The Animal Adventure's Guide by Susie Spikol (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 We received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The Animal Adventurer's Guide:
How to Prowl for an Owl, Make Snail Slime, and Catch a Frog Bare-handed -- 50 Activities to Get Wild With Animals
by Susan Spikol
Illustrations by Becca Hall
Published by Roost Books
on September 13, 2022
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 144 pages
Ages: 5 - 9 years

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Synopsis:
Calling all animal lovers! 50 hands-on activities and adventures that bring you closer to wild animals than you've ever been. 

With 50 interactive activities that include talking like a chickadee, learning to sniff like a snake, and making your own fossils--this is your guide to having fun-filled adventures that will bring you up close and personal with the wild creatures right outside your door. 


Our Thoughts:

A fantastic guide for connecting with nature and wildlife! 

This fantastic guide for kids reminds us to pay attention, practice kindness, stay safe, and to leave nature better than you found it.
It's filled with facts, diy activities, prompts for field journaling, and more, and has chapters specific to birds, mammals, herps, arthropods, and other invertebrates so your child can find and observe their favorite critters! 

The activities range in age group so this would be perfect for multiple age children or kids with differing skill sets. Some are as easy as making toilet paper roll binoculars while others have lengthy instructions and multiple steps. 

This adventure guide is perfect for children and families that love being outdoors or want to get closer to nature, armed with the safest ways to get out, observe, and interact with the wildlife around us. It will definitely prompt you to get out there and to have fun learning! 

"The small things in nature--the things we can hold, touch, or lie down next to and watch closely--these are the things that open our hearts as children. These are what remind us of our connection to one another."

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The Ocean Hero Handbook by Tessa Wardley (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 I received a temporary digital copy of this nonfiction book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The Ocean Hero Handbook:
Simple Things You Can Do To Save Our Seas
by Tessa Wardley
Published by Ivy Press
on April 19, 2022
Genre: Nonfiction
Length: 144 pages

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Synopsis:
Focusing on so much more than plastic pollution, this ahead-of-the-curve book exposes the extensive damage being done to the oceans that most of us don't know about, and what simple, everyday changes we can make to help protect our seas.

This book is a necessary call to act and educate ourselves on the damage human activity is having on our seas, and a guide to how you can help to stop it, whether you live on the coastline or hundreds of miles from the ocean. 

Shocking but enlightening, it illustrates exactly what the problems are, how they impact the ocean, why it is so important to keep our oceans healthy for our own benefit, and what we can do individually and collectively to help save our seas. 


My Thoughts:

This call-to-action handbook is perfect for young environmentalists and thalassophiles (ocean lovers). 

The Ocean Hero Handbook is an intriguing nonfiction book with seven chapters that present specific issues that the ocean faces and then shares what we can do to change the issue and why it is important for us to do so. The chapters, which cover an array of issues each, includes 'indoor', 'outdoor', 'transport', 'on holiday', 'at work', 'food & shopping', and 'clothes'. 

Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint and cut back single-use plastics. Find alternatives to waste products that clog up our waterways, learn how to reduce carbon emissions cut back on harmful chemicals.  Learn about what is destroying our land, coastlines, and waterways, and how they directly affect the ocean and the ecosystems of all the above. There's a plethora of topics from all walks of life on this planet, all aimed at helping readers be the heroes and heroines that the ocean is desperately in need of. 

   If you'd like to learn more about how we impact the earth and oceans and what you can do to make a difference, this is a great choice. I recommend it to middle-grade age readers and older. 

MORE BOOKS ABOUT PROTECTING THE OCEAN:

Kids vs Plastic by Julia Beer

Captain Aquatica's Awesome Ocean by Jess Cramp

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NatGeoKids Level 3 Fact Reader: Bling! 100 Fun Facts About Rocks and Gems by Emma Carlson Berne (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

We received a complimentary copy of this Fact Reader from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Bling!
100 Fun Facts About Rocks and Gems
by Emma Carlson Berne
Published by National Geographic Kids
on January 4, 2022
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 48 pages
Ages: 7 - 9 years

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Synopsis:

Get ready to be dazzled by some of the shiniest, most colorful, useful--and even dangerous--rocks, minerals, and gems on the planet! 

