Nonfiction Monday: Beginnings and Endings

Way back in August, I was the first to post on this new Kid Lit Kit blog, and now, at the end of the school year, I'll be the last. What a year it was! So many great books! I'd like to wrap up by revisiting three science activity books you can use in your classroom next year.

Facts First

What Can You Do with an Old Red Shoe?
by Anna Alter

Reading level: Grades K-2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt

This "Green Activity Book About Reuse" has 12 activities for young readers. No need to save this for Earth Day, you can use it all year in your "green" classroom.  

The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science: 64 Daring Experiments for Young Scientists
by Sean Connolly (Author)

Reading level: Gr 3-5
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing

Learn how to make a Frankstein Hand (page 46), turn milk into stone (page 52), make Do-It-Yourself Blubber (page 160) and more in this book of "daring" science experiments. 

You can find the "ingredients" for these experiments at home or in the grocery store, so it's easy to get started. (A "time factor" is listed for each experiment, and some only take 2-3 minutes!)  

Keeping our Earth Green
by Nancy Castaldo

Reading level: Grades 3-9
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Williamson Books

The subtitle says it all: "Over 100 Hands-On Ways to Help Save the Earth." That's a lot of ready-made lessons! The book is divided into four sections: Air, Water, Land, and Energy, so you can use it all year.

Today's Nonfiction Monday is at Jean Little Library. (To see the summer round-ups, visit the Nonfiction Monday link and click on the blog listed for that date.) I hope you'll stay in touch! Come visit my Literacy Links twitter. Happy summer!

Nonfiction Monday: Travel

Get ready for summer travel with this fiction/nonfiction book pair and activities for K-2.

Facts First

Follow That Map! A First Book of Mapping Skills
by Scot Ritchie

Reading level: Grades 1-3
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press

Follow Sally and her friends as they search for Max the dog and Ollie the cat while traveling across different types of maps.

Pair With

The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman
by Darcy Pattison (Author)
and Joe Cepeda (Illustrator)

Reading level: K-2
Hardcover/Paperback: 52 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

In this story told in postcards and letters, different travelers take a life-sized wooden man across the country.

Activities...

Participate in the Oliver K. Woodman Map Project and geo-tag Oliver's travels.

Plan ahead for the next school year with these Travel Pal Scrapbook lesson plans.

Print and perform this mini-book, A Play: Follow the Map and make the map center in the lesson plans.

If you're blogging about nonfiction books on this Nonfiction Monday, go to ACPL Mock Sibert blog and add your blog to this week's Round-up.

Nonfiction Monday: Children's Book Week

Celebrate Children's Book Week May 11-17 with these books and activities for Grades K-8.

That Book Woman
by Heather Henson(Author)
and David Small (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades K-3
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Atheneum

Cal is not the readin' type, but that Book Woman keeps coming up the mountain and Cal learns to read so he can find out what the words say. (Inspired by the Pack Horse Librarians, the "Book Women" who carried books on horse or mule into the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky in the 1930s.) 

Three Cups of Tea: One Man’s Journey to Change the World…One Child At A Time Young Reader’s Edition
by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin (Authors), Adapted by Sarah Thomson

Reading level: Grades 4-8
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Dial

Rescued by villagers in Pakistan while mountain climbing, Greg Mortensen returned their kindness by building schools in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Activities...

Download the Children's Book Week Bookmark and print one for each child in your class.

Visit Scholastic's Professional Development Articles and Curriculum Ideas for National Children's Book Week 2009.

Students can write their own books with these Author Activities for National Children's Book Week.

If you're blogging about nonfiction books on this Nonfiction Monday, go to Book Scoops and add your blog to this week's Round-up.

Nonfiction Monday: A Taste of Asia

May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, so let's begin with a taste of Asia for Grades K-8.

How My Parents Learned to Eat
by Ina R. Friedman(Author)
and Allen Say (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades K-2
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

An American sailor and a Japanese student teach each other how their families eat.

Hiromi's Hands
by Lynne Barasch

Reading level: Grades 3-5
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Lee and Low Books

In this true story, a Japanese-American girl grows up and learns how to make sushi in her father's restaurant.

What the World Eats
by Faith D'Aluisio (Author)
and Peter Menzel (Photographer)

Reading level: Grades 6-8
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Tricycle Press

See what 25 families around the world eat in this photo-essay filled with maps, charts and recipes.

