Library Goddesses - Nonfiction

eyelike Shapes and Patterns

2008-08-13T14:53:00.000-04:00

A visually stunning new series...Flip through the pages and explore picture by picture, words like Round, Spots, Fan-shaped, Wrinkled, and more...see and guess what all the objects have in common...if you like this title, be sure to check out the rest, as well as the new Baby eyelike series...

Mazes around the World

2008-08-13T14:59:00.000-04:00

a great look at a variety of mazes around world ~ from ancient Egyptian mazes, to hedge mazes, to Soekershof mazes, and many in between...learn more about the legends, the puzzles, and more. Great fun!

How Does the Show Go On? by Thomas Schumacher

2007-12-21T14:12:00.000-05:00

I found this book fascinating! From rehearsals to curtain calls, this book covers every possible aspect of staging a Broadway show. It is full of great collateral materials like Playbills, fabric swatches, set design sketches and casting lists. The book is photo-heavy and focuses on child friendly shows (primarily "The Lion King") and the collage-like makeup of the layout make it a delight to read. It is a perfect choice for a child bitten by the theatre bug!!

How to Find Flower Fairies

2007-10-24T15:21:00.000-04:00

Filled with precious knowledge which must be passed on and carefully guarded, this stunning book offers a rare glimpse into the world of fairies.
Stunning dimensional pop-ups, lift the flap tabs, tiny maps, and booklets make this book engagingly interactive and encourage hours of exploration.
Lots of fun - Morrigan

The Edible Pyramid by Loreen Leedy

2007-07-16T09:50:00.000-04:00

I am never a particular fan of Leedy's illustrations but she does have a knack for making complex concepts accessible to children. This is a very timely re-release of the original, updated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's new guidlines for healthy eating. It is a book that will empower children with the knowledge to make the right decisions when it comes to food choices.

Lazy Days of Summer

2007-05-24T17:06:00.000-04:00

Judy Young has written a book of poems about various games that are played in the summer. There is also a history of how the games were started, complete with rules. Some of the games included are hopscotch, tag and jumping rope. Colorful illustrations by Kathy O'Malley compliment the text. With summer vacation just around the corner, this book will certainly be a hit with children.

Many Ways by Shelley Rotner and Sheila M. Kelly Ed.D.

2007-05-11T10:57:00.000-04:00

It can be difficult to explain to children that different people have different beliefs in a candid and non-judgemental way. Thankfully, Rotner and Kelly have written Many Ways. Illustrated with lush photographs, this book thoughtfully and simply explains religion to children. Ages 5-8.

Meet the Author [Series]

2007-05-09T11:25:00.000-04:00

Self Portrait by George Ancona
I love the fact that George is so dedicated to his pictures. He even took all of the pictures for this book -- using a tripod and a camera with a timer so he would have time to pose. It was very neat to see into his studio and to see how he keeps himself organized when planning and writing a book. The most significant message in George's story, though, is that you need to love what you do. He actually quit his job (designing magazines, ads, and TV films) to become a photographer. This book will surely be an inspiration to the children who love his work.

Before It Wriggles Away by Janet S. Wong
Janet readily admits that she didn't like books or reading when she was growing up. A strange admission from an author. Even stranger, however, is that she hated poetry -- and then went on to become a prolific poet. Janet had a very normal childhood; she never thought that her life would be exciting or worthy enough to write about. After becoming a lawyer, she found that she was bored with her job and didn't care as much about money as being happy. She decided to become an author, went back to school, and fell in love with writing. Through her hard work and dedication, Janet became a published author -- and now she loves her job.

Whole Days Outdoors: An Autobiographical Album by Jim Arnosky
One of my favorite things about Jim is his honesty about having a short attention span. With so many kids getting diagnosed with ADD and ADHD, it's refreshing to see an example of how a short attention span can be a positive thing! Jim may not finish a painting in one sitting, but he manages to find the time for both work and play -- while staying physically fit. Definitely a fun book for kids who love animals and the great outdoors -- and, of course, Jim Arnosky's books.

--Hestia

P is for Princess: A Royal Alphabet by Steven L. Layne and Deborah Dover Layne

2007-04-24T17:00:00.000-04:00

Lovely and varied artwork will enchant any 5 to 8 year old princess in training as they read through this factual alphabet book. Filled with vocabulary, history and lore--this book will easily fool the budding royalty you know into learning that being a princess is not all sparkly dresses and fairy godmothers!!