In this Level 3 reader, discover fascinating facts about the incredible rocks and minerals under our feet and deep in Earth's crust. Budding geologists will love reading about how rocks form, learning the names and features of the coolest rocks and minerals, and exploring rare and beautiful gemstones.


My Thoughts:

The level 3 Fact Readers are perfect for curious kids that are reading on their own.

Bling! features one hundred unique facts pertaining to rocks and minerals, paired with bright and colorful photographs that will keep young eyes glued to the page!  

Broken into three easy-to-read chapters, this nonfiction covers all the most important facts about rocks and gems, such as the three main types of rock, how they're formed, how they've been discovered and utilized throughout history, and more. 

There's even a handy 'Facts Roundup' page at the back of the book in case you weren't sure you caught all one-hundred facts while browsing or reading. 

There are enough facts packed into this little book to give a well-rounded introduction to the subject, making it perfect for school and home libraries or for curious little learners. 

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Little Homesteader: A Summer Treasury by Angela Ferraro-Fanning (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 We received a temporary digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Little Homesteader:
A Summer Treasury of Recipes, Crafts, and Wisdom
by Angela Ferraro-Fanning
Illustrations by Anneliesdraws
Published by Ivy Kids
on May 22, 2022
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, Nature
Length: 35 pages
Ages: 6 - 8 years

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Synopsis:

Families looking for nature-based fun away from phones and screens will adore this wholesome children's collection of cooking, crafting, and gardening projects, locally printed on 100% recycled paper. 

The latest from the Little Homesteader series, with these books readers can get creative, practice self-sufficiency skills, handcraft items for themselves or as gifts for loved ones, learn about nature and celebrate the best of each season. 


Our Thoughts:

This children's treasury of recipes, crafts, and wisdom is the perfect way to keep your family busy and happy this summer! 

This fun little book includes super cute illustrations that will appeal to little listeners and parents attempting to keep their children busy during the hot, summer months! 

Included are lots of fun activities, recipes, and more to keep you busy and crafting throughout the season. Learn how to grow tomatoes from seed and then make a tomato salad or sun-dried tomatoes from the harvest. Learn about honeybees and butterflies and what flowers to plant in your garden to attract them. Even better, learn the life cycle of a butterfly and how to observe it yourself! 
With several more recipes and activities, this fun and instructive book will keep you busy all summer long! 

This treasury is perfect for homeschoolers, wildschoolers, or just families trying to find something to do during summer breaks!

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Fossil Hunter: How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life by Cheryl Blackford (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 We received a digital copy of this children's nonfiction from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Fossil Hunter:
How Mary Anning Changed the Science of Prehistoric Life
by Cheryl Blackford
Published by Clarion Books
on January 25, 2022
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 128 pages
Ages: 10+ years

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Synopsis:
A fascinating, highly visual biography of Mary Anning, the Victorian fossil hunter who changed scientific thinking about prehistoric life and would become one of the most celebrated paleontologists of all time. Perfect for children learning about women scientists like Ada Lovelace, Jane Goodall, and Katherine Johnson. 

With engaging text, photographs, and stunning paleoart, Fossil Hunter introduces this self-taught scientist, now recognized as one of the greatest fossilists the world has ever known. 


Our Thoughts:

Mary Anning is one of the world's most celebrated paleontologists, known for discovering fossils--such as the ichthyosaurus and plesiosaurus--that would end up studied by scientists and displayed in museums. Despite all her discoveries, Mary Anning lived a life full of adversities and wasn't always accepted in the scientific community just because she was a woman. Nevertheless, she continued her studies, sketches, and searches for fossils and helped expand the understanding of our world for generations to come.

