Nonfiction Monday: Over in Australia

Over in Australia: Amazing Animals Down Under
Written by Marianne Berkes
Illustrated by Jill Dubin
32 Pages, Ages 3-8
Dawn Publications, 2011
Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher

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

Travel down under with author Marianne Berkes and learn about animal babies native to Australia. Readers count to ten, while watching the babies snap, hop, munch, splash and more all across the outback. Readers also get to enjoy Marianne’s snappy sing song rhyming text:

Over in Australia
In a tree that reached to heaven
Lived a furry sugar glider
And her little joeys seven.
“Lap,” said the mother.
“We lap,” said the seven.
So they lapped on the sap
In a tree that reached to heaven.

Back matter includes a map to help readers find out what part of the country they would encounter each animal featured. It also includes more facts about the animals and tips from the author and illustrator. This book would make a great addition to any early elementary unit on Australia.

Learn more about Marianne Berkes and her books by clicking on her interview link on the side of the page.

This book is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by The Miss Rumphius Effect blog.

Nonfiction Monday: More Life-Size Zoo

We would like to thank Seven Footer Press for providing a copy of this book for review.

More Life-Size Zoo by Teruyuki Komiya
Seven Footer Press, 2010
Ages 4-8, 48 pages

A sequel to the “wildly acclaimed” Life-Size Zoo, (a Parents' Choice Gold Award winner), Komiya’s newest release offers readers another chance to view amazing eye-popping photos of wild animals, many with fold out pages. The actual-size photo of a male orangutan’s face covers a double page spread. His grimace seems to say, “Don’t mess with me!” Simple large-print text states that his cheek pads grow larger with age. Zoom in on the giant tortoise’s upper body; his head is the size of a man’s hand! Gaze into the spotted seal’s dark liquid eyes, study the baby gibbon’s extra-long arms and fingers, and see the similarities and differences between the cheetah and the leopard. But most astonishing of all are the full-color, up-to-four-page foldout spreads of the big guys—a female polar bear, the partial mug-shot of a humongous hippopotamus, and the poster-sized countenance of an 8-year-old male lion. Cascading down the edge of each page is a sidebar containing critter fun facts. Endpapers present snapshots of each animal and are paired with information about its size, weight, and habitat. Rated “Wow” by animal lovers around the world, this book lets you get up-close and personal to wild critters without worries about being swallowed alive. –Review by Heidi Bee Roemer
Click here to read our review of the first book in this series, Life-Size Zoo.

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

Interview With Illustrator Laurie Klein

Recently, Wild Writer Laura Crawford had the opportunity to interview nonfiction illustrator, Laurie Klein.

About Me:
I am an illustrator, and I have always wanted to draw. From my earliest childhood memories I have drawn pictures and told stories to go along with them. Besides children's books my other major influences in the picture/storytelling genre were/are: Gene London's Cartoon Corners General Store (a local children's program in Philadelphia) and all the classic Disney animated films.

My Non-fiction Picture Book:
I have 4 published children's picture books (for Sylvan Dell) out now, with a 5th coming out in Spring 2011.
"If A Dolphin Were A Fish" by Loran Wlodarski, does a compare and contrast thing with a dolphin morphing into different types of animals to demonstrate the specific feature being discussed. "Little Skink's Tail" by Janet Halfmann tells the story of a little skink who loses her tail in a tragic crow encounter and then imagines what it would be like wearing other animal tails until her own grows back. "Where Should Turtle Be?" by Susan Ring finds a little baby sea turtle lost in the woods (having taken a wrong turn due to lights) and different animals suggesting various types of turtles our little hero could attempt to be. "Fur and Feathers", also by Janet Halfmann, is a bit of a departure - being kind of a fantasy/dream story. Unable to sleep due to a wind storm, a little girl counts animals and in her dreams the storm and the animals get all squooshed together resulting in the wind blowing off all the animal's fur and feathers. The little girl winds up having to re-dress everyone using creative ingenuity and the materials found in her grandmothers sewing basket. "Meet the Planets" by John McGranagham (the 2011 book) is a fun tale about a "Best Planet in the Solar System" contest - where the reader gets to pick... well the best planet. Lots and lots of research went into the artwork for this book.

