JALEN'S BIG CITY LIFE: Four Chapter Books, an Author Interview, and a Giveaway

 Dorothy Price and I go way back. We were members of the Charlotte SCBWI critique group I don't know how many years ago! I was delighted to share her debut picture book, Nana's Favorite Things, and today I'm happy to share her new chapter book series, JALEN'S BIG CITY LIFE (Capstone: August 2022). The bright, lively illustrations are by Shiane Salabie. 

Each three-chapter book begins by introducing 7-year-old Jalen, his family, friends, and his city apartment. Every book shows Jalen on an adventure in which he has a problem to solve. Written for K-2 readers, there is a glossary, activity, and two pages titled "Let's Talk" and "Let's Write." Teachers will love how these pages can be used to build on their students' reading experience.

FRIENDSHIP FLOWERS

Jalen's got a problem. He wants to go with his grandparents to the Flower Festival but he also wants to go to the zoo with his friends. He decides he can do both until delays make him nervous. He finds a way to resolve the situation and in the end, gets to share a special flower with his friends. 

BONUS: Nana is a botanist and Pop-Pop changes baby Maya's diaper.

LAUNDRY DAY OVERLOAD

Responsible kid that he is, J.C. volunteers to help his mother with the laundry. But, when there's only one unoccupied machine he doesn't quite follow her instructions. He loads all of the dirty clothes into the machine and since there are extra clothes...that calls for extra detergent, right? Wrong! When the washing machine overflows, J.C. finds the maintenance man. Between the two of them, they suck up the suds and J.C. learns an important lesson. 

BONUS: Without preaching to the reader, J.C. learns there are consequences to not following directions.

MUSEUM MIX-UP

J.C. and his classmates are excited about going to the Famous Black Americans Museum. He's doubly excited because his artist father is one of the chaperones. But things get tricky when J.C.'s group gets separated from the other students. Fortunately, J.C. had studied a map and was able to lead his group through the museum. The kids are inspired by the men and women they learn about and J.C. saves the day.

BONUS: The fun page at the end when J.C.'s father can't find his way home.

SHARING THE MOUND

Since baseball used to be J.C's favorite sport in his old neighborhood, he signs up to be on a community team--expecting he'll impress his friends with his skills. But things don't turn out as he plans. After he strikes out and doesn't get to show off his pitching talents, he feels bad. In the end, he gets a home run but tells his friends that the best part was playing with his friends.

BONUS: I loved it when J.C. gave up his goal of being the best and decided to play in order to have fun. YAY, J.C!  (And YAY for Dorothy who wrote that line.😀)

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

CAROL: What was your inspiration for Jalen and his adventures? 

DOROTHY: The inspiration for this series came from personal experience visiting my grandmother, aunts, and cousin in New York City growing up. I spent many weekends in their apartment building and had tons of wonderful memories to lean on.

CAROL: How did you find Capstone? Did you query them or find their call for submissions through Twitter? 

DOROTHY: Jalen's Big City Life was the result of my former agent submitting a picture book I wrote, that the editors passed on. But since the setting was similar to a series they were looking to publish, they asked me if I was interested in writing it. And of course, I said, yes!

CAROL: I know Capstone publishes for the school/library market. Did you write these as work-for-hire? Were there specific guidelines you had to follow in terms of vocabulary or Lexile level? 

DOROTHY: Yes, the series was a work-for-hire. But I doubt I would have been selected, had it not been for my agent. And yes, there were specific vocabulary, sentence lengths, and Lexile levels specifically for grades K-2. That was new for me, but I always wanted to write chapter books, so I enjoyed learning the process since it is different from writing picture books.

CAROL: Did you pick the subject matter for each book or did Capstone?

DOROTHY:  Capstone wanted a Black boy joy chapter book series (set in a big city) and that's pretty much all they gave me to go on. So I created a list of story ideas, and they selected the four they liked best. Those ideas became the four that are now published!

CAROL: How did winning the We Need Diverse Mentorship program further your writing career?

DOROTHY Winning the mentorship was the confirmation I needed to keep writing after years of rejection. Had I not entered the mentorship program, I never would've won, which may have been the end of my writing career. So I have to give a huge thank you to Tara Cattie for nudging me to apply!

For more information about Dorothy, visit her website or read this interview on the Capstone website.  You can also find her on Twitter. 