We have been reading picture books about Mary Anning for years thanks to my daughter's love of dinosaurs and determination to become a paleontologist. This nonfiction chapter book gave us a much more in-depth look at Mary's life and life's work.  

This book has a beautifully illustrated cover, endpapers, and chapter headers. The images within are mostly a collection of paintings and paleoart from Mary Anning herself (plus some stock photos) with italicized text in blue boxes/bubbles to explain each. 

Includes a timeline, glossary, and a list of places to see Mary Anning's fossils! 

Many thanks to the publisher for the chance to read this engrossing children's nonfiction biography on Mary Anning! 

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NatGeoKids World Atlas: Sixth Edition (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

We received a physical copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

National Geographic Kids'
World Atlas
Sixth Edition
Published by National Geographic Society
on August 24, 2021
Genre: Children's Nonfiction
Length: 216 pages
Ages: 10 - 14 years
Grade level: 3 - 5th 

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Synopsis:
The map experts at National Geographic bring you a new atlas that captures our world with completely updated maps, stats, and fun facts--the perfect reference for curious kids and students. 

Learn all about the people, places, trends, and developments of our world in the sixth edition of this acclaimed atlas. All the latest, greatest geographic and political information makes this a valuable resource for using in the classroom or reading at home.


My Thoughts:

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of this atlas that we've used nearly every (home)school day so far this month thanks to our Language Arts curriculum's focus on countries, cultures, and folklore. 

This atlas includes a wonderfully wide and varied look at our home planet, from sharing its' place in the solar system, to its time zones, landforms, and more.
It shares a collection of informational maps as well as the continents and all the countries within them, including physical and political maps. 
And, as always, National Geographic Kids' books include a wealth of extra facts and gorgeous, colorful photos to round out this wonderful resource! 

We created a special GoogleMaps map to tag all of our literary locations and settings but having a physical map--or many--is so much more useful for our everyday hands-on lessons!

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Gone to the Woods: Surviving A Lost Childhood by Gary Paulson (Middle Grade Memoir Review)

 

Gone to the Woods:

Surviving A Lost Childhood

by Gary Paulson

Published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux

on January 12, 2021

Genre: Middle Grade, Nonfiction, Memoir

Length: 368 pages

Ages: 8 - 12 years

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Synopsis:
A middle-grade memoir, giving readers a new perspective on the origins of Gary Paulsen's famed survival stories.

His name is synonymous with high-stakes wilderness survival stories. Now, author Gary Paulsen portrays a series of life-altering moments from his turbulent childhood as his own survival story. If not for his summer escape from a shockingly neglectful Chicago upbringing to a North Woods homestead at age five, there would never have been a Hatchet. Without the encouragement of the librarian who handed him his very first book at age thirteen, he may never have become a reader. And without his desperate teenage enlistment in the Army, he would not have discovered his true calling as a storyteller. 

My Thoughts:

Gary Paulsen narrates his own childhood in this fascinating memoir that reads like a novel for middle-grade readers.

Five-year-old Gary Paulsen is sent alone by train to live with relatives in the mountains where he learns to fish and forage mushrooms and appreciate the simple wonders of the world. It is a dream life athat would be short lived but the skills he learned in the wilderness help him to survive a neglected childhood with his mother in the Philippines, and later, enlistment in the army.

Gary lived a childhood that most could only imagine or read about in books, having to grow up fending for himself, with the woods and the local library as his only safe spaces and finding his love of stories a little late in life but at just the right time to have his own stories to tell. 

Hatchet was one of my favorite stories as a kid, next to Jean Craighead George's 'My Side of the Mountain', and it made a big impact on my childhood and helped shape my adult life so I jumped as soon as I saw this memoir. I've read a few more of his stories since Hatchet and loved seeing and making connections between the stories he has written and the story of his childhood. 

