Picture Book (Science): The Glaciers are Melting (by Donna Love)

Summary of The Glaciers are Melting: 

As Peter Pika sticks his head out of the rock entrance to his home, a drop of water falls on his head.  Just as Chicken Little is convinced the sky is falling when an apple falls on his head, Peter Pika is sure the glaciers are melting when he feels that drop.  The little pika ventures off to find the Mountain Monarch to ask him what they should do.  As he journeys, many friends join him—Tammy Ptarmigan, Sally Squirrel, Mandy Marmot, and Harry Hare.  Each of the five friends is fearful of how the glaciers’ melting will affect them.  While they are resting, Wiley Wolverine sneaks out from behind the rocks and convinces them they are going the wrong way.  Before the Wiley Wolverine traps them in his lair, the Mountain Monarch comes to the animals’ rescue.  Unfortunately, he cannot help them stop the glaciers from melting. 

Evaluation:

Donna Love cleverly uses the Chicken Little story framework to bring to the surface a genuine environmental threat.  After the Mountain Monarch reveals to the animals they cannot do anything to stop the glaciers from melting, Peter Pika delivers the final question: “But who?”  Parents and teachers can use it as an opportunity to discuss ways humans can make more responsible choices, such as recycling, carpooling, and turning unnecessary lights off.  The striking pictures (which I can't help but keep looking at over and over again) by Shennen Bersani illustrate the arctic habitat and the creatures who live there—many of which are not familiar animals to young children.  Using the resources provided by Sylvan Dell as well as Internet and library ones, children can research with their parents and learn more about these threatened animals and their habitat.  As you read together, discuss the alliteration in all the names (same beginning sound).  Brainstorm other words or find ones in the book with the same beginning sound.  Use a Venn Diagram to compare/contrast Chicken Little to The Glaciers are Melting!  Children can also participate in choral reading as key phrases are repeated in the text.  The appealing characters, vivid pictures, and familiar framework make this book ideal for children ages 3-9. 

As with all of Sylvan Dell’s picture books, there are activity pages in the back of the book, an across the curriculum teacher’s guide, and other resources at their website.  Also, Teacher Bits and Bobs has a beautiful Arctic Life:  Math and Literacy Centers unit.


For other books on arctic animals highlighted on Books4Learning, click HERE.

Blog Tour Stop: Compost Stew (Book Review and Giveaway)

Summary:

Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth sets out to create environmental chefs with its tempting recipe for Compost Stew!  Children of both genders and multiple cultural backgrounds recite and illustrate the ingredients from A-Z.  Periodically, the listing is broken up with this fun chorus: 

Just add to the pot

and let it all rot

into Compost Stew.

After the ingredients are all added, moistened, tossed lightly, and covered, it must brew for a while.   When the stew is complete, the Earth will have a dark, rich treat! 

Evaluation:

The text by Mary McKenna Siddals is educational and entertaining.  I love its rhythm.    It has a great natural energy and flow.  Here is a sample:

Grass clippings

Hair snippings

And an Insect or two

Jack-o-lanterns

Kitchen scraps

Laundry lint

   from dryer traps     

Artist Ashley Wolff creates fitting visuals using gouache and collage along with recycled materials, such as newspapers, cloth, leaves, pictures, bugs, and much more!   The vibrant and dramatic illustrations are textured and multi-dimensional.   Parent and classroom educators can use the art as a spring board for kids to create their own collages using materials from around the house or class.  Young and old will be enticed into looking at this book over and over again for the liveliness and detail on each page.   

The target audience is ages 3-8.  Preschoolers will love practicing their alphabet with Compost Stew:  An A to Z Recipe for the Earth.  They will also learn to identify the words and pictures of several everyday items (tea bags, bread crusts, grass clippings) as well as some potentially new ones (laundry lint, seaweed strands, quarry dust).  Also, opportunities to practice identifying rhyme and alliteration (same beginning sounds) are offered in the text.  Older children will benefit from learning how to recycle food and plant waste in a manner that is both socially responsible and environmentally beneficial. 

I am thrilled to have Compost Stew:  An A to Z Recipe for the Earth in my home library.