Activities...

Discover Asian Pacific American stories with these lesson plans and videos from Scholastic.

Visit the Asian Pacific Heritage Month pages at the Library of Congress for lesson plans, student activities, collection guides and research aids using primary sources.

Write a Reader's Theater script for your K-8 classroom with these Asian Folktales Lesson Plans.

If you're blogging about nonfiction books on this Nonfiction Monday, go to Chicken Spaghetti and add your blog to this week's Round-up.

Nonfiction Monday: Space Day

Get ready for Space Day on Friday with this fiction/nonfiction book pair and activities for Grades 6-8.

Facts First

Almost Astronauts: 13 Women Who Dared to Dream
by Tanya Lee Stone (Author)

Reading level: Grades 6-8
Hardcover: 144 pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press

Even though the Mercury 13 women did not make it into space, they inspired the women who came after them to take their place in the sky.

First In Space
by James Vining

Reading level: Grades 6-8
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Oni Press

This historical graphic tells the story of Ham, a chimpanzee that NASA trained for the first sub-orbital spaceflight.

Activities...

Read the collection of poems about the 13 women in Almost Astronauts when the "flying bug" bit.

Preview the first 10 pages of First In Space.

Use primary sources with NASA's Where No Man Has Gone Before: A History of Apollo Lunar Exploration Missions.

If you're blogging about nonfiction books on this Nonfiction Monday, go to at Picture Book of the Day and after you add your blog to this week's Round-up, enter the Space Day Giveaway drawing for FREE Virtual Author Visit for one class on Wednesday, May 13, 2009.

Nonfiction Monday: Dogs

Learn about life with a dog in this fiction/nonfiction book pair and activities for K-3.

Facts First

May I Pet Your Dog?
The How-to Guide for Kids Meeting Dogs
(and Dogs Meeting Kids)
by Stephanie Calmenson (Author)
and Jan Ormerod (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades K-3
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books

Practical advice for kids meeting a new dog.

Pair With

Little Dog Poems
by Kristine O'Connell George (Author)
and June Otani (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades K-3
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Clarion Books

The dog is little and so are the poems as a girl narrates a day in the life of her dog.

Activities...

Have your students write a "mask poem" to welcome Bo to the White House (and send them to the author of Little Dog Poems.)

Watch Bo at the White House.

Learn about dog care from the ASPCA.

If you're blogging about nonfiction books on this Nonfiction Monday, go to Mommy’s Favorite Children’s Books and add your blog to this week's Round-up!

Nonfiction Monday: Earth Day

Prepare for Earth Day next week with these books, one for K-2 and one for grades 3-9.

Facts First

Keeping our Earth Green
by Nancy Castaldo

Reading level: Grades 3-9
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Williamson Books

The subtitle says it all: "Over 100 Hands-On Ways to Help Save the Earth."

Pair With

What Can You Do with an Old Red Shoe?
by Anna Alter

Reading level: Grades K-2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt

This "Green Activity Book About Reuse" has 12 activities for young readers.

Activities...

Celebrate Earth Day with Scholastic's activities for K-8.

Stop by EarthDay.gov's kid's pages for games and activities.

Visit Larry Ferlazzo's blog for The Best Earth Day Sites for ELL, ESL, AND EFL.

If you're blogging about nonfiction books on this Nonfiction Monday, go to Abby (the) Librarian and add your blog to this week's Round-up!

Nonfiction Monday: Eggs

Eggs are on the menu for both Passover and Easter this coming week, so here's a fiction/nonfiction book pair and activities about eggs for K-2.

Facts First

An Egg is Quiet
by Dianna Hutts Aston (Author)
and Sylvia Long (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades K-2
Hardcover: 36 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books

Explore the world of eggs as you see how they are alike..and different...in many ways.

Pair With

First the Egg
by Laura Vaccaro Seeger

Reading level: Grades PreK-2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

This die-cut book cleverly shows the life cycle of several creatures, and ends with a creative process kids can participate in...making a book! 

Activities...

This Passover for Kids guide has games, activities, recipes and multimedia stories.

Decorate eggs online.

Find out why eggs and rabbits are an Easter tradition.

