments and facts about the disease. Readers also learn about coping with both the disease and treatments, and they learn tips for cancer prevention. The text educates readers and also offers hope and inspiration to those who have pets, family or friends dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

Visit Sylvan Dell Publishing’s website to learn more about Champ and to view the many classroom activities designed to accompany this book.

Sherry North began writing stories for children in 1999 when she was a producer for CNN Headline News. She found it refreshing to take out a notebook and 'make stuff up' after spending her day focusing on the facts. She is the author of six books for children and has had many articles published in Highlights magazine. She is currently a freelance writer and educational television producer in Florida.


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

Nonfiction Monday: Survival at 40 Below

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

Survival at 40 Below by Debbie S. Miller
illus. by Jon Van Zyle
40 pages, ages 9-12
Walker Books for Young Readers, 2010

Have you ever wondered how animals survive the frigid temperatures, deep snow, and biting winds of an Arctic winter? As Miller explains, arctic animals have adapted various ways to prepare, adapt, and endure one of the harshest environments on Earth. Caribou pack on a thick layer of fat during their summer grazing. Red squirrels, chickadees, and weasels stash food for the coming winter. Musk oxen sport small ears, short legs, and a fluffy underwool that offers extra warmth. In addition to its thick, pillowy tail, the arctic fox has two winter coats, an insulating underfur and a thick outer coat. Most readers know that grizzlies hibernate, but so do frogs and ground squirrels. One amazing arctic survivor is the Alaska blackfish, a bottom feeder that can breathe through its mouth! It surfaces in winter and inhales oxygen through ice holes. Equally impressive are creatures whose bodies produce antifreeze-like fluids that keep them from freezing to death. Coming full circle, melting snow signals the onset of spring and renewal of life. True-to-life animal close-ups and the Alaskan landscape are skillfully presented in Van Zyle’s muted, acrylic illustrations. Author’s Note, Alaskan map, glossary, book and website lists are included. Readers will be intrigued by the chart showing the amazing record high and low temperatures of the region. Fascinating! –Review by Heidi Bee Roemer
Debbie Miller can look out her window in Alaska and see a moose walking by and a chickadee feeding. As a former teacher, one of her goals is to share the wonders and beauty of Alaska through writing nonfiction for children. Debbie says ‘it’s my hope that readers will truly experience the environment of Alaska and the lives of animals when reading my books.’ She works closely with illustrator Jon Van Zyle, whose beautiful paintings reflect the Alaskan Wilderness. This duo has worked together on nine picture books. Check out her interactive website- www.debbiemilleralaska.com. –Bio by Laura Crawford
This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by In Need of Chocolate blog.

Interview with Author Melissa Stewart

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
I have written about 130 books about science and nature for kids, and I feel very lucky to have such an awesome job. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do. I get to read and write about interesting things all day long. I can set my own schedule. And since my office is just ten steps from my bedroom, I can even work in my pajamas if I want to. How cool is that!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK.
My latest picture book, A Place for Frogs (Peachtree, 2010), is part of a group of books that describe the efforts of scientists and ordinary citizens to save endangered animals and their habitats. These books began with A Place for Butterflies (Peachtree, 2006). A Place for Birds was published in 2009, and A Place for Fish is scheduled to come out in 2011. Two more books are in the works.

In each of the books, every two-page spread has two levels of text—a simpler main text and a more sophisticated extended sidebar. This format is perfect for a young child reading with a parent or teacher. The books are also ideal for Reading Buddy programs, which pair a first or second grader with an older child. Each student can read text written at his or her own level. Then they can look at the beautiful art created by the uber-talented Higgins Bond and discuss the content together.

WHERE DO GET YOUR NONFICTION IDEAS?
They come from everywhere—things I read, people I talk to, experiences I have. I never know when inspiration might strike, so I carry a little notebook with me wherever I go.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER THE HARDEST PART ABOUT WRITING?
I’d have to say creating and maintaining voice. I write in a variety of different voices, depending on the topic, grade level, and the intent of the publisher. Switching back and forth between projects that involve different voices takes a lot of energy and concentration.

WHAT IS THE STRANGEST FACT YOU HAVE LEARNED?
Oh gee, that’s a hard question. I think it would have to be all the amazing ways other animals use spit—to build homes, to attract mates, to attack enemies, to paralyze prey, to cool their bodies, to heal wounds, to shoot prey out of the air. The list goes on and on.

IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
Thanks so much for maintaining this blog. It’s great to see a place where parents, grandparents, teachers, and librarians can go to find great nature-themed books for kids.

Nonfiction Monday: Why Are Animals Orange?

Why Are Animals Orange?
By Melissa Stewart
32 pages, Ages 4-8
Enslow Publishers, Inc. 2009
Reviewed by Kimberly Hutmacher
Bio by Laura Crawford

Book Source: We would like to thank Enslow Publishers, Inc. for providing a copy of this book for review.

Animals come in all colors of the rainbow. This book shares the fascinating reasons why some air, land and sea animals are orange. Orange helps some animals like the Scarab Beetle to blend into its surroundings and not be noticed by its predators. We learn that orange helps animals like the Golden Mantella Frog to send a message to other animals. The message that this frog sends is that it tastes bad and would not make a good meal. We see that other animals like the Panther Chameleon use their bright orange color to attract a mate. Beautiful photographs and easy-to-read text educate readers about how the color orange not only helps some animals to survive but also to thrive.

Back matter includes a guessing game, a chart displaying where in the world you might find each of the animals featured and recommendations of other books and websites where readers can find out even more on this topic. This book is part of Enslow's Rainbow of Animals Series. You can download a free educator’s guide for this book here.

Melissa Stewart is an award-winning author of over 100 books for children. She believes that firsthand research is critical, and has visited the tropical forests of Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands and East Africa. Utilizing her degrees in biology and science journalism, she was a children’s science editor for nine years. As a child, Melissa loved science, and her curiosity was sparked as she walked through the forests near her home with her father. Some of her unique subjects include grubs, maggots, fossilized feces, and dinosaur urine. Melissa is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and resides in Massachusetts.

Read our interview with Melissa Stewart here.

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