Non-Fiction Literature 2006-2007 Kris Dinnison and Peggy Johnsen

Andreasen, Dan. The Giant of Seville. Harry N. Abrams. 2007. ISBN 9780810909885. Captain Martin Van Buren is a seven feet eleven and a half inches man who has toured around the world in the circus. He arrives in Seville, Ohio, searching for a quiet home for himself and his wife (who is also a giant). This is a heartwarming story of friendship and acceptance. Notes of the life of Captain Bates is included.

Aston, Dianna Hutts. A Seed Is Sleepy. Chronicle Books. 2007. ISBN 9780811855204. Sylvia Long’s watercolors and ink are beautiful compliments to Aston’s concise and pertinent information. Great introduction to seed and plant life. The language will inspire questions, dialogue and inquiry.

Banks, Kate. Fox. Farrar, Straus & Giroux. 2007. ISBN 9780374399672. A baby fox anticipates the time when he can go out alone, but first his parent must teach him the ways of the wilderness. The wonderful rhythmic language tells the facts of the fox, while at the same time draws the reader into a pattern of anticipation. The sensuous illustrations are stunning.

Brueil, Robert O. Bob and Otto. Roaring Brook Press. 2007. ISBN 978596432031. Otto the worm is shocked to discoer that his best friend Bob is a caterpillar who emerges one day as a butterfly. Great addition to a primary collection for the butterfly unit.

Chin-Lee, Cynthia Akira to Zoltan : twenty-six men who changed the world Charlesbridge, c2006. ISBN-13: 978-1-57091-579-6 This is another ABC book, and a companion to last year's Amelia to Zora, which presented the stories of 26 women who changed the world. The explanations are brief but compelling, and the collage-style illustrations are unique. These are the kinds of biographies that can get kids started reading biographies.

Clements, Andrew. A Million Dots. Simon & Schuster, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0689858246 This is an amazing book that begins to give the reader the concept of how big a number a million really is. Bright illustrations and fun facts on every page.

Ehrhardt, Karen. This Jazz Man. Harcourt Books. 2006. ISBN 9780152053079. Presents an introduction to jazz musioc and nine well-known jazz musicisans, et the the rhythm of the traditional son, “This Old Man.” Includes brief facts about each musician. Ages 3-7. Art work is ageless.

Frasier, Debra. A Birthday Cake is No Ordinary Cake. Harcourt Children's Books, 2006. ISBN-13: 978- 0152057428 According to Frasier, to make a birthday cake you need an entire year of the earth’s cycles and seasons. Written like a recipe that connects each of our years with the wonderful things happening on the planet, this bright graphic book makes a great companion to On the Day You Were Born.

Gravett, Emily. Wolves. Simon & Schuster, 2005. Rabbits that go to the library and check out books on wolves should be careful!

Halls, Kelly Millner, et. al. Tales of the Cryptids. Darby Creek Publishing 2006. ISBN-13: 978-1581960495 This is a wonderful collection of the evidence for and against any number of creatures the world knows as cryptids. The authors let the readers decide for themselves whether each of these animals are real. They also include some proven hoaxes, as well as some animals that were cryptids that are now known to be real.

Johnson, David Snow sounds : an onomatopoeic story Houghton Mifflin, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0-618-47310-6 This is a simple but beautiful book full of wonderful language and noises. Johnson includes the scrape and beep of the snow plow, the crunch of snow, and the whisper of the falling flakes. This could inspire some really fun language play and writing.

Leedy, Loren. It’s Probably Penny. Henry Holt and Co., 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0805073898 This is the third in the series about the Boston Terrier Penny. In this book, Penny’s owner is learning about probability at school. She uses Penny to complete her math assignment. All of the books teach concepts kids need to learn in a fun and easy to understand way. Measuring Penny, Mapping Penny.

Markle, Sandra. A Mother’s Journey. Charlesbridge. 2006. ISBN 978570912612. This award winning nonfiction writer describes a mother emperor penguin’s race against time as she struggles to provide for her chick. Delicate watercolors highlight both the harsh landscape and the brilliant beauty of Antarctica. Great addition for penquin unit.

Montgomery, Si. All these books present incredible photographs and facts that illuminate each creature.

Murphy, Claire Rudolf. Children of Alcatraz, Growing up on the Rock. Walter & Co. 2006. ISBN 9780802795779. Spokane author has compiled wonderful information thanks to the generosity of the children who lived at Alcatraz sharing their memories: children of Native Americans, lighthouse keepers, military soldiers, and prison guards.

Potts, Aidan. Uneversaurus. David Fickling Books. 2006. ISBN 978=385751193. Great illustrations, wonderful information, and the theme of “What colors were dinosaurs?” threads through this delightful book. I’m buying it!

Prelutsky, Jack. Good Sports. Knopf Books, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0375837005 These are all sports poems by the very talented and entertaining Jack Prelutsky. The illustrations are by last year’s Caldecott winner Chris Raschka.

Roth, Susan L. Great Big Guinea Pigs. Bloomsbury Children’s Books. 2006. This fun and factual picture book features richly textured cut-paper illustrations that bring to life the story of the great, big, prehistoric guinea pig.

Rotner, Shelley & Anne Love Woodhull. Every Season. Roaring Brook Press. ISBN 9781596431362. Gentle, lyrical text is combined with sumptuous photographs by Shelley Rotner introduces young readers to the particular joys of each and every season.

Shore, Diane Z. and Jessica Alexander. This is the Dream. HarperCollins. 2006. ISBN 9780060555191. Powerful language moves through the gorgeous combinations of collage and painting in this book for nonviolent change celebration. This lyrical manuscript spans the years of the civil rights movement through the present day. An absolute must for any K-8 library. Shoulders, Michael D is for drum : a Native American alphabet Sleeping Bear Press , Thomson/Gale, c2006 ISBN-13: 978-1-58536-274-5 This is another in that growing series of alphabet books from Thompson Gale that includes the states, several sports, and a range of other topics. The simple rhyme combined with extended explanations of each topic makes this a book that is truly for all ages.

Sidman, Joyce. Song of the Water Boatman. Houghton Mifflin, 2005; Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow. 2006. This poet-author and illustrators allow us to discover the world of nature with simply gorgeous visuals and powerful language. I’m using these with grandchildren “at the lake!”

Stringer, Lauren Winter is the warmest season Harcourt, 2006 ISBN-13: 978-0-15-204967-6 This simple text outlines all the reasons that winter, rather than being the coldest part of the year, is actually the warmest season. Colorful, graphic illustrations pair with the text to make a very sharable book that will inspire a wealth of extension activities.

Todd, Traci N. C is for Caboose. Chronicle Books, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0811856430 This is a nice ABC book about the trains and raliroads. There are some fascinating facts and some great historical photos to illustrate.

Veit, Barbara. Who Stole My House? NorthSouth Books. 2007. ISBN 9780735821224. When little snail steps out of her house one day to take a bath, she discovers that her house is missing when she looks for it under the leaf. She asked several animals if they have stolen her house, and they in return, share knowledge of their home(s). Great addition to the “house” unit of first graders.

Wilkes, Angela. Dangerous Creatures. HoughtonMifflin, Kingfisher Knowledge series. 2007 (paperbook) ISBN 9780753461204. Great research material always from this series. Nice to see them in paperback.