Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - the world around us - 12.09.2020

Wednesdays I join Alyson Beecher from kidlitfrenzy and other

#kidlit bloggers to share wonderful nonfiction picture books.

The intention of today's blog post is to give professionals that work in the
education field new nonfiction reading material and ideas to use 

with students to promote a love of reading nonfiction materials.

Young kids know about the world that is directly around them, but it's through books that they can learn more about their world.

Your Place in the Universe

by Jason Chin

Chin structures this book so well - eight year old kids are looking through a telescope... and there starts the comparisons to the larger life around us.  Chin continues to double in size starting with the eight year olds.  First are a stack of books (the very one we're reading).  But what's double that size?  An ostrich!  And double of that very large bird?  A giraffe!  And it continues, at first using concrete objects (buildings, mountains), that even if a child had never seen, at least had a concept of the size.  However, eventually the size moves to outer space, going from our planet to the moon to the sun, until finally we reach the universe.  While the concept can be so vague, Chin brings understanding to the idea as he builds upon each location going from one to the next larger.  The illustrations have labels that further give understanding to these unknown places.  

The book can be read in different ways.  There is a larger font, main text that can be read first, just to get an understanding of the concept.  Then readers can go back and read the smaller print which gives additional information.  The illustrations are beautiful, no surprise there, but even just going page to page and looking at the pictures gives so much understanding as we move through the cosmos.

Honestly, a phenomenal book that will leave readers going back and exploring more with each read.

Over and Under the Rainforest

written by Kate Messner

illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal

I have enjoyed all of the books in the series and this one is no exception.  The gorgeous and lush colors Neal uses really seems to transport you to this ecosystem.  Want to know more about the animals in the story?  Messner gives additional info in the backmatter about all of the unique animals included in this Costa Rican rainforest story.  

There's a Skeleton Inside You!

by Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost

Ever wonder exactly how your hands and arms move, feel, and lift things?  A very basic introduction to exactly that.  Young readers get a little more understanding of how their body works in this interactive story.

Grow: Secrets of Our DNA

written by Nicola Davies

illustrated by Emily Sutton

I love this author-illustrator pair and their informational texts.  They break down some very complicated material for young readers to understand.  I think one is the most intricately illustrated - I could stare at some of the layouts for a long time.  But I think this one still leaves some questions about what DNA is, it was a simple explanation.  However, having unanswered questions just means more research for kids!

Small Matters: The Hidden Power of the Unseen

by Heather Ferranti Kinser

This book digs into the parts of animals that can't be seen by the naked eye and explains their amazing powers (even if they are unseen)!  For example, did you know the sea snail has teeth on its tongue?  Definitely not something that can be seen, but the teeth are so powerful, they can scrape away at rock!

The book features the animal on the left side of the layout, and a zoomed in look at its small and mighty features the text is talking about.

I think this will be a popular book with many readers!

Happy nonfiction reading!