Where do I get my ideas:
Well, as an illustrator of other people's stories - the ideas come to me. Or at least the words do. How to take those words and portray them visually is a bit harder to explain. Though I guess it's pretty similar to just doing an original painting, sketch or sculpture. I do lots and lots and LOTS of research, so all that information often helps direct the look of the final artwork.

Hardest part of writing:
For me - getting started. Though I am an illustrator I also love the written word, and have notebooks full of story ideas. My dream is to become an "Illustrator-slash-Author" but while I have no problem coming up with outlines and notes and characters and scenes I have a much harder time actually putting all that together into narrative form. I keep trying however - so, fingers crossed, I hope one day to finish one of my stories (I'm currently excited about 2... so we'll see).

Strangest fact learned:
That polar bear skin is black and their fur is actually clear (that's a great ice-breaker when doing school talks). The planet book also resulted in so much information I literally made a 12 page notebook of collateral facts to go along with the finished illustrations and am trying to figure out what to do with it.

Anything to add:
Just that I love being part of the book/writer/illustrator/publisher/book shop community. My house is full of books. I always have the one by my side. I cannot imagine ever living without the written word and the amazing eclectic fine art found in books and do everything in my power to encourage children and adults to read, read, READ!

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by NC Teacher Stuff blog.

Nonfiction Monday: Interview with Kelly Milner Halls

Instead of our regular review feature, this week wild writer Laura Crawford shares an interview she did with one of our favorite nonfiction writers, Kelly Milner Halls. Helly's latest books are Saving the Baghdad Zoo and Dinosaur Parade. You can read more about Kelly and all of her fabulous books on her Wonders of Weird website.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
I've been writing nonfiction for young readers for almost 20 years now. I started with magazines and newspaper sections because it was most like journalism, which I studied in college. After ten years and 1,500 articles and book reviews, I made the leap to nonfiction books for kids ten years ago, and I've been writing book ever since. I specialize in quirky nonfiction books that engage reluctant readers. I love anything "weird" or "odd."

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR NONFICTION IDEAS?
I get my ideas from being observant. In fact, there are more ideas than there is time to write them all. Once you get in the hang of being ever aware, finding ideas isn't a problem. I do read a lot of newspapers and I have learned to talk to any stranger willing to talk. Ideas spring from unexpected places, at times, so it's good to keep those channels open.

WHAT IS THE HARDEST PART OF WRITING?
The hardest part about writing, for me, is remembering to stay balanced. I tend to get so immersed in what I'm writing, I forget to take time to sleep or stay connected with the world. The fact that I do a LOT of school visits helps. Nothing like hanging out with schools and kids to remind you why you do this. But that external piece is really important.


WHAT IS THE STRANGEST FACT YOU HAVE LEARNED?
I deal in strange facts, so you'd need a lot of room to list all the strange facts I've unearthed, from fossilized dinosaur skin and poo to Bigfoot tracks to mummified lions. Strange is what I do, and I love it.

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Tales From The Rushmore Kid.

Nonfiction Monday: Arctic Lights Arctic Nights

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

Arctic Lights Arctic Nights
by Debbie S. Miller
32 pages, ages 5-9
Walker and Company, 2003

Most children know Alaska is a place of ice and snow. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. Using simple yet eloquent language, this Alaskan author describes the breathtaking beauty of the seasons and the changes in Arctic light. She also records observations of wildlife that have successfully adapted to this harsh environment. Van Zyke’s cool-palette, acrylic illustrations depict the moose, hare, crane, caribou, and others, as they forage for food, migrate, and hibernate over the course of one year.

Like a scientific journal with monthly entries, the top of each page notes the date, the average temperature highs and lows, the time of sunrise and sunset, and the number of hours the sun shines each day. For example, on July 21, which marks the beginning of the summer solstice, the sun shines for almost 22 hours! Compare that to December 21, when there are less than 4 hours of daylight. As for the extreme arctic temperatures, they typically fluctuate from a pleasant 72 degrees in summer to a bitter minus 40 degrees in winter. A map of Alaska, an introductory note, and back-of-the-book glossary explains somewhat unfamiliar terms such as alpenglow, blinks, diamond dust, aurora borealis, sundogs, and vernal equinox. Scientifically accurate and lyrically delightful, it’s no surprise that Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights has garnered a number of awards and positive reviews. —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 Charlotte's Library blog.