Rudy Rides the Rails-A Depression Era Story by Dandi Daley Mackall

2007-04-01T09:43:00.000-04:00

Although a work of fiction, I've decided to place this book in non-fiction, as it's based on a real person, Ramblin Rudy Phillips. This is an American tale of the Depression and how it affected people throughout the country. Rudy is a teenager in Ohio, who leaves home to ride the rails to California, in search of work. He soon realizes that home is really where he wants to be. Sad, but also hopeful story of one of the worst times in American history. There's a "hobo" glossary in the back and the soft, sepia-colored illustrations add to the atmosphere of the book.

How Tall,How Short, How Faraway

2007-03-24T18:10:00.000-04:00

This simple concept book by David A. Adler gives us information on the first terms of measurement by the ancient Egyptians and Romans, and how we can use these terms to measure simple things around the house and neighborhood. It also gives a clear definition and history of the customary system(used in the U.S.) and the metric system, that's used just about everywhere else. The cartoon-like drawings help to illustrate the math concepts. A good first introduction to measuring systems.

A Drop of Water: A Book of Science and Wonder by Walter Wick

2007-03-10T12:39:00.000-05:00

Filled with gorgeous photography, Wick's book of simple experiments is sure to awaken the scientist in any kid. The book is simple, easy to follow and very informative. A great addition to any home or classroom. -Rhiannon

Dressed for the Occasion by Brandon Marie Miller

2007-03-10T13:08:00.000-05:00

This is a very entertaining overview of the history of Fashion. Miller does a wonderful job of showing kids that the history of clothing reflects the constantly changes mores and values of our country(without making it as dull as that sentence!) Rich with illustration, it's a quirky way of teaching history. -Rhiannon

Show Horses by Margaret Fetty

2007-02-17T11:24:00.000-05:00

I think we all know that there couldn't possibly be enough books about horses...This particular book is part of the "Horse Power" series of photo-heavy books about the various "jobs" that horses hold. The photos are glossy and nicely laid-out and the information, while not extensive, is solid.

Vintage Cars 1919-1930 by L. Michelle Nielsen

2007-02-17T11:29:00.000-05:00

I found the layout of this book a little busy--distracting from the very interesting text. I am myself not especially interested in the history of automobiles but this book is very well-done. It covers just about every aspect of the growth of the auto industry in a light, factual way. Lots of photos enhance the text.

Flower to Honey (a Beginning to End book) by Julie Murray

2007-02-17T11:34:00.000-05:00

At our library, we can't keep these on the shelves! This series explores a given product from start to finish and we find that from age five right up through early readers and into third grade, kids are fascinated by these books. Some other titles include : From Sheep to Sweater, From Grass to Milk, and From Wax to Crayon. Kids love discovering the origins of everyday items. The books include lists of important words, websites and a comprehensive index. This is a great way to turn kids on to non-fiction reading and research. -Rhiannon

Michael Vick by Jill C. Wheeler (part of the "Awesome Athletes" series)

2007-02-17T11:42:00.000-05:00

As a Hokie fan I may be biased, but this book is worth reading. Boys do reach that age where they only want to read about sports figures...this series satisfies both that desire and a parent's desire for their children to read about people with admirable traits. By focusing on the "hard-work-and-triumph-over-adversity" aspect to professional athletics rather than sheer statistics, these books show the better side of pro athletes. Much is made of Michael Vick's focus on his family and charity work. The book includes a glossary and timeline of Vick's career. -Rhiannon

Black Cat Bone

2007-01-30T18:10:00.000-05:00

The life of Robert Johnson, a blues musician with extraordinary talent, is presented in poetic form by J. Patrick Lewis. Considering that Johnson is a man about whom little is known, Lewis provide shape and substance to an important blues musician who lived only to age 27. The illustrations are smoky and indistinct, lending an air of mystery, as well as a flavor of the 1930's, when Johnson performed.

This would be appropriate for a middle school (or older) student, both because the verse would be difficult for a younger student to understand and because of some content. (Johnson's womanizing is mentioned in two poems, including the one in which he is poisoned by a jealous husband.) However, the blues flavor of the poetry, including some of Johnson's lyrics, are powerful and a great medium to introduce blues or the musician's music to students. The book is well written, well illustrated, and...well, it sings!