I definitely recommend it if you enjoy memoirs and have read any of Paulsen's middle-grade novels, or just love the wilderness or a good survival story! 

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Beneath the Waves by Stephanie Warren Drimmer (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 We received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Beneath the Waves:
Celebrating the Ocean through Pictures, Poems, and Stories
by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
Published by National Geographic Kids
on March 16, 2021
Genre: Children's Nonfiction
Length: 192 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

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Synopsis:
Open this charming read-aloud book and you'll find amazing animal profiles, whimsical poetry, stunning photography, plus fascinating information about the wondrous creatures that call the ocean home.

This keepsake treasure is sure to wow readers while also serving as an important reminder to protect this precious and wonderful resource. 


My Thoughts:

Beneath the Waves is a celebration of the ocean not only through photos and facts but with art and style! The gorgeous title text is used throughout as scrolling headers, there is watercolor-esque artwork mixed in, and even the photographs have an artistic texture to them that makes every page a beauty to behold. 

Starting on the shore, we explore the edge of the ocean with its creatures and critters, wade in to explore the colorful reef and its inhabitants, dive into the open ocean, sink into its inky depths, and everything in between. 

This is one of my favorite Nat Geo books so far! I'm so used to these nonfiction books being strictly photography paired with text and in some cases, comics or cartoons, but this is something new and different altogether. Every single page is visually appealing in the best of ways and will keep kids and adults busy for hours.

 Animal and ocean lovers alike will adore this gorgeous book full of fascinating facts. Gift it, put it on the coffee table, or add it to your homeschool or library shelves! Your family will thank you!

Many thanks to the publisher for providing us with a review copy of this fantastic book! 

More NatGeoKids books about the ocean:

Extreme Ocean by Sylvia A. Earle
&
Captain Aquatica's Awesome Ocean by Jessica Cramp

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Kids vs. Plastic: Ditch the Straw and Find the Pollution Solution by Julie Beer (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

 We received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Kids vs. Plastic:
Ditch the Straw and Find the Pollution Solution to Bottles, Bags, and Other Single-use Plastics
by Julie Beer
Published by National Geographic Kids
on December 1, 2020
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction
Length: 128 pages
Ages: 8 - 12

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Synopsis:
It's in your toothbrush... your clothes... your earbuds. Chances are, you're touching it right now. We're talking about plastic! Plastic is everywhere! But why and when did we start using it in so much stuff? And how do we stop?

Discover shocking stats and surprising facts, simple suggestions for sustainable swaps, and more eco-friendly choices and smart action steps. This book answers all of your burning questions about plastic and offers tangible ways to get involved, reduce plastic use, and create a more plastic-free future! 


Our Thoughts:

It's World Oceans Day and one of biggest issues the ocean faces today is man-made pollution. And most of it is plastic!
Can you remember a time when there was no plastic, or perhaps just not as much as there is today? Can you imagine the impact all of that plastic, used by millions of people around the world, has on our planet? Have you ever thought about making small changes to replace single-use items in your daily life?

Kids vs. Plastic is a great resource to learn all about how plastic is made and used, how it affects our planet, and how we can 'ditch' it. Learn the lifespan of plastics in nature so you can make better choices in products and remember to 'pack it out' when outdoors or how to get your community involved by organizing creative cleanups.
This book is full of easy alternatives to single-use products as well as tips on how to recycle, upcycle, and much more! 

This is a fantastic book for kids who want to make a difference in the world, or already do! 