If you're blogging about nonfiction books on this Nonfiction Monday, go to Scrub-a-Dub-Tub, a Reading Tub Blog and add your blog to this week's Round-up!

Friday Blog Round Up

If you haven't checked out TeacherShare lately, now would be a good time. If you type "lesson plan" into the search box above "resources" on the left, you'll find a treasure trove of picture book related lesson plans. While not all of the hits will be picture books, the majority of them will. They should pop up with the picture book title, followed by lesson plan.

One of my favorite publishing folks, Karen Walsh at HMH, clued me into this fun online resource. The Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Poetry Kit offers classroom activities, downloadable stickers, a Poem-A-Day calendar and a letter from award-winning poet Joyce Sidman. Rhyme on folks!

Our own Anastasia Suen is putting her poetry powers to great use, showcasing a poem a day, from K-12 students.  Keep an eye on PencilTalk this month and you'll be treated to a variety of poems. 

All this poetry talk is making me hungry and I can't help but look back to March, being National Noodle Month and all. Jama Rattigan's AlphabetSoup  serves up a host of pasta related books. Nora Dooley's Everybody Eats Noodles is just the tip of the iceberg.  

By now you're probably rubbing your growling tummy and asking yourself how I could have forgotten to mention Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs?  Well don't despair!  If your "appetite for adventure" is in full swing, you're going to want to check out the movie trailer over on Sony's site. (My favorite is the ratbirds.)

Now that I'm ready for Prince Spaghetti Day, I'll bid you all a super weekend and I'll see you back here on Monday. Oh, and send me a note people!  Let me know what interests you in the Kid Lit World.

Nonfiction Monday: World Health Day

Prepare for World Health Day on April 7 with this fiction/nonfiction book pair and activities for grades 3-5.

Facts First

Keep Your Cool! What You Should Know about Stress
by Sandy Donovan (Author)
and Jack Desrocher (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades 3-5
Hardcover: 64 pages
Publisher: Lerner

In this new Health Zone book, students will learn what causes stress and how to reduce it.

Pair With

The London Eye Mystery
by Siobhan Dowd (Author)

Reading level: Grades 3-5
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: David Fickling Books

Talk about stress...Ted and Kat watch their cousin Salim board the London Eye, but when the ride is over, Salim is no where to be found! 

Activities...

The theme of this year's World Health Day is "Save lives. Make hospitals safe in emergencies."

Use the CDC's Body and Mind classroom activities.

Have your students take the health quiz at the UN's CyberSchoolBus page.

If you're blogging about nonfiction books on this Nonfiction Monday, go to Tales from the Rushmore Kid and add your blog to this week's Round-up!

Nonfiction Monday: It's Almost Poetry Month!

Get ready for Poetry Month with this fiction/nonfiction book pair and activities for grades K-12!

Facts First

You Have to Write
by Janet S. Wong (Author)
and Teresa Flavin (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades 2-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

This how-to book about writing at school is also persuasive (You can do it!) and poetic.

Pair With

My Hippo Has the Hiccups And Other Poems I Totally Made Up
by Kenn Nesbitt (Author)
and Ethan Long (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades K-8
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks

This new book and CD of poems performed by the poet (say that three times!) includes tongue twisters, word play and just plain silliness.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Women's History

Celebrate Women's History Month with this fiction/nonfiction book pair and activities for grades 6-8.

Facts First

No Girls Allowed
by Susan Hughes (Author)
and Willow Dawson (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades 6-8
Hardcover: 80 pages
Publisher: Kids Can Press

See the stories of seven women who dressed as men, including Hapshepsut and Mu Lan, in this history book written and illustrated as a comic.

Pair With

Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie
The Oregon Trail Diary of Hattie Campbell, 1847
by Kristiana Gregory

Reading level: Grades 6-8
Hardcover: 168 pages
Publisher: Scholastic

In this Dear America historical diary series thirteen-year-old Hattie travels with her family across the country on the Oregon Trail.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Bullies

Teach students how to deal with bullies with this fiction/nonfiction book pair and activities for grades 3-5.

Facts First

Good-Bye Bully Machine
by Debbie Fox and Allan L. Beane, Ph.D.

Reading level: Grades 3-5
Hardcover/Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing

This new book about bullying in school comes out in April, and it's filled with practical advice and colorful collage art.

