Love 2 Learn.net

First reviewed:

June 15, 2009

Follow the Line Around the World

Author(s):

Ljungkvist, Laura

Number of pages:

32 pages

2008

Publisher:

Viking Juvenile

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

We love geography in our house! And I love it when I find books that bring geography to little ones! This picture book invites the young child to follow an imaginary line around the world, highlighting interesting facts about different places in every continent. [This review is still under construction.]

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

5-13-2010

Fun with Roman Numerals

Author(s):

David A. Adler

Illustrator(s):

Edward Miller

Number of pages:

32 pages

2008

ISBN:

9780823420605

Publisher:

Holiday House

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

I showed this book and read it aloud to my kids in Junior Classical League's last meeting, and except for one kid, the club's president and a Latin aficionado, none of us knew about the Roman numerals on the two last pages! Have fun learning!

From the publisher:

Page IV, Super Bowl XLV. Built in MMVIII. Roman numerals are everywhere---on clocks, in books, and on buildings. But what do Roman numerals mean, and how does one use them? Fun with Roman Numerals is a straightforward and appealing introduction to a timely topic. On a scale of I to X, it's an XI!

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

February 05, 2009

Fur and Feathers

Author(s):

Janet Halfmann

Illustrator(s):

Laurie Allen Klein

Number of pages:

35 pages

2010

ISBN:

9781607180753

Publisher:

Sylvan Dell Publishing

Subject(s):

Biology / Life Science

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

In Sophia's dream, all the animals had their coats blown off and so she has to make new ones for them, adding her own special touches. This is the story of "fur and feathers" which introduces young children to animal classification.

The story has a good variety of common animals with different coats. A few parts are a bit contrived, like the frog finding the slime, but otherwise the story is engaging. The "For Creative Minds" section at the end of the book contains activities based on animal classification.

Most of each two-page spread is dedicated to the lovely artwork of animals in Sophia's bedroom. You can see a preview document or video at http://www.sylvandellpublishing.com/bookpage.php?id=FurFeathers

Fur and Feathers is a wonderful beginning book to introduce children to scientific classification, and even to good observation. Read this before your next trip to the zoo!

Reviewed by:

Kris Correira

First reviewed:

5-21-2011

Galileo's Leaning Tower Experiment

Author(s):

Wendy Macdonald

Illustrator(s):

Paolo Rui

Number of pages:

32 pages

2009

ISBN:

9781570918698

Publisher:

Charlesbridge

Binding:

Glued Hardcover

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

Science readers are to be found if you look around enough as this book demonstrates. It is the fictional story of Massimo, a boy who regularly throws his uncle's lunch off a bridge to his boat as his uncle rows by below. Galileo happens to see that the bread and the cheese land at the same time. The story ends atop the leaning Tower of Pisa, as legend suggests Galileo did.

The illustrations are a little disappointing, the people in particular. The story is sometimes forced as math and science readers often are; however, overall it is a great tale that teaches a basic principle of physics sure to have your children dropping objects from heights. It even alludes to Galileo's ramp experiments on acceleration. The last page briefly fills in the reader on the period in history, what in the story is fact and fiction, and the formula for calculating speed.

Overall this is a great introductory physics science book.

Reviewed by:

Kris Correira

First reviewed:

07/17/2010

Galileo's Leaning Tower Experiment

Author(s):

Wendy Macdonald

Illustrator(s):

Paolo Rui

Number of pages:

32 pages

2009

ISBN:

9781570918698

Publisher:

Charlesbridge

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

Additional review: World Geography, World History, science... and some creative fictional characters as well! All in a beautiful information Picture Book.

The story of the legendary Leaning Tower of Pisa experiment by Galileo is brought to life here around the story of a boy, Massimo, who was very clever, and dropped his father's lunch from a bridge everyday in calculating motions... until a passer-by professor named Galileo witnesses it and rethinks the whole Aristotelian notion on the subject!

The pictures are colorful, warm and very pleasant, and some of the angles are taken from delightful perspectives!

A gem. A very nice way to introduce children to Galileo and to some concepts of Physics.

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

October 14, 2009

Good Night, Little Sea Otter

Author(s):

Janet Halfmann

Illustrator(s):

Wish Williams

2010

ISBN:

1595722546

Publisher:

Star Bright Books

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Biology / Life Science

Grade / Age level:

Preschool

Resource Type:

Review:

This sweet book is about Little Sea Otter saying good night to all sorts of ocean friends. While it makes a wonderful bedtime book, the illustrations deserve some time to be admired as you read through it. The story is straightforward, and yet contains enough tidbits to include it in an ocean study. The illustrations are full of color, bringing alive Little Sea Otter's story. You can preview the book at Star Bright Books: http://www.starbrightbooks.org/details.php?id=300

Reviewed by:

Kris Correira

First reviewed:

4-17-2011

Greater Estimations

Author(s):

Bruce Goldstone

Number of pages:

31 pages

2008

ISBN:

9781250079619

Publisher:

Henry Holt & Company

Subject(s):

Math

Grade / Age level:

Elementary

Resource Type:

Review:

You may have enjoyed, like we have, Great Estimations in the past. I was happy to find in the library this week a brand new sequel by the same author!

Greater Estimations deals still with estimations, as as the cover says, it deals with greater estimations. Be prepared for some large numbers, and if you read it aloud it may generate some fun discussions! I had lunch today with my friend and neighbor Mary Daly, the author of the well-known homeschool science program entitled The Universe in My Hands, and over some awesome enchiladas after our bishop's pro-life mass we discussed how so few people have a good grasp of how many a million is. Or even one thousand. We went on to estimate the chips in the basket next to the yummy salsa!

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

January 22, 2009

Happy Birth Day!

Author(s):

Robie H. Harris

Illustrator(s):

Michael Emberley

Number of pages:

24 pages

1996

Publisher:

Candlewick Press

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Subject(s):

Stories for Children

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

This is a simple story of a mother describing her baby's first day after birth. It focuses on how the baby looks and acts and how much the baby is loved by the parents and extended family. The best part, I think, are the illustrations. The illustrator has wonderfully captured the lovable yet wrinkly face of a newborn and the beautiful excitement and exhaustion of bringing a new life into the world. It is a wonderful book for toddlers and other young children to read while anticipating the arrival of a new sibling.

Reviewed by:

Alicia Van Hecke

First reviewed:

6-22-04

How Do Bees Make Honey?

Author(s):

Anna Claybourne

Number of pages:

24 pages

1994

ISBN:

9780746017654

Publisher:

Usborne

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Insects and Arthropods

Grade / Age level:

Preschool

Kindergarten

Resource Type: