A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION
2018 National Council of Teacher's of English (NCTE) Notable Children's Book in Language Arts
Do you believe everything you read in the newspaper?
Early in August 1937, a news flash came: a sea monster had been spotted lurking off the shore of Nantucket Island. Historically, the Massachusetts island had served as port for whaling ships. Eyewitnesses swore this wasn't a whale, but some new, fearsome creature. As eyewitness account piled up, newspaper stories of the sea monster spread quickly. Across the nation, people shivered in fear.
Then, footprints were found on a Nantucket beach. Photographs were sent to prominent biologists for their opinion. Discussion swirled about raising a hunting party.
On August 18, news spread across the island: the sea monster had been captured. Islanders ran to the beach and couldn't believe their eyes.
This nonfiction picture book is a perfect tool to discuss non-political fake news stories.
Back matter discusses the freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Quotes from Thomas Jefferson make it clear that fake news has always been one of the costs of a free press. A Timeline lists actual events in the order they occurred. A vocabulary list defines relevant words.
The Dog of His Dreams
When cousins Dennis and Mellie decide to get a dog, they consider carefully what breed would be best for each family. For example, Dennis wants a big dog, but Mellie wants tiny. He has no other pets, but she has other pets that a dog must get along with. They consider different dog personalities, family situations, and personal preferences. Dennis writes an opinion essay for his teacher, Mrs. Shirky. But will his essay convince his parents to get the dog of his dreams?
This story takes a popular subject-kids getting a pet-and adds dogs of all sizes and shapes: all writing lessons should be this much fun. In the end, it's cousins and the dogs that keep a reader turning the page. What kind of dog will Dennis choose? Will Mellie want the same kind of dog?
This story hits many notes:
I WANT A DOG almost makes opinion essays look too easy. But it works on many other levels, as well. Younger kids will be excited to learn the differences between dogs and will laugh at the antics of the dogs. Elementary kids will rejoice in a story of cousins (and will write the best essays ever ). A universal dream - a great pet - becomes an engaging writing lesson.
See other books in THE READ AND WRITE series:
WATCH DARCY PATTISON EXPLAIN HOW TO TEACH NARRATIVE WRITING
In this 20-minute video, watch author Darcy Pattison explain how to teach narrative writing with this book: mimshouse.com/writing-opinion-essays/
The compass needle always pointed north.
This simple observation sent William Gilbert deep into research about magnets. William's insatiable curiosity led him to collect lodestones from all over the world, conducting fascinating experiments that debunked myths and revealed astonishing facts about magnets.
But he kept coming back to the question of why the compass needle pointed north. He finally concluded that Earth itself is a great magnet.
Gilbert's research led to a book about magnetism and earned him the name, the Father of Magnetism. Come on a journey of curiosity to discover the wonder of magnets and Earth's magnetic mysteries.
MAGNET joins eight other books in award-winning Moments in Science series that focuses on small moments that changed science.
MOMENTS IN SCIENCE SERIES by Darcy Pattison, illustrated by Peter Willis
This exciting series focuses on small moments in science that made a difference. The first six books have been translated into Korean.
- BURN: Michael Faraday's Candle
- CLANG! Ernst Chladni's Sound Experiments, 2019 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
- POLLEN: Darwin's 130 Year Prediction, Junior Library Guild selection, Starred Kirkus Review 2020 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
- ECLIPSE: How the 1919 Eclipse Proved Einstein's Theory of General Relativity
- EROSION: How Hugh Bennett saved America's Soil and Ended the Dust Bowl, 2021 NSSTA Notable Social Studies Book
- A.I. How Patterns Helped A.I. Defeat World Champion Lee Sedol
- FEVER: How Tu Youyou Adapted Traditional Chinese Medicine to Find a Cure for Malaria
- AQUARIUM: How Jeannette Power Invented the Aquarium to Study Marine Life
- MAGNET: How William Gilbert Discovered That Earth Is a Great Magnet
When the dust storms of the 1930s threatened to destroy U.S. farming and agriculture, Hugh Bennett knew what to do. For decades, he had studied the soils in every state, creating maps showing soil composition nationwide. He knew what should be grown in each area, and how to manage the land to conserve the soil. He knew what to do for weathering and erosion.
To do that, he needed the government's help. But how do you convince politicians that the soil needs help?
Hugh Bennett knew what to do. He waited for the wind.