Pair With

BMX Bully
by Jake Maddox
and Betsy Lewin (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades 3-5
Hardcover: 72 pages
Publisher: Stone Arch Books

Matt wants to make the Evergreen racing team, but his chances are seriously threatened when a new boy moves to town and resorts to cheating in order to win.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

Celebrate Read Across America today on Dr Seuss' birthday with this fiction/nonfiction book pair and activities.

Facts First

The Boy on Fairfield Street
by Kathleen Krull (Author)
and Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher (Illustrators)

Reading level: Grades 3-5
Hardcover: 48 pages
Publisher: Random House

Ted Geisel grew up to be the famous Dr. Seuss, but this biography shows him taunted as a child and told he could never make it as an artist.

Pair With

And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street
by Dr. Seuss

Reading level: Grades K-2
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Random House

This easy reader was the first book Ted Geisel both wrote and illustrated...and it was rejected 27 times!

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Your Teeth

Talk about Dental Health Month with this easy-to-read fiction/nonfiction book pair and activities for K-2.

Facts First

Take Care of Your Teeth
by Don L. Curry

Reading level: K-2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic

This easy reader gives practical advice about tooth care.

Pair With

My Tooth is About to Fall Out
by Grace Maccarone (Author)
and Betsy Lewin (Illustrator)

Reading level: K-2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic

A girl loses her first tooth in this easy reader.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Abe Lincoln

Learn about Lincoln as we celebrate his 200th birthday with this fiction/nonfiction book pair for grades 3-5.

Facts First

Lincoln Shot: A President's Life Remembered
by Barry Denenberg (Author)
and Christopher Bing (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades 4 and up
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

This biography, told as a one year anniversary edition of an April 14, 1866 newspaper, begins the moment Lincoln is shot.

Pair With

Lincoln and His Boys
by Rosemary Wells (Author)
and P.J. Lynch (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades 3-7
Hardcover: 96 pages
Publisher: Candlewick Press

See Abe Lincoln through the eyes of his boys, Tad and Willie, in this historial novel with an upbeat ending.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: February's History

Celebrate February's history, Black History Month and Darwin's 200th birthday, with this fiction/nonfiction book pair for grades 6-8.

Facts First

Charles and Emma: The Darwin's Leap of Faith
by Deborah Heligman

Reading level: Grades 6-8
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Henry Holt

Charles Darwin was a scientist but the woman he loved was not. See how Emma's views made Darwin question his work in this new biography.

Charles and Emma Teachers Guide (PDF)

Pair With

Chains
by Laurie Halse Anderson

Reading level: Grades 6-8
Hardcover: 320 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Celebrate Black History Month with this Revolutionary War novel about a thirteen-year-old girl's quest for freedom.

Chains Discussion Guide

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Slavery

This slave narrative/poetry book is two books in one for grades 6-8.

Facts First

The Freedom Business
including A Narrative of the Life and Adventures of Venture, a Native of Africa
Poems by Marilyn Nelson
and Art by Deborah Dancy

Reading level: Grades 6-8
Hardcover: 72 pages
Publisher: WordSong

This amazing book is two books in one. Open the book and you'll see a true story on the left, a slave narrative written in the eighteenth century by Venture Smith. On the right side are poems that bring that capture the essence of the prose on each page.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Inauguration Special

Prepare for the inauguration with these three Barack Obama biographies, one for K-2, 3-5, and 6-8.

Facts First

Barack
by Jonah Winter (Author)
and AG Ford (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades K-2
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher:HarperCollins

This picture book biography of Barack Obama for K-2 is written in prose. (See an excerpt.)

Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Child of Hope
by Nikki Grimes (Author)
and Bryan Collier (Illustrator)

Reading level: Grades 3-5
Paperback: 48 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

This picture book biography of Barack Obama for grades 3-5 is poetic. (See an excerpt.)

Yes, We Can: A Biography of Barack Obama
by Garen Thomas (Author)

Reading level: Grades 6-8
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

This chapter book biography for grades 6-8 was updated after the election.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Winter

Here's a fiction/nonfiction book pair about living and playing in ice and snow for K-2.

Facts First

A Mother's Journey
by Sandra Markle (Author)
and Alan Marks (Illustrator)

Reading level: K-2
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Charlesbridge

After an emperor penguin lays her egg, she leaves it with the male and goes off to find food.

