Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday - the world around us, part 2 - 5.15.19

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.

Oh my, my nonfiction stacks have gotten OUT OF CONTROL!  I really need to read and post.  I'm hoping to have a month worth of new(er) nonfiction to share with you in the upcoming weeks.  Be sure to check back on Wednesdays, here's what's coming:
1.  books for little foodies! 
2.  picture book biographies featuring men
3.  picture book biographies featuring women, part 1
4.  picture book biographies featuring women, part 2
5.  celebrating baseball - Yogi Berra blog tour
6.  animal nonfiction books, part 1
7.  animal nonfiction books, part 2
8.  the world around us, part 1
9.  the world around us, part 2



Today marks the last in the series!  I had a lot of nonfiction books to read in my stacks, hope you enjoyed the roundups!  Today is the part 2 of books that feature the world around us!


       
Wonders of America series:  Yellowstone and The Grand Canyon
written by Marion Dane Bauer
illustrated by John Wallace
This is a new series from the Simon and Schuster group, Simon Spotlight.  These books are written for readers who are beginning their reading journey.  This series focuses on some of the wonders of America and are meant to be a quick introduction.  Relying mostly on sight words and decodable text, the sentences are short and to the point.  Each story gives some information about the national park, enough that a young reader gets a few facts and quick understanding about the park.  Other books in the series include the Statue of Liberty, the Rocky Mountains, Mount Rushmore and Niagara Falls!


Hey, Water!
by Antoinette Portis
Love this book by Portis, concentrating on all the water there is around us.  From water in a drinking glass to water in a bathtub, from water in a dewdrop to water in a lake - Portis compares the different forms, shapes and properties water can take.  This is one of those books that I may read multiple times and find new ideas in her groupings and comparisons.  
The backmatter also has information that has classroom uses.  From a map of the water cycle to information on how to conserve water, you won't want to miss this information!


Popcorn Country: The Story of America's Favorite Snack
written by Cris Peterson
photographs by David R. Lundquist
Popcorn has always been a favorite snack of mine.  Whether cooking it in an air popper, in the microwave or buying it at the movie theater, it's always a tasty treat!  This book gives all the information you want to know about popcorn before it gets to the store or movie theater!  There's some really interesting facts too - like did you know the United States produces almost all of the world's supply of popcorn??


Stretch to the Sun: From a Tiny Sprout to the Tallest Tree on Earth
written by Carrie A. Pearson
illustrated by Susan Swan
Celebrating the redwood trees, Pearson details the magnificence of these trees and tells the story of one particular tree that started off as such a tiny shoot, but now grows tall, perhaps tallest, in the forest. 
Don't miss the fascinating backmatter.  I thought this was really interesting - did you know no one knows the site of 2 trees that are racing to be the tallest tree?  Scientists actually will not tell you where they are, keeping the location hidden in the hopes the trees will continue to grow and grow!


Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet
written by Curtis Manley
illustrated by Jessica Lanan
You know the Goldilocks lesson - looking for the "just right" things.  This book explores all of the different ways we are researching the universe around us, searching for what could be another "just right" planet.  Full of amazing research and information, this is a great book that explores the what ifs, what could bes, and gets readers to think about the possibilities of life in the universe.


And one fiction book to add to this collection.  I know, it's a nonfiction post, but I wanted to share this book because it goes along with the theme so well!  There is a lot of information to be picked up in this one - great to use to sort and collect, what information can you compare and contrast?


The Home Builders
written by Varsha Bajaj
illustrated by Simona Mulazzani
Looking at the different homes animals create - below ground, above, in the air, inside nooks and crannies of the earth.  Would be great to use with young readers to note similarities and differences of homes and locations.


Happy nonfiction reading!