The Scrapbooker's Idea Book

2007-01-08T18:59:00.000-05:00

Scrapbooking seems to be very popular lately. With plenty of no-cost and low-cost ideas, Kathy Ross gives the reader easy-to-follow instructions to create all kinds of scrapbook and scrapbook pages. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced crafter, this book will give you loads of information to make your creations memorable. Kathy Ross is also the author of other craft books, including Crafts for all Seasons series and Play Doh Crafts. Check out her website.

www.kathyross.com Xochiquetzal

Oh Rats! The Story of Rats and People

2007-01-06T16:33:00.000-05:00

I was more than a bit skeptical about a book about rats...being slightly afraid of them...but this book really captured me with its cool scratchboard illustrations and fascinating history of human and rat interactions. A quirky and intriguing read for those who enjoy nonfiction with plenty of references to additional resources and titles for those who wish to pursue the topic further. -Morrigan

Hiding Edith by Kathy Kacer

2006-12-20T12:40:00.000-05:00

This is the true story of a young Jewish girl's life during the Second World War and how she remained hidden from the Nazi's. Edith Schwalb was one of the lucky children that was helped by the Jewish Scouts of France to remain hidden in a large house in the tiny village of Moissac and then later in other parts of the country. Wonderfully written in a child friendly style that makes it easily accessible for grades 4 and up. An asset to any collection. Nominated for the Ontario 2006 Silver Birch award.

I had the amazing opportunity to meet the subject of this book, Edith Gelbard. I worked with the Durham West Arts Center to arrange for Ms. Gelbard to visit one of the local schools in my library district. She was a wonderful speaker. She interacted with the children easily and was so cheerful and vibrant. There were over 200 kids that attended but they were all entranced by Edith and afterwards crowded in line for the chance to speak with her and get her autography. ~Beag

China ABCs

2006-12-09T11:26:00.000-05:00

Country ABCs are a great alphabet series . These are much more than alphabet books, though. They give real information about each country. In this book, China ABCs, by Holly Schroeder, an example of the letter M is Mao Zedong. Supplemental fast facts are also given on many pages. A glossary, China in Brief, an index and a bibliography are included.Illustrations are clear and colorful and compliment the text. Interesting way for children 4 to 8 to learn about different cultures of the world.- Xochiquetzal

The Story of Salt

2006-12-05T15:35:00.000-05:00

The Story of Salt by Mark Kurlansky explores the many facets of this amazing element. The chemical properties are explained. How salt is made and how salt has shaped the world are also examined. The illustrations by S.D. Schindler are both illuminating and clever. A salt chronology can be found at the end of the book. A fascinating look at NaCl. -Xochiquetzal

Where Does Pepper Come from?

2006-11-27T14:06:00.000-05:00

This is an adorable new book suitable for the curious four-to-seven year old. It poses a number of questions that any child would( Why do bears hibernate? Why are flamingos pink?) and then gives a very silly answer allowing the child being read to to say "NO!" before hearing the truth. This is a fun read as it allows a child to learn true facts in a giggly way. They will catch on quickly to the rhythm of the book and enjoy shouting out "NO" along with the children in the story. I would particularly recommend this to someone looking for a book for boys, as it is often more difficult to get them interested in fiction and there is little age-appropriate non-fiction available to them. -Rhiannon

The Cat with the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin

2006-11-22T10:06:00.000-05:00

This short, succinct book is a chapter from the Holocaust, featuring Ela Weissberger and her life as a young teen in the Terezin concentration camp. During her stay at the camp, she and other young prisoners had the chance to learn and perform in the children's opera, Brundibar, in which Ela plays the role of the cat. The most striking part of this book is the dedication of the adults in the concentration camp toward creating some kind of normalcy for the children, despite the horrific conditions in which they lived. The story does not sugar-coat what happened during the Holocaust, but does end on a positive note with the reunion of several of the girls from the children's barracks at Terezin, as well as the resurgence of Brundibar, the children's opera. This is an excellent choice to put a face on a child of the Holocaust. In addition, the story is somewhat lighter and less disturbing than many books on the Holocaust, making it an appropriate choice for younger readers who may not be ready emotionally to handle the harsher reality of this dark side of World War II.
The Cat with the Yellow Star: Coming of Age in Terezin, by Susan Goldman Rubin with Ela Weissberger (Holiday House, 2006; 0-8234-1831-6; $16.95)