The Tarantula Scientist by Sy Montgomery

Bibliography:

Montgomery, Sy. 2004. The Tarantula Scientist. Ill. Bishop, Nic. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. 9780618147991

Book Summary:

Did you know spiders smell with their feet? Did you know there are 30 species of tarantulas in the United States and 850 known species recorded all over the world? That is a lot of spiders! Author Sy Montgomery and photographer Nic Bishop take us on an educational journey through French Guiana as they follow scientist Sam Marshall on his quest to learn more about tarantulas.

Critical Analysis:

This book is 80 pages of exciting tarantula and spider related facts that reads like an action packed novel. The very style of writing aims to lure the readers in making it difficult for them to put the book down; children will want to continue reading. The vocabulary used in this informational book is simple enough for young readers, but interesting enough for older readers as well.

The photographs in this book are also worth noting as every image is clear, well focused and sharp. Each colorful photograph provides a caption which identifies the type of spider in the photo. Photographer Nic Bishop does a fantastic job of capturing the life of a spider in its natural habitat. 

The back of the book provides more information for curious readers. In the last few pages a reader can enjoy reading a list of spider statistics or learning "spider speak" (a glossary). The author has provided readers with an index and a bibliography in addition to a section which discusses how the book was researched. As if all of this were not enough, Montgomery provides tarantula and spider related websites, information on visiting French Guiana, and facts for future tarantula pet owners.

This book is recommended for children ages 10 and up.

Review Excerpt(s):

• Robert F. Sibert Honor Book (2005)
• Texas Bluebonnet Award (2005)
• Kirkus Reviews – given a blue star for remarkable merit – (2004) “crisp, detailed photographs and clear, lively prose.”
• Booklist (2004) “fascinating slice of the natural world.”

Connections:

• Pair this title with other great favorites such as:
         The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins
         Animals Nobody Loves by Seymour Simon
         Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? by Jean Fritz and Trina Schart Hyman
• Provide a tarantula coloring sheet to the child(ren) and encourage them to draw their favorite tarantula from Sy Montgomery's book or create their own.
• Using an egg carton, pipe cleaners and googly eyes create an egg carton spider activity for the child(ren).

 

What to do About Alice? by Barbara Kerley

Bibliography:

Kerley, Barbara. 2008. What to do About Alice? Ill. Fotheringham, Edwin. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. 9780439922319

Book Summary:

Alice Roosevelt, daughter of Theodore Roosevelt, was always “running riot” and “eating up the world” from the very beginning of her life; Alice liked to do things her way. Alice wanted to wear pants, travel the world, dance and have a good time rather than learn how to be a proper lady. This wonderful nonfiction picture book describes the life of Alice Roosevelt and how she “broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy Crazy!”

Critical Analysis:

This carefully illustrated information book offers readers several interesting facts about the daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt while also supplying facts about Mr. President himself. The book starts off by stating, “Theodore Roosevelt has a small problem” and goes on to describe the difficult problems Roosevelt faced during his lifetime such as, “leading the Rough Riders as they charged up Kettle Hill” and “herding thousands of cattle across the Dakota badlands” then finishes by stating the problem is his daughter Alice who was “hungry to go places, meet people, do things.” Readers will not even realize they are learning historical facts about one of America’s most well-known presidents as they read about the life of his daughter, Alice.

The style in which the book is written offers a fun and exciting storytelling type quality. The information within is organized in a clear and fluent fashion, beginning with Alice's younger years on up into adulthood.

At the end of the book readers can enjoy the “Author’s Note” section which further lists interesting facts about Alice Roosevelt and her father. For instance, did you know "Princess Alice" was the nickname Alice's fans gave her? Additionally, the author provides a quick summary of Alice’s life after her marriage to Nicholas Longworth, followed by a list of sources used in order to complete the book.

The illustrations are worth noting as well! Illustrator Edwin Fotheringham carefully and delicately depicted the life of Alice Roosevelt in a frolicking and fanciful manner. Each illustration of Alice rightfully depicts Alice with her head held high, smiling and clearly on a mission to enjoy life.

This book is recommended for children ages 7 and up.

Review Excerpt(s):

• Robert F. Sibert Honor Book (2009)
• Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards nominee (2008)
• Kirkus Reviews – given a blue star for remarkable merit – (2008) “It’s a gleeful celebration of a fully, unapologetically led life.”
• School Library Journal (2008) “…a surefire antidote for any child who thinks that historical figures are boring.”

Connections:

• Pair this title with other great favorites such as:
         Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet
         Lincoln Tells a Joke by Kathleen Krull
         The Extraordinary Mark Twain by Barbara Kerley
• Locate music from Alice Roosevelt's youth and use it to teach the child(ren) the turkey trot or other period dance moves. 
• Supply colored paints and ask the child(ren) to create the color 'Alice Blue.' After concocting the color 'Alice Blue' work as a group to write down objects which are 'Alice Blue.'

The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins



Bibliography:

Jenkins, Steve. 2012. The Beetle Book. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. 9780547680842

Book Summary:

What is the smallest known beetle? Which beetle is the biggest of them all? How do beetles breathe? Answers to these questions and more can be found inside of Steve Jenkins’s book The Beetle Book which is packed full of fun and interesting beetle related facts.

Critical Analysis:

This fact-filled book, written and illustrated by Steve Jenkins, introduces children to the world of beetles using colorful illustrations, diagrams and text. All throughout the book children will find silhouettes of beetles which represent the actual size of the beetle being labeled. Large diagrams are presented with detailed explanations in order to further breakdown the makeup of a beetle’s body. What types of beetle related information can readers expect to find in this fact book? Body parts, diets, living environments, life cycles, movement, and sizes are just some of the facts children can learn about while reading this book. 

Jenkins provides beautiful illustrations of the various types of beetles using vibrant colors to allow the brightly colored beetles to stand out. The colors Jenkins used in his illustrations are bold and beautiful, but accurately depict the beetle's true markings. I found the jewel beetle to be the most beautiful beetle of them all. To me,  the frog beetle and the giraffe weevil had strangest looking bodies of all of the beetles in the book. What do you think? Which one is your favorite?

Overall, this book is well organized and even offers readers a beetle name index located in the back of the book. Additionally, a species-by-region list is available at the end of the book for viewing pleasure. One thing this book is lacking though, is a bibliography to support the facts found within this book.

This book is recommended for children ages 4 and up.

Review Excerpt(s):

• Booklist – starred review – (2012) “A richly varied and visually riveting introduction to beetles, both familiar and strange.”
• Kirkus Reviews – given a blue star for remarkable merit – (2012) “distinguished both as natural history and work of art.”

Connections:

•  Pair this title with other great favorites such as:                         
               Quest for the Tree Kangaroo by Sy Montgomery
               Weird but True by National Geographic Kids and Jonathan Halling
               Snakes! By Monica Molina
• Give the children a magnifying glass and encourage them to go outside on a beetle hunting expedition. Encourage the children to bring paper and crayons so they are able to record their findings.
• Create a beetle collage. Print out several different images of beetles (in all colors) as found in The Beetle Book. Glue or paste the images on a large postboard. This activity can be done as a prop or as a group activity.