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Keeping A Nature Journal, 3rd Edition by Clare Walker Leslie (Nonfiction Book Review)

 I received a free ecopy of this book from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Keeping A Nature Journal
3rd Edition
by Clare Walker Leslie
Published by Storey Publishing
on April 27, 2021
Genre: Adult, Nonfiction, Art, Nature
Length: 224 pages

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Synopsis:
Originally published in 2000 with endorsements from E.O. Wilson and Jane Goodall, Clare Walker Leslie's Keeping a Nature Journal was at the forefront of the nature observation and journaling movement. Leslie's approach has long been acclaimed for its accessible style of teaching people to see, witness, and appreciate the wonders of nature. This third edition features more of Leslie's step-by-step drawing techniques, a new selection of pages from her own journals, and an expanded range of prompts for observing particular aspects of the natural world in any location. With an emphasis on learning to see and observe, Leslie shows how drawing nature doesn't require special skills, artistic ability, or even nature knowledge, and it is a tool everyone can use to record observations and experience the benefits of a stronger connection to the natural world. 


My Thoughts:

Journaling is something I've done for most of my life and I adore art as well as being outside in nature so with all the time I spend outdoors with my child it has just come naturally to 'nature journal'. Of course, I always wonder if there are ways I can improve or include or share with my Little.

This fantastic guide introduces nature journaling, contemplates reasons to do so, and includes a plethora of fantastic ideas and examples of ways you can get out into the world and notice more or do more worth journaling about. 

Keeping A Nature Journal is absolutely packed with illustrations and doodles and sketches with notes and footnotes to help you both know what to look for but how to record it. There are tons of tips and tricks for drawing flowers, trees, birds, and more! I've already had so many new ideas for my own journal and feel a little more confident about how to go forward with my journaling.

Whether you're new to nature journaling or just looking for ideas, this helpful guide is sure to inspire!

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A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson (Adult Nonfiction Book Review)

A Walk in the Woods:
Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
by Bill Bryson
Published by Anchor Books
First published in 1998
Genre: Adult, Nonfiction
Length: 397 pages

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Synopsis:
The Appalachian Trail stretches from Georgia to Maine and covers some of the most breathtaking terrain in America--majestic mountain, silent forests, sparkling lakes. If you're going to take a hike, it's probably the place to go. And Bill Bryson is surely the most entertaining guide you'll find. He introduces us to the history and ecology of the trail and to some of the other hard (or just foolhardy) folks he meets along the way--and a couple of bears. 


My Thoughts:

Whenever I ask for recommendations for books with settings in or about the Great Smoky Mountains or the Appalachian Mountains, 'A Walk in the Woods' is almost always mentioned. Throw in that I'm a regular outdoorsy hiker type and it's described to me as a 'must read'. 
 I read Wild by Cheryl Strayed a few years ago and really enjoyed it but it is set on the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail, on the West Coast) and I'm on the East Coast and the AT has been sitting in the shadowy depths of my bucketlist for years so I definitely wanted to cross this one off of my TBR. 

I'm going to be a bit negative and POSSIBLY SPOILERY from here on out because, unfortunately, I didn't get much out of this and couldn't help but compare it to Wild, which was written by a female whom hiked a much longer distance, alone, on hardly any funds, and seemed to have more purpose to what she was doing.

Bryson starts the book with the gruesome statistics and details of others' hiking trips gone wrong; bear attacks, maulings, murders, and moonshine-addled hillfolk. Then he ropes an old friend along for the ride, paying most of his way just so he doesn't have to go alone, and makes fun of just about every other hiker he comes across (especially if they're female). They skip big portions of the trail once they realize their first week or so was only a tiny portion of the trail on the full map, and they take a cab and hang out in hotels every chance they can get. And then they go home, but the book isn't over with! Bryson rambles on about different day trips and hikes he partakes in on his own, usually to places of historical interest, sometimes droning on about the place instead of anything to do with hiking. I basically skimmed the last third of the book because I was bored. 

Overall, it seemed less about hiking (and even less about him hiking) and more about the history of the trail and gruesome events that have happened on or near it. I would definitely recommend it if you're serious about hiking the AT or like nonfiction.