GIVEAWAY

To celebrate Dorothy's debut chapter books, I'm going to give you lots of chances to win this four-book set. Make sure you leave your name and email address in the comments if you are new to my blog. Every week folks leave anonymous entries (or just a first name) and these won't qualify. You can also email me if you don't want to share your email publicly.

1. If you follow my blog and leave a comment I'll count your name twice.

2. If you become a new follower I'll count your name three times.

3. If you share this post on social media, I'll give you an extra chance. Make sure you tell me what you do!

4. If you are a teacher, media specialist, or home school educator I'll give you another extra chance. 

GIVEAWAY ENDS 8 PM on September 21st. So get, moving!

DAUGHTER OF THE DEEP and 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA: Book Comparisons by Guest Blogger, Elliott Kurta

        REVIEW 

        Rick Riordan’s latest middle-school adaptation of mythology, Daughter of the Deep is a fast-paced, ocean-spanning tale, featuring protagonist Ana Dakkar. Taking inspiration from Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the novel features many of Captain Nemo’s inventions while still remaining engaging to a modern audience.

            Daughter of the Deep’s strong point—the witty dialogue accentuated by a diverse and vivid cast—addresses 20,000 Leagues’ weaknesses. Although 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a perfect adventure novel, backed with such thorough explanations that it seems believable, the story remains superficially interesting. Pierre Aronnax’s descriptions of his adventures are certainly thrilling, but the book ultimately fails to invest the readers personally in the ongoing story. A small cast of characters adds to these detriments. The only characters in the story are Aronnax, a scientist of marine biology; Conseil, Aronnax’s companion; Ned Land, a short-tempered harpoonist; and Captain Nemo, the withdrawn and sullen commander of the Nautilus.

            But what 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea lacks in characterization, it makes up for with a series of wild explorations. From ancient volcanoes and submerged cities to underwater hunting expeditions and glacial exploration, the novel doesn’t hesitate to describe adventures that remain fantastical even over a hundred and fifty years later. Daughter of the Deep, however, stays true to Rick Riordan’s conflict-centric writing style, moving quickly between each of the challenges Ana faces. There’s no shortage to the trouble she finds herself in, ranging from breaking a code of whale song to outwitting a hostile submarine in a marine battle.

            If anything, Daughter of the Deep only showcases the versatility of Rick Riordan’s writing. The story manages to feature several elements from The Mysterious Island, which explores in-depth Captain Nemo’s past. Even so, the story is in no way reliant on Verne’s earlier storytelling, even going so far as to adapt Nemo’s technology to modern-day equivalents. But even so, comprehensive explanations accompany every mention of futuristic technology, as seen in this excerpt from page 189:

            “Super-cavitation…?” … I start to hum “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” in my head, but I’m pretty sure that’s a different concept.

            …

            “Cav-drive is next level propulsion,” Nelinha explains. “The world’s best navies are researching it now, but no one has gotten it to work yet. You create a sheath of air around the nose of the sub, so you have zero water resistance. Then BANG. You hit the engine and… well, in theory you could shoot across the ocean at any depth at extreme velocity, more like a bullet than a boat.”

            Even though the book does an excellent job of keeping readers engaged and entertained throughout each of the short chapters, the occasional bout of odd phrasing often throws off the rhythm of the book. Missed contractions are present every few chapters, just often enough that most readers will notice the issue as it continues to recur.

            Overall, both books have their flaws and areas where they set themselves apart. 20,000 Leagues may be hard to follow due to overly complicated phrasing, but it makes up for it with unique, if impersonal descriptions of exotic locations. Daughter of the Deep is better suited for middle-schoolers, with a wry main character and non-stop action. And while neither book is superior, both are most definitely worth reading.

Elliott is a prolific reader of various genres 
who is more than happy to share his opinions on books.
 In his free time, he enjoys writing, reading, and running. 
He is a 9th-grade student in Charlotte, NC. 

 A NOTE FROM ELLIOTT

The title, 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas, was originally mistranslated. Since then, it’s been discovered that 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas refers to the fact that Captain Nemo travels a total of 20,000 leagues, or 60,000 miles, through the world’s oceans over the course of the eponymous book. If Captain Nemo had indeed dived to a depth of 60,000 miles, as the book seems to suggest, he would have broken through the other side of the earth after the first 8,000 miles, passed the Karman line after another 62, and then found himself in deep space, roughly 52,000 miles above the earth.

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to Virginia Dennison who won The Black Hole Debacle and to Marci Whitehurst who won There Was A Hole from last week's blog post. Thanks to everyone who entered. More giveaways coming up soon!

