Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Nonfiction Wednesday

 
I'm excited that Alyson Beecher, at Kid Lit Frenzy, is continuing her Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge for the fourth year in a row.

My goal is to read 100 nonfiction books  in 2015- including picture books, long picture books, YA, or adult.  My overall reading goal is 250 books, so that's not quite half my overall reading, but it's respectable. ;-)
 
I'm still catching up on a few nonfiction picture books from 2014.  There are SO many good ones!
 
Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas
 
 
2014-book, animals, home, journey, mock-caldecott-2015, nonfiction, nonfictionchallenge2015, picture-book

 
I loved this story about Elizabeth, the elephant seal, who considered the Avon River in Christchurch, New Zealand her home. Floca's illustrations, especially of Elizabeth's expressions, are wonderful. I'm so glad long-distance, open-water swimmer, Lynne Cox, chose to tell this story.
 
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes
 
 
 
 
My last 2014 Winter #Bookaday! The illustrations are fantastic in this simple picture book about microbes and their role as "the invisible transformers of our world - the tiniest lives doing some of the biggest jobs." On a side note, I have students who LOVE microbes and collect GIANT microbes.  Have you seen them?!  If not, you have to check them out!
 
Every Last Drop: Bringing Clean Water Home
 
 
 
I'm so glad I was introduced to this book by reading Alyson Beecher's "Best Of" post for nonfiction picture books. I loved Michelle Mulder's conversational and friendly tone as she teaches all about the history of water, how various cultures get water, the struggle for water in various places of the world, and the calling us to action to conserve water and help others' get water. It's PERFECT for our #ReadWalkWater/Social Responsibility unit! Great photos, too.

 
 
 

 

8 comments:

  1. Great background photo for your OLW: FOCUS.

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  2. I really enjoyed Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas too. I bought Tiny Creatures for our library, but haven't had a chance to read it yet. Every Last Drop looks wonderful. We have a unit like that in fourth grade. I will look for it. Thanks!

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  3. Great books! I really enjoyed Tiny Creatures, not only was it good information, but I thought it was organized so well! I'll have to look for the Water one!

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  4. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Elizabeth and Tiny Creatures is on my Goodreads list to read now!

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  5. Hi there Holly, my daughter loved Tiny Creatures when she read it last year. All the other titles we haven't read yet, so will definitely try to find in our library.

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  6. I have Elizabeth, will get to it soon, and loved Tiny Creatures-so interesting. I learned a lot, too! Thanks also for the water book. There is a class studying all issues and science about water. I'll share it with them.

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  7. I have the same goal as you - 100! Tiny Creatures is really great. I want to share it with my class soon.

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  8. Thanks for the recommendations Holly! We really enjoyed Elizabeth Queen of the Seas. We have to read Every Last Drop - Wondering if this would be a good text to pair with The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.

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