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I Was Their American Dream by Malaka Ghabir (Graphic Memoir)

 

I Was Their American Dream
A Graphic Novel
by Malaka Gharib
Published by Clarkson Potter Publishers
on April 30, 2019
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel, Memoir
Length: 160 pages

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Synopsis:
One part Mari Andrew, one part Marjane Satrapi, I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir is a triumphant tale of self-discovery, a celebration of a family's rich heritage, and a love letter to American immigrant freedom. Malaka Gharib's illustrations come alive with teenage antics and earnest questions about identity and culture, while providing thoughtful insight into the lives of modern immigrants and the generation of millennial children they raised. 


My Thoughts:

Malaka Gharib gives an insightful look into her life growing up as an Egyptian-Filipino-American in California with parents that had differing backgrounds, religions, and dreams for their lives. Malaka juggles her parents' differing religions (her mother is Catholic and her father is Muslim) as well as her cultural heritage (Filipino and Egyptian) but also the American 'dream' and culture that she grew up with as a first-generation American. 

Malaka tells her coming-of-age story in a bold red, white, and blue color scheme that really ties in with the title of the book as well as the content. The illustrations are a little juvenile, or unproportionate, and the artist in me isn't always thrilled with this style but I do love that the style is consistent. There's also a lot of neat extras that remind me of zines, and this author/illustrator mentions in this memoir that she created zines in her youth and is the founder of The Runcible Spoon food zine, so I expect that is why they included such neat formatting for a comic/graphic novel-style memoir. 

I can't find any age recommendations for this online but personally think it is fine for young readers. There's no inflammatory language or mentions of sex or drugs (maybe a little rock-and-roll). 

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Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier by Jim Ottaviani & Maris Wicks (Nonfiction Graphic Novel Review)

Astronauts:
Women on the Final Frontier
Written by Jim Ottaviani
Illustrated by Maris Wicks
Published by First Second
on February 4, 2020
Genre: Nonfiction, Graphic Novel, History
Length: 176 pages
Ages: 9 - 13 years

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Synopsis:
In the graphic novel Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier, Jim Ottaviani and illustrator Maris Wicks capture the great humor and incredible drive of Mary Cleave, Valentina Tereshkova, and the first women in space.

The U.S. may have put the first man on the moon, but it was the Soviet space program that made Valentina Tereshkova the first woman in space. It took years to catch up, but soon NASA's first female astronauts were racing past milestones of their own. The trail-blazing women of Group 9, NASA's first mixed-gender class, had the challenging task of convincing the powers that be that a women's place is in space, but they discovered that NASA had plenty to learn about how to make space travel possible for everyone. 

My Thoughts:

This fun nonfiction graphic novel is about women's journey into space and the lengths and hardships it took to get there!

Narrated by former US astronaut, Mary Cleave, this informative read shares her personal life story, starting as a child that wanted nothing more than to be a pilot and working up to being an actual astronaut that made it to space! Also told from Mary Cleave's pov, this book covers different milestones of the space program/s, such as stories and insights into other women's journeys to space, including Valentina Tereshkova who was the first woman in space, Sally Ride, and more.

This was an entertaining and educational read about a time in history when women were just starting to be included, but not without a fight, tough skin, and a good sense of humor! The women who signed up for the space programs were tested much more thoroughly and repeatedly than their male counterparts and were met with difficulties and opposition from many sides. This book has a good balance of humor in pointing out the discrepancies that came from accepting the female gender into space.

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Summer Green to Autumn Gold by Mia Posada (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

Summer Green to Autumn Gold:
Uncovering Leaves' Hidden Colors
by Mia Posada
Published by
 Millbrook Press
on August 6, 2019
Genre: Children's, Picture Books, Seasons
Length: 32 pages
Ages: 8 - 9 years

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Synopsis:
This nonfiction picture book, written and illustrated by Mia Posada, beautifully explains why leaves change color in fall. It highlights both the eye-catching colors of the season and the science behind the colors.


Our Thoughts:
This nonfiction picture book is fantastic!