Don't forget to check out Greg Pattridge's great Always in the Middle blog for more Middle Grade reviews.

I Read Two "Hole" Books: 2 Picture Book Reviews, 2 Giveaways, and 1 Mini-Author Interview

I have received so many picture books from Sleeping Bear Press that I decided to double up on some of my reviews. I went through my pile and found these two with the word "Hole" in the title. They're as different as a fantasy/science book can be from a friendship/grief title. But as you'll see, either one would be an excellent addition to your home or school library.

THE BLACK HOLE DEBACLE

This book, written by Keri Claiborne Boyle and illustrated by Deborah Melmon is a fun combination of fantasy (the main character finds a black hole in her backpack) and science (two pages of back matter provide "real" information about black holes).

(By the way, both Keri and Deborah are not new to my blog. I reviewed Keri's fun book, Otis P. Oliver Protests, and showcased Deborah's art in Letters from My Tooth Fairy.)

The opening page spread shows what type of girl Jordie is,

as well as her main conflict.

That is only the beginning to Jordie's problems. On the bus the black hole snarfed down her water bottle, library books, and her friend's softball glove. At home, the black hole "gorged on her soccer ball, sheet shirt, unicorn underwear, and favorite pom-pom hat. It did, however, spit back the unicorn underwear."

The next thing she knew, her dog Neptune was gone!

She had no choice. She had to get her dog back. She opened her door, stepped to the black hole's edge, and leaped--finding herself in a world without sound so she couldn't even call her dog!

When her softball glove, homework, and dog floated by, she snatched them all up. And smart girl that she was, she also guessed that the black hole would spit out her underwear and..

she ended back at home. Unfortunately, her cosmic friend followed her home. Jodie knew "that black holes needed space. They were meant to graze galaxies and slurp stars, not dine on dogs." (Catch the pun and the alliteration?)

The next day at school Jordie found everything that had gone missing. Everything except her library books and magazines.

Jordie knew something that no other astronomer knew...

It turns out, black holes are ravenous readers. 

Awesome space/STEM book!

THERE WAS A HOLE

Now, get ready for a serious--yet beautiful--book about friendship, grief, and loss. Although the words are sparse, the marriage of Adam Lehrhaput's works and Carrie O'Neill's art, couldn't be better.

Here is the opening, poignant page.

Her daddy noticed that she was angry and tried to make her happy by giving her toys or taking her to fun places. But nothing fixed the hole. 

She ate lunch by herself and didn't join the kids in playing her favorite game. 

When Thomas asked what was wrong, Lily admitted that she had a hole. He shared his secret, "I have a hole, too."

Thomas shows her how to repair the hole by making patches representing the things Lily enjoyed and was grateful for. She made patches that represented her father, their home, and flowers. Gradually, 

"The patches didn't fix everything.

But they were a start."

The back matter addresses the idea of loss in kid-friendly language and gives directions on how to make a patch. As the author states, "I know, you don't have an actual hole. But that's okay. It's the process of making patches where the real magic happens."

AUTHOR INTERVIEW with Adam Lehrhaupt

Carol: To be honest, it took two readings for me to get the message. I kept thinking, why is there only a father in the illustrations? Then, I realized that the hole was the person who was missing in Lily's life. The "magic" of this book is how you and the illustrator show, but don't tell, the effects of loss in a person's life.

Adam: It was very important to me that I didn’t force a particular reason for the hole into the story. I wanted readers to be able to place themselves in Lily’s position no matter what caused their hole. Savvy readers needed a concrete reason for Lily and her father’s holes.  

Carol: I know authors and illustrators don’t usually communicate much during book creation. But the idea of your book depends on the illustrations showing your text. Did you include illustrator notes?

Adam: I had a few art notes in my original manuscript. The most important was at the end of the first line of text:

"Lily had a hole. (In her chest where her heart would be.)"

Carol: That was all?

Adam: Other than that, the other notes were more about explaining the patches and activities going on around Lily. I really try to give my illustrators as much freedom to express their talents as possible. So far, I’ve never been let down by the results. In fact, I am most often in love with the results.  

The treatment of the hole, the wonderful emotional subtext expressed by the dog, and the look and feel of the patches all came from my amazing illustrator. She really hit this out of the park. I couldn’t be more thrilled. 