Pair With

Red Sled
by Patrica Thomas (Author)
and Chris Demarest (Illustrator)

Reading level: K-2
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Boyds Mills Press

This sledding story poem is written in the shape of a hill, just perfect for sledding!

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Baking

Baking and holidays go together, so here's a fiction/nonfiction book pair about baking for grades 6-8.

Facts First

Cakes for Kids: 35 Colorful Cakes with Easy-to-Follow Tips & Techniques
by Matthew Mead

Reading level: Gr. 6-8
Paperback: 132 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books

The 35 "3-D" cake recipes in this book are divided into 3 categories: easy, moderate, and challenging (and they all look amazing!)

Pair With

Bad Girls in Love
by Cynthia Voigt

Reading level: Gr. 6-8
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Aladdin

When Mikey falls in love, she falls hard, and even starts baking cookies for her not-so secret crush, Shawn. What can her best friend, Margalo, do?

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Remember December 16th?

Do you remember what happened December 16, 1773? Here's a fiction/nonfiction book pair about the Boston Tea Party and Revolutionary War for grades 3-5.

Facts First

Colonial Voices: Hear Them Speak
by Kay Winters (Author)
and Larry Day (Illustrator)

Reading level: Gr. 3-5
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Dutton

Follow an errand boy through colonial Boston as he spreads word of rebellion in this poetry collection.

Pair With

We Are Patriots, Hope's Revolutionary War Diary: Book Two, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 1777
by Kristiana Gregory

Reading level: Gr. 3-5
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Scholastic

Hope Penny Potter's family is one one side and her best friend Polly's family is on the other side during the Revolutionary War.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Reindeer

Here's a fiction/nonfiction book pair about reindeer for K-2.

Facts First

Far North
by Jan Reynolds

Reading level: K-2
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Lee and Low Books

Kari and Sara live in the far north above the Arctic circle. They are Sami and live with the reindeer they herd year round.

Pair With

Olive, the Other Reindeer 
by J.otto Siebold and Vivian Walsh

Reading level: K-2
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books

Olive the dog mishears a Christmas song and thinks she must go help Santa.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Real Life Situations

Just in time for the holidays, a fiction/nonfiction book pair about real life situations for grades 6-8.

Facts First

Be Confident in Who You Are
by Annie Fox, M.Ed. (Author)
and Matt Kindt (Illustrator)

Reading level: Gr 6-8
Paperback: 96 pages
Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing

Fictional middle school situations illustrated in graphic novel style are followed by practical advice from an advisor and real teens.

Pair With

Hold Me Tight
by Lorie Ann Grover

Reading level: Gr 6-8
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry

Essie's father leaves the family on Thanksgiving and her pregnant mother is devastated in this novel told in short poems.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Thanksgiving

Here's a Thanksgiving fiction/nonfiction book pair for grades K-2.

Facts First

The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving
by Ann McGovern (Author)
and Elroy Freem (Illustrator)

Reading level: Gr K-2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Scholastic

Find out how the children of Plymouth Colony helped prepare for the first Thanksgiving.

Pair With

Thanksgiving in the White House
by Gary Hines
and Alexandra Wallner (Illustrator)

Reading level: Gr K-2
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Holt

President Abraham Lincoln's youngest son, Tad, is very fond of his pet, Jack the turkey. Can he convince his father to save Jack's life or will Jack be eaten for Thanksgiving dinner?

Activities...

Find Thanksgiving crafts galore at Making Friends.

Sign up for two email letters, one from a Pilgrim girl and one from a Native American boy, to be sent to your class on November 20th.

Print DLTK's color posters of Thanksgiving poems and songs for your class.

Use Enchanted Learning's Thanksgiving Early Readers in your classroom.

Try Family Fun's Thanksgiving crafts (and sign up for a free bi-weekly Arts and Crafts newsletter.)

If you're blogging about nonfiction books on this Nonfiction Monday, go to Picture Book of the Day  and add your blog to this week's Round-up. (Classroom blogs welcome!)

Nonfiction Monday: Teeth

Learn more about teeth - both real and imaginary - in this fiction/nonfiction book pair for grades 3-5.

Facts First

Teeth
by Sneed B. Collard (Author)
and Phyllis V. Saroff (Illustrator)

Reading level: Gr 3-5
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing

Explore the many sizes, shapes and types of teeth. (Did you now that trout have teeth on their tongues?)

Pair With

Eoin Colfer's Legend of Captain Crow's Teeth
by Eoin Colfer

Reading level: Gr 3-5
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: Miramax

Nine-year-old Will knows he doesn't believe in ghosts - until late one night he hears someone calling his name...

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: The Unexpected (Science Fairs and Magic)

Things aren't always what they appear to be in this fiction/nonfiction book pair for grades 3-5.

Facts First

The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science: 64 Daring Experiments for Young Scientists
by Sean Connolly (Author)

Reading level: Gr 3-5
Hardcover: 208 pages
Publisher: Workman Publishing

Learn how to make a Frankstein Hand (page 46), turn milk into stone (page 52), make Do-It-Yourself Blubber (page 160) and more in this book of "daring" science experiments.

(See a video of some of the experiments in this book.)

Pair With

Humpty Dumpty Junior: Hardboiled Detective: The Mystery of Merlin and the Gruesome Ghost
by Nate Evan, Paul Hindman and Vince Evans

Reading level: Gr 3-5
Paperback: 128 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks

When Lily discovers a ghost at her school, Merlin's Institute for the Knowledge of Everything, she asks Humpty and his sidekick Rat for help. Who will take the sword out of the stone in New Yolk City and save the day?

Activities...

Friday Kid Lit Round-Up

Hey folks.  If you read yesterday’s post and are interested in some voting books, check out Anastasia Suen’s picks from a few weeks back.  They dovetail nicely with the patriotic theme.

Halloween is officially here and what better time to grab a spooky Stine book and give yourself a good old fashioned case of the heebie jeebies.  Carly M. offers her thoughts on children’s author R.L. Stine over on InkSplot. For more Halloween teaching fun, check out Scholastic.com's Top 5 Halloween Activities and Lessons.

A link from A Fuse#8 Production led me to the First Annual Children's Book Halloween Costume Contest "where favorite characters from children's books show off their holiday best." Very fun!

According to NewsObserver.com, Aussie actress Mia Wasikowska will be Burton's Alice in the 2010 release of Alice in Wonderland based on the Lewis Carroll classic. "Johnny Depp is the inspired choice to play the Mad Hatter.”  Maybe we can concentrate on looking forward to this while the kinks are worked out of Where the Wild Things Are.

I hadn’t given much thought to how the economy is affecting libraries but the American Library Association sure has.  “The American Library Association (ALA) is asking Congress for $100 million in stimulus funding to aid the nation’s working families during the current economic crisis. Aid is sought to stem the bleeding of critical library services that help Americans with job searches, small business development, financial literacy and other essential assistance in hard economic times.”  Read more at ALA.org.

And with that folks, I’m off to prepare for the first wave of trick-or-treaters.  Remember to drive slow, resist the urge to egg anything, and brush after all the candy. We’ll see you back here next week.

Nonfiction Monday: Bats

Here's a fiction/nonfiction book pair for K-2 about bats just in time for Halloween.

Facts First

Little Lost Bat
by Sandra Markle (Author)
and Alan Marks (Illustrator)

Reading level: K-2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Charlesbridge Publishing

After an owl eats his mother, a baby bat from Bracken Cave is adopted by another bat.

Pair With

Bats at the Library
by Brian Lies

Reading level: K-2
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Bats visit the library late at night for storytime in this rhyming picture book.

Activities...

Nonfiction Monday: Hunger

Middle schoolers can read about hunger in this fiction/nonfiction book pair and take action this week for Kids Care Week (October 19-25, 2008).

Facts First

What the World Eats
by Faith D'Aluisio (Author)
and Peter Menzel (Photographer)
Reading level: Gr 6-8
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Tricycle Press

See what twenty-five families from around the world eat in a week in this striking photo-essay filled with maps, charts and recipes.

Pair With

Kids Against Hunger
by Jon Mikkelsen (Author)
and Nathan Lueth (Illustrator)
Reading level: Gr 2-3 / Interest Level Gr 5-9
Paperback: 40 pages
Publisher: Stone Arch Books

In this hi-lo book, Caleb and Ian follow Greg to an old warehouse to find out what he does when he misses soccer practice.

Activities...