Summer Green to Autumn Gold artfully delves into the life cycle of trees and how they get their bold and beautiful colors, weaving science and story to make a fun and educational picture book that is perfect for nature lovers and curious little ones.

There's much to learn about trees and their leaves from this fun book. It shows us a leaf's cells, which are full of chloroplasts that are full of chlorophyll. It shares how leaves get their food and water to grow. And more specifically, it shares how leaves have pigments hiding behind the green chlorophyll that emerge when the seasons change, making this a great seasonal read as well! It also doesn't just stick to basic colors! It shares that the leaves change 'from emerald to jade to every shade in-between' and more!

I absolutely loved the bright and colorful artwork in this book. Each spread is made up of paper collages and cut-outs using paper mache to give the images and close-ups of the leaves lots of texture and depth. I love that each leaf is labeled so you can learn what tree it is from.

There is extra information about different types of leaves, pigments, and more, as well as a glossary and links to hands-on experiments that you can do with leaves and pigments!

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Dinosaur Lady by Linda Skeers & Marta Alvarez Miguens (Children's Nonfiction Picture Book Review)

We received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dinosaur Lady:
The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist
Written by Linda Skeers
Illustrated by Marta Alvarez Meguens
Published by Sourcebooks

on July 1, 2020

Genre: Children's, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Biography, History, Science
Length: 40 pages
Ages: 4 - 8 years

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Our Thoughts:

Mary Anning grew up by the sea in England and spent her childhood searching the shores for shells, rocks, and fossils. Her curiosity led her to research everything she could about the bones and fossils she found. One day, while on the beach with her brother, they discovered a dinosaur skull before the word 'dinosaur' even existed! Her discovery went off to a museum for others to ponder over. Meanwhile, Mary continued to make new and exciting discoveries despite the limitations she had at a time when women weren't even allowed to go to university. Nonetheless, her discoveries helped form paleontology!

Dinosaur Lady is a wonderful look at the life and discoveries Mary Anning, the first paleontologist, with lovely illustrations that make you feel like you are right there with her combing the beach and discovering bone formations in the cliff sides.

I really enjoyed that some of the scientific names of the fossils and shells that Mary collected were included in the story, like ammonite and coprolite, as well as the overall museum feel of the book! I also love a good story about a woman persevering despite her limitations! This book is inspiring!

Includes a spread about 'bone bits and facts' as well as a timeline spread of Mary's life and discoveries!

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Nat Geo Kids: Extreme Ocean by Sylvia A. Earle & Glen Phelan (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

We received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Extreme Ocean:
Amazing Animals, High-Tech Gear, Record-Breaking Depths, and Much More!
by Sylvia A. Earle

with Glen Phelan
Published by National Geographic
on March 3, 2020
Genre: Children's Nonfiction
Length: 112 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

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Synopsis:
Dive into a world of aquatic mystery in this action-packed combination of science and adventure as famed National Geographic Explorer Sylvia Earle leads readers on an in-depth tour of life beneath the waves. 

My Thoughts:

Sylvia Earle had her first experience with the ocean at a very young age and has been jumping back into the sea every since!

She shares many of her experiences and adventures in this educational look at the ocean, from her first rogue wave and diving with humpback whales to coral reef dives and even submarine trips!

The ocean is full of surprises and Earle has compiled a great book for kids to learn all about the most extreme aspects of the ocean!

Tsunamis, underwater volcanoes, underwater laboratories, and even famous sunken ships, but also a colorful and diverse array of ocean life, what affects them, and how to protect them!

Split into five chapters, this book covers the oceans of the world, the life within it, diving deep into the depths, and, of course, the things that affect our oceans negatively, such as oil spills, coral bleaching, and plastics, as well what we can do to change that.

As per usual with NatGeoKids books, this is filled with fun little trivia games, quizzes, timelines, and even hands-on activities, this fun nonfiction will give you hours of enjoyment!