This is the exciting story of a soil scientist confronting politicians to encourage them to pass a law to protect the land, the soil. When the U.S. Congress passed a law establishing the Soil Conservation Service, it was the first government agency in the world dedicated to protecting the land, to protecting the Earth.
Reading this amazing story of an unchronicled early environmentalist, Hugh Bennett, the founder of the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service).
Come one, come all! The Gingerbread Fair opens soon!
Teams of kids are baking, building, and decorating. The project guidelines are clear: the winning house must stand upright on its own and a gingerbread boy and girl must fit inside.
Sounds easy? It would be except...cookies burn, the icing is too thin, the house caves-in, someone is eating the candy decorations, and-oh!-they forgot about the gingerbread boy and girl.
Follow the team as they struggle to create the perfect gingerbread house. Young engineers will learn to overcome problems and press on to a finished house. At the end, they evaluate their efforts and plan for a better gingerbread house.
Need a winter STEM engineering project? This book inspires the budding engineers to think about the classic gingerbread house in a new way. Written in a lyrical rhyme, it's sure to please the language arts folks, too.
The Cat of Her Dreams
When cousins Mellie and Dennis decide to get a cat, they consider carefully what breed would be best for each family. For example, Mellie wants a cat that pounces, but Dennis wants a lazy cat, like his lazy dog, Clark Kent. Mellie wants a lap cat, but Dennis just wants a warm body BESIDE him. They consider different cat personalities, family situations, and personal preferences.
Mellie writes an opinion essay for her teacher, Mr. Eagle. But will her essay convince her parents to get the cat of her dreams?
This children's picture book takes a popular subject-kids getting a pet-and adds cats of all sizes and shapes: all writing lessons should be this much fun. In the end, it's the cousins and the cats that keep a reader turning the page. What kind of cat will Mellie choose? Will Dennis want the same kind of cat?
This story hits many notes:
I WANT A CAT almost makes opinion essays look too easy. But it works on many other levels, as well. Younger kids will be excited to learn the differences between dogs and will laugh at the antics of the dogs. Elementary kids will rejoice in a story of cousins (and will write the best essays ever ). A universal dream - a great pet - becomes an engaging writing lesson.
See other books in THE READ AND WRITE series:
WATCH DARCY PATTISON DISCUSS HOW TO TEACH OPINION ESSAYS
In this 20-minute video, author Darcy Pattison explains how to use this book to teach opinion essays: mimshouse.com/writing-opinion-essays/
JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD SELECTION
2018 National Council of Teacher's of English (NCTE) Notable Children's Book in Language Arts
A NON-POLITICAL FAKE NEWS STORY FOR KIDS: EXAMPLE OF 1ST AMENDMENT FREE PRESS ISSUES
Do you believe everything you read in the newspaper?
Early in August 1937, a news flash came: a sea monster had been spotted lurking off the shore of Nantucket Island. Historically, the Massachusetts island had served as port for whaling ships. Eyewitnesses swore this wasn't a whale, but some new, fearsome creature. As eyewitness account piled up, newspaper stories of the sea monster spread quickly. Across the nation, people shivered in fear.
Then, footprints were found on a Nantucket beach. Photographs were sent to prominent biologists for their opinion. Discussion swirled about raising a hunting party.
On August 18, news spread across the island: the sea monster had been captured. Islanders ran to the beach and couldn't believe their eyes.
This nonfiction picture book is a perfect tool to discuss non-political fake news stories. Tony Sarg, famous as the inventor of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons, Macy's officials and newsmen cooperated in a huge publicity stunt. The fake news generated was valued at thousands of dollars of free publicity.
Back matter discusses the freedom of the press guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Quotes from Thomas Jefferson make it clear that fake news has always been one of the costs of a free press. A Timeline lists actual events in the order they occurred. A vocabulary list defines relevant words.
Read this incredible true story of how Tony Sarg and the press knowingly fooled everyone with fake news.
Come one, come all! The Gingerbread Fair opens soon!
Teams of kids are baking, building, and decorating. The project guidelines are clear: the winning house must stand upright on its own and a gingerbread boy and girl must fit inside.
Sounds easy? It would be except...cookies burn, the icing is too thin, the house caves-in, someone is eating the candy decorations, and-oh!-they forgot about the gingerbread boy and girl.
Follow the team as they struggle to create the perfect gingerbread house. Young engineers will learn to overcome problems and press on to a finished house. At the end, they evaluate their efforts and plan for a better gingerbread house.
Need a winter STEM engineering project? This book inspires the budding engineers to think about the classic gingerbread house in a new way. Written in a lyrical rhyme, it's sure to please the language arts folks, too.
When the dust storms of the 1930s threatened to destroy U.S. farming and agriculture, Hugh Bennett knew what to do. For decades, he had studied the soils in every state, creating maps showing soil composition nationwide. He knew what should be grown in each area, and how to manage the land to conserve the soil. He knew what to do for weathering and erosion.
To do that, he needed the government's help. But how do you convince politicians that the soil needs help?
Hugh Bennett knew what to do. He waited for the wind.
This is the exciting story of a soil scientist confronting politicians to encourage them to pass a law to protect the land, the soil. When the U.S. Congress passed a law establishing the Soil Conservation Service, it was the first government agency in the world dedicated to protecting the land, to protecting the Earth.
Reading this amazing story of an unchronicled early environmentalist, Hugh Bennett, the founder of the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service).
**Starred Review in Publisher's Weekly** The Oldest Bird in the World Survives the Japanese Tsunami
The oldest bird in the world, documented with banding, is Wisdom, the Midway Albatross. She was on Midway when the Japanese Tsunami hit and this is her amazing story of survival of manmade and natural disasters for over 60 years. She has survived the dangers of living wild, plastic pollution, longline fishing, lead poisoning, and the Japanese earthquake. At 65, she's still laying eggs and hatching chicks. See her Facebook page at facebook.com/wisdomthealbatross
Wildlife artist Kitty Harvill used photos as a reference for her luminous watercolors. Her ability to depict a specific individual, not just a generic image of a species, makes this a unique portrait and a biography in text and art. Pattison's story, vetted by scientists in the field, explains the difficulties of surviving in the wild for a Laysan albatross. It's incredible that the bird banding program happened to band this unique bird early in her life and can still follow her story today.
Read this children's nonfiction picture book, story of survival and hope amidst the difficulties of life.
2024 Best STEM Book - National Science Teaching Association
In January 1776, George Washington had a problem: the British army controlled the city of Boston. The colonial army needed to force the British to leave. But how?
Washington had a solution: ask his engineer Rufus Putnam to solve the problem. They needed to take control of the high ground, Dorchester Heights, just south of Boston. They could place cannons there to bombard the British army.
Cannons on Dorchester Heights meant the colonials needed to build walls to protect their soldiers. But January in Massachusetts was so cold that the ground was frozen. No one could dig foundations for walls. Inspired by a French book, Putnam designed a wall of wood, filled with bundles of sticks. Quartermaster Thomas Mifflin gathered wood, wagons, hay bales and much more from the surrounding countryside.
On March 4, 1776, Boston lay under a light fog, while Dorchester Heights saw a full moon. That night, men brought in materials and built a defensive wall, and then brought in cannons. By morning the battle was won, without firing a shot. Putnam's plan had worked! After eight years of occupying Boston, the British sailed away on March 17, 1776.
Courage and engineering ingenuity are celebrated in this intriguing story of the role of engineering in the Revolutionary War. Later in life, Rufus Putnam advocated for the establishment of the Corps of Engineers.
POLLEN: DARWIN'S 130 YEAR PREDICTION
Elementary Science - POLLEN
How long does it take for science to find an answer to a problem?
On January 25, 1862, naturalist Charles Darwin received a box of orchids. One flower, the Madagascar star orchid, fascinated him. It had an 11.5 nectary, the place where flowers make nectar, the sweet liquid that insects and birds eat. How, he wondered, did insects pollinate the orchid? It took 130 years to find the answer.
After experiments, he made a prediction. There must be a giant moth with a 11.5 proboscis, a straw-like tongue. Darwin died without ever seeing the moth, which was catalogued by entomologists in in 1903. But still no one had actually observed the moth pollinating the orchid.
In 1992, German entomologist, Lutz Thilo Wasserthal, Ph.D. traveled to Madagascar. By then, the moths were rare. He managed to capture two moths and released them in a cage with the orchid. He captured the first photo of the moth pollinating the flower, as Darwin had predicted 130 years before.
Backmatter includes information on the moth, the orchid, Charles Darwin, Lutz Wasserthal. Also included is Wasserthal's original photo taken in 1992.
MOMENTS IN SCIENCE COLLECTION
This exciting series focuses on small moments in science that made a difference.
In 1915, British astronomer Arthur Stanley Eddington was fascinated with Einstein's new theory of general relativity. The theory talks about how forces push and pull objects in space. Einstein said that the sun's gravity could pull and bend light.
To test this, astronomers decided to photograph a solar eclipse. The eclipse would allow them to photograph the stars before and during the solar eclipse. If the star's position moved, then it was evidence that that light had bent. Eddington and his team traveled from England to the island of Principe, just off the African coast, to photograph the eclipse.
In simple language, this nonfiction illustrated picture book explains how the push (acceleration) and pull (gravity) of space affects light.
Back matter includes information on Einstein, Eddington, and the original photograph of the 1919 solar eclipse.
MOMENTS IN SCIENCE COLLECTION
This exciting series focuses on small moments in science that made a difference.
The Dog of His Dreams
When cousins Dennis and Mellie decide to get a dog, they consider carefully what breed would be best for each family. For example, Dennis wants a big dog, but Mellie wants tiny. He has no other pets, but she has other pets that a dog must get along with. They consider different dog personalities, family situations, and personal preferences. Dennis writes an opinion essay for his teacher, Mrs. Shirky. But will his essay convince his parents to get the dog of his dreams?
This story takes a popular subject--kids getting a pet--and adds dogs of all sizes and shapes: all writing lessons should be this much fun. In the end, it's cousins and the dogs that keep a reader turning the page. What kind of dog will Dennis choose? Will Mellie want the same kind of dog?
This story hits many notes:
I WANT A DOG almost makes opinion essays look too easy. But it works on many other levels, as well. Younger kids will be excited to learn the differences between dogs and will laugh at the antics of the dogs. Elementary kids will rejoice in a story of cousins (and will write the best essays ever ). A universal dream - a great pet - becomes an engaging writing lesson.
See other books in THE READ AND WRITE series:
WATCH DARCY PATTISON EXPLAIN HOW TO WRITE OPINION ESSAYS
This 20-minute video explains how to teach opinion essay writing using this book: mimshouse.com/writing-opinion-essays/
In 1818, Jeannette Power, a young French woman moved to Sicily and fell in love with the Mediterranean Sea and the Argonauta Argo octopus, the weirdest octopus on Earth.
Amazing weird fact: The Argonaut octopus creates a delicate shell for itself which it uses to travel up and down in the water and as a safe place to raise its young.
At the time, though, the only way to study a marine animal was if it was dead on land. That wasn't good enough. Jeannette wanted to study this creature alive. She had many questions: did it create its own shell, how did it reproduce, what did it eat, and did it know she was watching? She knew that careful observation was the only way to answer her questions.
Follow Jeannette on her quest for answers about one of the most mysterious marine animals on Earth.
In 1915, British astronomer Arthur Stanley Eddington was fascinated with Einstein's new theory of general relativity. The theory talks about how forces push and pull objects in space. Einstein said that the sun's gravity could pull and bend light.
To test this, astronomers decided to photograph the 1919 solar eclipse. The eclipse would allow them to photograph the stars before and during the solar eclipse. If the star's position moved, then it was evidence that that light had bent. Eddington and his team traveled from England to the island of Principe, just off the African coast, to photograph the eclipse.
In simple language, this nonfiction illustrated picture book explains how the push (acceleration) and pull (gravity) of space affects light.
Back matter includes information on Einstein, Eddington, and the original photograph of the 1919 solar eclipse.
The text of the book is wonderfully clear and easy to follow, and the illustrations are great, both lively and informative. The story of the eclipse unfolds dramatically, and the science is explained vividly and correctly. Daniel John Kennefick, Astrophysicist and Science Historian
MOMENTS IN SCIENCE COLLECTION
This exciting series focuses on small moments in science that made a difference.
For ages 7-12
People were dying! Malaria is a deadly mosquito-borne disease that causes fevers, chills and often death. In 1969, the People's Republic of China created a task force to find a cure.
Working in the 1970s, Chinese scientist Tu Youyou reviewed the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) scrolls for ideas on where to start her research. She found 640 traditional treatments, and methodically started extracting compounds and testing them against malaria. Would any of them work?
Courage, resilience, and perseverance--follow the struggles of Nobel Prize scientist Tu Youyou as she works to find a cure to malaria.
Book 7, Moments in Science Series
This exciting series focuses on small moments in science that made a difference.
- BURN: Michael Faraday's Candle
- CLANG! Ernst Chladni's Sound Experiments, 2019 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
- POLLEN: Darwin's 130 Year Prediction, Junior Library Guild selection, Starred Kirkus Review. 2020 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book
- ECLIPSE: How the 1919 Eclipse Proved Einstein's Theory of General Relativity
- EROSION: How Hugh Bennett saved America's Soil and Ended the Dust Bowl, 2021 NSSTA Notable Social Studies Book
- A.I. How Patterns Helped A.I. Defeat World Champion Lee Sedol
- FEVER: How Tu Youyou Used Traditional Chinese Medicine to Find a Cure for Malaria
The stage was set for a showdown: Man v. Machine.
On March 9, 2016, the AlphaGo artificial intelligence computer program played the board game, GO, against the world champion, Lee Sedol.
The Game: Go is the oldest board game in the world. Games are perfect tests for A.I because they keep score. It's easy to see when the A.I. is improving.
The Man: Korean Lee Sedol was the world's top Go player. He expected to win all five games of the match. Could the A.I. teach him anything?
The Machine: Developed in 2014, AlphaGo was a computer artificial intelligence program designed to play Go by using deep learning to recognize patterns in the game. It had already beaten the European champion. Could it defeat Sedol?
The exciting historic meeting of minds unfolded across five difficult games. This story introduces concepts of artificial intelligence and helps kids understand the challenges and the promise of working with A.I.
MOMENTS IN SCIENCE COLLECTION, Book 6
This exciting series focuses on small moments in science that made a difference.
- BURN: Michael Faraday's Candle
- CLANG! Ernst Chladni's Sound Experiments (2019 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book)
- POLLEN: Darwin's 130 Year Prediction (Junior Library Guild selection, Starred Kirkus Review. 2020 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book)
- ECLIPSE: How the 1919 Eclipse Proved Einstein's Theory of General Relativity
- EROSION: How Hugh Bennett Saved America's Soil and Ended the Dust Bowl (2021 NCSS Notable Social Studies Book)
- AI: How Pattern Recognition Helped Artificial Intelligence Defeat World Champion Lee Sedol
The stage was set for a showdown: Man v. Machine. On March 9, 2016, the AlphaGo artificial intelligence computer program played the board game, GO, against the world champion, Lee Sedol.
The Game: Go is the oldest board game in the world. Games are perfect tests for A.I because they keep score. It's easy to see when the A.I. is improving.
The Man: Korean Lee Sedol was the world's top Go player. He expected to win all five games of the match. Could the A.I. teach him anything?
The Machine: Developed in 2014, AlphaGo was a computer artificial intelligence program designed to play Go by using deep learning to recognize patterns in the game. It had already beaten the European champion. Could it defeat Sedol?
The exciting historic meeting of minds unfolded across five difficult games. This story introduces concepts of artificial intelligence and helps kids understand the challenges and the promise of working with A.I.
MOMENTS IN SCIENCE COLLECTION, Book 6
This exciting series focuses on small moments in science that made a difference.
- BURN: Michael Faraday's Candle
- CLANG! Ernst Chladni's Sound Experiments (2019 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book)
- POLLEN: Darwin's 130 Year Prediction (Junior Library Guild selection, Starred Kirkus Review. 2020 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book)
- ECLIPSE: How the 1919 Eclipse Proved Einstein's Theory of General Relativity
- EROSION: How Hugh Bennett Saved America's Soil and Ended the Dust Bowl (2021 NCSS Notable Social Studies Book)
- AI: How Pattern Recognition Helped Artificial Intelligence Defeat World Champion Lee Sedol
In January 1776, George Washington had a problem: the British army controlled the city of Boston. The colonial army needed to force the British to leave. But how?
Washington had a solution: ask his engineer Rufus Putnam to solve the problem. They needed to take control of the high ground, Dorchester Heights, just south of Boston. They could place cannons there to bombard the British army.
Cannons on Dorchester Heights meant the colonials needed to build walls to protect their soldiers. But January in Massachusetts was so cold that the ground was frozen. No one could dig foundations for walls. Inspired by a French book, Putnam designed a wall of wood, filled with bundles of sticks. Quartermaster Thomas Mifflin gathered wood, wagons, hay bales and much more from the surrounding countryside.
On March 4, 1776, Boston lay under a light fog, while Dorchester Heights saw a full moon. That night, men brought in materials and built a defensive wall, and then brought in cannons. By morning the battle was won, without firing a shot. Putnam's plan had worked! After eight years of occupying Boston, the British sailed away on March 17, 1776.
Courage and engineering ingenuity are celebrated in this intriguing story of the role of engineering in the Revolutionary War. Later in life, Rufus Putnam advocated for the establishment of the Corps of Engineers.