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

If you are interested in winning either of these two books, please leave me a comment with the title preference, your name, and your email address. If you are a teacher/librarian/home educator or decide to follow my blog, I'll put your name in twice. If you prefer to contact me through email, click here. U.S. addresses only. The giveaway ends on Thursday September 8. 

Congratulations to Marci Whitehurst who won HURRICAMP from the last blog.

HURRICAMP A MG Book Review by Guest Blogger, Elliott Kurta

REVIEW

It’s summer, and eleven-year-old Laura Newman, “Noodle” to her friends, is excited to arrive at Camp Hillside, where she’ll stay for four weeks. Unfortunately, the trip goes awry before it even begins. Noodle’s sister, Jill, can’t come to summer camp with her, which means Noodle is going to be left by herself for an entire month. Wallowing in her loneliness, Noodle writes letters and ignores the other girls in her cabin. After two weeks of feeling sorry for herself, a hurricane changes Noodle’s routine. With Hurricane Hilda on the way, Noodle’s cabin, the Sandpipers, is moved into a basement after their cabin nearly collapses. Forced into close confines, Noodle starts to open up to her cabinmates. As the Sandpipers grow closer, they begin to rely on each other and bond over food fights, skunk attacks, and failed pranks. Told through Noodle’s perspective and sprinkled with illustrations, Hurricamp is a tale of one girl’s wacky summer.

Perfect for middle schoolers, Noodle’s adventures are as unpredictable as they are memorable. Noodle’s witty and at times cynical monologue guides readers through her burgeoning relationships with fellow Sandpipers and gives insight into her emotions. But the best part of Noodle’s narration would have to be her clever alliterations and comparisons. Using analogies that won’t fly over the heads of young readers, Hurricamp features all manner of scintillating language. Take, for instance, this short and yet powerful example from page 48, in which Noodle is praised by her cabin counselor:

            “It felt like the sun shone straight down on me.”

Even without a cast of intriguing characters and Noodle’s revealing dialogue, Hurricamp would still be engaging. As the 162 pages of Hurricamp may prove a challenge to elementary-school readers, six illustrations are spread throughout this novel, providing relief without being distracting. And, of course, that’s to say nothing of the mischief that the Sandpipers engage in. Noodle’s adventures serve to add even more fun to Hurricamp, but they’re also a valuable lesson about what happens when rules are broken. For example, the Sandpipers’ food fight results in finding a bear licking up their mess in the morning.

With Noodle’s immersive descriptions leading the way, Hurricamp introduces a theme that many middle-schoolers are beginning to struggle with: self-reliance. While at first Noodle uses all her free time writing letters to her parents to complain, she matures as the story progresses and learns to solve her own problems. For example, after their cabin is soaked by rain after its roof springs a leak, Noodle immediately takes charge and gets help. While Noodle’s self-confidence grows and she becomes more optimistic, her cabinmates take notice. She quickly becomes the leader of her cabin, and gains popularity at camp.

            The other Sandpipers all serve important parts in this book, and the author Steph Katzovi does a great job of introducing them and more importantly distinguishing each one. All of the girls in Noodle’s cabin are introduced in one scene, the stereotypical camp introductory activity in which everyone shares their name, where they’re from, and an interesting fact. While this set-up might seem chaotic, Noodle’s internal monologue eases each introduction. In just three pages, Noodle familiarizes herself and her audience with her cabinmates and counselor. However, each of the Sandpipers’ contrasting personalities make introducing them an easy task. From Noodle’s best-friend, Aries, to her nemeses, Holly and Tara, not a single Sandpiper fades into the background over the course of this story.

In conclusion, this novel teaches kids to problem solve and improvise while taking Noodle and the Sandpipers through a crazy series of adventures. Noodle’s inner monologue, each of her friends’ bold personalities, and the everyday obstacles the Sandpipers face all make this book a realistic and yet engaging tale. With a blend of wit and whimsy, Hurricamp is sure to please anyone who’s gone to camp or wished they could’ve.

Elliott is a prolific reader of various genres 
who is more than happy to share his opinions on books.
 In his free time, he enjoys writing, reading, and running. 
He is a ninth-grade student in Charlotte, NC. 

GIVEAWAY

If you are interested in winning this book, please leave me a comment with your name and email address by Wednesday, August 31. U.S. addresses only. If you prefer, you can enter by sending me an email. Share this post on social media or follow my blog and I'll put your name in twice. 

Congratulations to school librarian, Tammi Truax, who won THE OCEAN CALLS. 