 Happy World Oceans Day!
Here are more children's nonfiction books about the ocean:

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Persepolis: The Story Of A Childhood by Marjane Satrapi (Graphic Memoir Book Review)

Persepolis:
The Story of A Childhood
(Persepolis #1 of 2)

Written and illustrated by Marjane Satrapi
Published by Pantheon
on June 1st 2004 
(first published in 2000)
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir
Length: 153 pages

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Literary Awards:
Harvey Awards for Best US Edition of Foreign Material (2004)
ALA Alex Award (2004)

Synopsis:
Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.

My Thoughts:
This graphic memoir of Marjane Satrapi's early years, from age six to sixteen, focuses on the Islamic Revolution in her home country of Iran and her life in it.  Raised by outspoken parents, Marjane rebels against the regime early on, choosing to wear and listen to whatever she likes. As her country continues to change, with forced coverings for females and less tolerance of anything influenced by the West, Marjane finds herself rebelling more and more, to a point that her parents are quite worried!

This eye-opening autobiography gives us real-life memories of a child growing up during a pivotal time in Iranian history. Marjane is an open-minded, educated young girl with parents that taught her to think for herself and allowed her plenty of freedom at a young age. As a teenager, she has an openly rebellious streak that puts her in trouble's way more than once.

I went into this with a little bit of prior knowledge of Iran, having focused on expanding my knowledge of the Middle-East a few years ago after realizing how little I knew about the geography (or much else besides) there. While I've read plenty about the history and wars, I haven't read a lot about the youth or how they felt or reacted to these changes in history. I'm glad to have finally read this one and will try to get my hands on part 2 as soon as possible!

Setting:
Tehran, Iran

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The Boreal Forest by E.L. Carmichael & Josee Bisaillon (Children's Nonfiction Book Review)

I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The Boreal Forest:
A Year in the World's Largest Land Biome

by L.E. Carmichael
Illustrated by Josee Bisaillon
Published by Kids Can Press
on April 7, 2020
Genre: Children's, Nonfiction,
Length: 48 pages
Ages: 8 - 12 years

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | BookDepository

Synopsis:
The vast boreal forest spans a dozen countries in the northern regions like "a scarf around the neck of the world," making it the planet's largest land biome. Besides providing homes for a diversity of species, this spectacular forest is also vitally important to the planet: its trees clean our air, its wetlands clean our water and its existence plays an important role in slowing global climate change. In this beautifully written book, award-winning author L.E. Carmichael explores this special wilderness on a tour of the forest throughout the four seasons, from one country to another. Evocative watercolor and collage artwork by award-winning illustrator Josee Bisaillon provides a rare glimpse of one the world's most magnificent places.
Our Thoughts:

Happy Arbor Day, readers!
At the top of planet Earth, there is a vast forest that stretches across continents, like 'a scarf around the neck of the world'. The Boreal Forest is one of the largest land biomes in the world, home to countless creatures that call it home, some all year long and some only seasonally. The Boreal Forest: A Year in the World's Largest Land Biome shares everything one might want to know about this northern forest and its inhabitants.

Taking us to different continents and countries around the world, this beautifully illustrated children's book shares insights into the forest and its inhabitants throughout the different seasons. 

Winter in the Boreal Forest is especially cold, plunging down into the negatives. Only the hardiest critters survive the winter and this book shares how some of them make it through the frigid temperatures.

Spring is the time of rebirth, the forest reawakening, and continuing a cycle that has lasted for over eight-thousand years.  With summer comes the wet months and a plethora of bugs. 

There's tons of great information in this book, from the different regions the forest grows in, to the animals and other creatures that inhabit it, to life cycles, soil,  temperatures, and more. It focuses on animals specific to the northern regions and how they survive, thrive, and migrate, including mammals, birds, and even insects. 

This gorgeous nature book is packed full of useful and interesting facts paired with fascinating illustrations and would make a wonderful addition to any children's nonfiction library!

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