Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - predators and gentle giants 8.30.17


Every Wednesday 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.


The larger something is the more dangerous it is, right?  Yes and no.  Size has changed as the world continues to evolve.  Big doesn't always mean predator, and big definitely does not always mean smarter.  These books give amazing information about size.


Apex Predators by Steve Jenkins
Apex Predators 
by Steve Jenkins
Everyone knows, anything Steve Jenkins publishes is genius.  I love how he takes ideas and makes you think more about them and his illustrations always make concepts understandable.
In this book, Jenkins takes a look at predators of past and present.  And not just any predator, predators that are/were the top of their game - apex predators.  Some are familiar - the great white shark and they tyrannosaurus rex.  Some will be new to readers.  
My favorite part of the book is the comparison chart between the predator and a human male.  You will be shocked at how large some of these apex predators were!
Jenkins takes a moment at the end to remind readers the strongest apex predator of all - a human.  Why?  It's not strength, but brains, ability to make/create with our hands and being able to work together with others (strength in numbers and all that).

National Geographic Readers by Melissa Stewart
Predator Face-Off
written by Melissa Stewart
Snakes, big cats and sharks.  All very different sizes, all extremely dangerous predators.  Stewart compares three different animals and they way they attack their prey.  I think each one made me shudder a bit more!  
Seeing as this is a National Geographic Kids book, you know the photographs are going to be amazing.  Seeing the snake eat its prey - I was equally part amazed and disgusted!


Thirsty, Thirsty Elephants by Sandra Markle
Thirsty, Thirsty Elephants
written by Sandra Markle
illustrated by Fabricio VandenBroeck
Now onto one of the largest animals living today, the elephant.
In this narrative nonfiction story, we see the powerful memory of the elephant as Grandma Elephant is able to recall a watering hole from her past that saves her herd from the current drought.  Based upon a real elephant, young readers will see just one example of how strong elephant memories are.


What interesting animals to compare!  Happy nonfiction reading!

3 comments:

  1. Steve Jenkins amazes me, and now here is another that I know I will enjoy. It looks great, Michele. The National Geographic Books are musts for classrooms, aren't they? And I loved Thirsty, Thirsty Elephants, beautiful story & illustrations, too. Thanks for all!

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  2. I just placed a hold on Thirsty, Thirsty Elephants. Thanks!

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  3. Oh, that Apex Predator cover! Talk about eye-catching!!

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