Don't forget to visit Greg Pattridge's blog for more book reviews. 

THE OCEAN CALLS: A Picture Book Review and Giveaway

Tina Cho's book, THE OCEAN CALLS, (Penguin Random House, 2020) about the Korean Haenyeo scuba divers is informative, beautiful, and engaging. The illustrations by Jess X. Snow carry readers through this story of a young girl learning to face her fears and dive into a new adventure. As Tina explains in the back matter, the story was inspired when she watched the haenyeo tradition in South Korea.

REVIEW

This day-in-the-life story begins with Dayeon and her grandmother stretching and preparing for the day. Dayeon tells her, "I want to be a haenyeo like you...You're like a treasure-hunting mermaid."

But Dayeon remembers how frightened she was the previous summer when she jumped off a big rock. The sharks and other sea creatures that lurk in the ocean frightened her. With her grandmother's reassurance that she will teach her everything she needs to know, the two prepare for their dive. 

They each carry the tools they'll need: Grandma has what she needs to pluck treasures from the sea and Dayeon brings tools to bring treasures from the shore.

I love how the illustrator created mermaids out of their shadows!

Grandma brings up the treasures she finds--sea urchins and other sea life which she will sell or cook--and Dayeon watches. She slips into the ocean and brings pretty shells back to her grandmother who invites her to dive with her.

"What if I can't breathe? What if a shark comes? What if I can't escape?" Dayeon replies. 

The two walk into the water. When Dayeon can no longer feel the bottom, she locked hands with Grandma. "Take a deep breath, calm your mind, and then we'll dive."

Down, Down, Dayeon and Grandma dove, but...Dayeon swam right back up.

The two dive down again and Dayeon holds her breath longer, goes deeper, and sees more sparkling treasures. When dolphin arrive--a sure sign that hungry sharks will follow--they resurface and are rescued by a boat full of haenyeos. 

In the satisfying ending, Dayeon realizes that she feels at home in the sea--just like her grandmother, and the Korean "mermaids" who have gone before her. 

CURRICULUM RESOURCE

THE OCEAN CALLS  is a great book for K-third graders. It will be a good addition to oceanography studies as well as conversations about Korea, grandparents as role models, and women's roles. Tina has a complete discussion guide here.

Here is a youtube video about Haenyeo women:

And a video of Tina reading her book:

GIVEAWAY

Please leave a comment with your email address if you are new to my blog. U.S. addresses only. If you decide to subscribe to my blog or are an educator, I will enter your name twice. Just let me know what you do in the comments. Giveaway ends August 26.  

WRITE 2 IGNITE PRESENTS: A MASTER CLASS WITH ANNETTE WHIPPLE!

I am happy to announce that Annette Whipple, author, and speaker is Write2Ignite's next Master Class teacher. Check out her wonderful books!

HERE ARE THE      CLASS DETAILS:

WHO? Award-winning Annette Whipple, the author of 11 books with 4 more under contract.

WHAT? Writing Nonfiction for Kids and Teens. 

WHERE? On Zoom!

WHEN? September 10, 2022 

WHY? As Annette wrote in "5 Steps To Research When You're Not an Expert," 

For many of us, our goal in writing for all audiences (both Christian and general) and about all topics (both fiction and nonfiction) is to glorify God. Then the work we put into the writing is worth it (even if it is never published). 

FOR MORE INFORMATION on the 3 WORKSHOPS: Click here.

BONUS #1: Editor Wiley Blevins of Reycraft Books will be visiting the Master Class to tell YOU how to submit your manuscript to HIM!

And editor Rachel Pfeiffer of Clubhouse Jr. magazine will be there, too, to tell YOU what she’s looking for in nonfiction articles and how to submit to HER. (Can I tell you a secret? I write nonfiction for Clulbhouse Jr. and it’s one of the best ways for Kidlit writers to break into this coveted magazine!)

BONUS #2: We'll be giving away several of Annette's books including, SCURRY, RIBBIT, and WOOF! 

TO REGISTER: Click here. 

                                                    ******

On a personal note, I am going on vacation for two weeks so you won't be hearing from me for a little bit. I'm going to unplug and enjoy the Canadian Rockies on board the Rocky Mountaineer!

Rumor has it we'll be walking on an ice field. I better go pack some warmer clothes!

Congratulations to Beth Anderson who won F is for FEATHERS and to Danielle Hammelef who won Beyond the Stars.

BLOG ALERT!

I've experienced some recent issues with Blogger. Since Feedburner is no longer working, I am switching to Follow.it so that you can receive notifications of blog posts. I think most of you did not receive my 2 previous blogs so I'm linking to them here. I extended each giveaway--but enter soon!

F is for Feathers: An Informational Picture Book and Giveaway

Beyond the Stars: A MG SciFi/Fantasy Book and Giveaway

If you are new to my blog, please sign up (top right-hand corner) and Follow.it will send you an email requesting that you confirm your subscription. Please take the time for this last step. 

Thank you for following my blog! Your support means a lot to me. 

Blog Alert!

I've experienced some recent issues with Blogger and found out that Feedburner was no longer working. I think most of you did not receive my 2 previous blogs, so I'm linking them here now. I extended the giveaways. 

F is for Feathers: An Informational Picture Book and Giveaway

Beyond the Stars: A MG SciFi/Fantasy Book and Giveaway

I hope y'all get this post!

F is for Feathers: An Informational Picture Book Review and Giveaway

Along with the many fine books that Sleeping Bear Press publishes, they also have a line of alphabet books. Two years ago I reviewed H is for Honey and T is for Thor and today I'm bringing you a new title, F is for Feathers: A Bird Alphabet.  I have featured both the author, Helen Wilbur, and the illustrator, Andy Atkins on my blog. I am happy to share another one of their beautiful STEM books.

Each of the alphabet books in this series combines poetry that is accessible to younger readers and text that 2-4th graders will understand. 

REVIEW

From the publisher's cover sheet:

Grab your binoculars, this new alphabet tour by Helen L. Wilbur is a grand exploration into all things birds! With over 10,000 bird species on Earth, there is plenty to explore. The featured creatures vary in size, shape, color, and abilities. And besides being beautiful to look, at birds are a critical part of our ecosystems and support biodiversity on our planet.

Every page teaches about either bird anatomy, types of birds, or a vast variety of related concepts such as their behavior and language, geographic range, migration, threats, and the role of an ornithologist. 

Here is some of what I learned and enjoyed in F is for Feathers.

B is for Beak

Did you know that the shape and size of a bird's beak depend on the food it eats?  

Catching insects in the air,

cracking nuts and seeds,

sipping nectar, peeling fruit,

breaks show how each bird feeds.

C is for Chickadees and Caching 

Chickadees cache hundreds of seeds and insects each day and remembers them in the winter. Did you know that chickadees add more dee notes to the chick-a-dee-dee to give out a predator call?

F is for Feathers

Soft and bright, strong and light,

perfectly designed for flight,

for keeping warm and dry and sleek,

feathers make all birds unique.

H is for Habitat

J is for Jays

Jays, ravens, crows and magpies belong to the corvid family of birds. Corvids can be loud and annoying and are treated as nuisance birds. But cross them at your peril. Crows can remember your face and they carry grudges.

L is for Lovebirds

Although this entry focused mostly on lovebird parrots, it also mentioned other bird families that begin with courtship. One of the birds that Helen Wilbur mentions is the sand crane. Here's a video of cranes I've seen in Florida. Skip the ads and enjoy!

N is for Nests

Who doesn't remember the joy of finding a birds nest? My grandchildren have been enjoying watching brown thrashers build their next inside their stacked garden in Charlotte, NC.

Photographs courtesy C. Kasten

When I think of nests, I also think of my FB friend, Melodye Shore who posts beautiful pictures she takes of hummingbirds from her garden in coastal Orange County, California. 

This verse in F is for Feathers reminded me of the bluebird boxes I saw on a golf course in Tennessee.

   

Come along the bluebird trail,

nesting boxes in a row.

Safe and warm in cozy homes,

little baby bluebirds grow.

U is for Updraft

This page definitely belongs in a book about birds. The text discuses how birds ride on spiraling thermals enabling to soar over many miles during migrations.

Z is for Zones

In this perfect ending to this beautiful and informative book, the information on this page discusses the four north-south flyway zones in North America and how important they are to migrating birds.

CURRICULUM RESOURCE

This book is a shoo-in as an important resource for elementary school educators. The front matter includes a beautiful illustration of the parts of a bird and a glossary. The back matter include suggestions on identifying and helping birds.

GIVEAWAY

Leave a comment by August 8 if you are interested in winning this book. Please leave your name and email address if you are new to my blog. If you prefer, drop me a note here. If you are a librarian or educator, your name will be entered twice. U.S. addresses only. 

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following me!