Homeschoolers - January 2022
New Non-Fiction for Kids
What's Inside a Drone?
by Arnold Ringstad

Introduces readers to the parts inside a drone and how they work together to make the drone function. Features labeled photos that highlight each part of the drone to enhance reader understanding. Additional features include captions, a table of contents, a phonetic glossary, sources for further research and an index. 
 
Borrow the rest of the "What's Inside" series.
Ada Twist, Scientist: Exploring Flight!
by Andrea Beaty

A full-color nonfiction early reader, based on the new Ada Twist, Scientist Netflix series, teaches kids all about flight, including information about creatures that fly, the history of aircrafts and modern technology that allows humans to soar through the air faster than ever.
 
Don't miss book #2: All About Plants!
 
Let's Eat!: Meal Time Around the World
by Lynne Marie

Dig in to this fun and informational book that explores foods from 13 countries around the world. Meet characters from countries including Sweden, Peru, Pakistan, Nigeria, and more as they enjoy breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Be inspired to try something new and learn about other cultures. Let's eat!
Ultimate Rockopedia: The Most Complete Rocks & Minerals Reference Ever
by Steve Tomecek

A National Geographic Kids introduction to the amazing world of rocks, minerals, and the science of geology covers the early formation of a rocky Earth, the evolution of various rock types through the major rock-forming minerals, and how young students can identify backyard samples. 
Amazing Athletes: An All-Star Look at Canada's Paralympians
by Marie-claude Ouellet

This nonfiction book introduces readers to Canadian Paralympians and the sports they play, from PEI-born Para ice hockey pro Billy Bridges, to Goalball player and Iranian refugee Ahmad Zeividavi. Each section details a competitor's journey to professional sports, their greatest triumphs, and what inspires them most. Along the way, readers will deepen their knowledge of Para sports like Wheelchair curling, Para swimming, and more.
3D Paper Crafts for Kids: 26 Creative Projects to Make from A-Z
by Helen Drew

Featuring step-by-step instructions, coordinating photography and templates, this easy project guide carefully illustrates how to create 26 charming projects from paper and other household items. Organized alphabetically, fun-filled activities show kids how to create giraffes, kites, owls, queens, trees, zebras and so much more! 
It Takes Guts: How Your Body Turns Food into Fuel (and Poop)
by Jennifer Gardy

"It Takes Guts" is an excellent, science-based resource for classroom learning and home-schooling for kids age 9 to 13, with information about the surprising role that food and digestion play in your mood and immune system, the amazing tools your body uses to break down food including acids, the incredible truth that not all bacteria is bad, and so much more.
Spotlight on Coding
Coding at the Grocery Store
by Colleen Van Lent

Offers a look at the Makers movement for young readers and addresses STEM topics, from computer coding and 3D printing to starting your own Makerspace. Additional tools, including a glossary and an index, help students learn new vocabulary and locate information. 
Star Wars Coding Projects : A Step-by-step Visual Guide to Coding Your Own Animations, Games, Simulations and More! Using Scratch
by Jon Woodcock

A step-by-step, visual guide to coding fun animations, games and sprites in Scratch outlines a variety of projects inspired by the Star Wars universe.
Ava in Code Land
by Jess Hitchman

Ava thinks living in a video game is pretty cool. She and her cat, Pixels, spend their days riding breakfast rollercoasters and heading to underwater discos. And if something isn't exactly perfect, Ava can reprogram the world to be just the way she likes it. But then the game's villain, Max Hacksalot, comes along on his magical pirate unicorn and breaks all of Ava's code. When Max manages to send them all to the Game Over screen, it's up to Ava and her coding skills to save the day!
Gabi's If/Then Garden
by Caroline Karanja

Gabi's garden needs some help. Where to begin? Gabi and her best friend Adi use if/then statements to decide what to plant, what to water, and what to pick! These scientific thinkers find ways every day to use computer coding concepts to make work and play more fun!
 
Read the series.
How to be a Coder
by Kiki Prottsman

A kid-friendly introduction to coding shares comprehensive, STEAM-supporting activities that demonstrate how to work offline and online using Scratch 3.0 and includes short biographies of such coding pioneers as Alan Turing and Katherine Johnson.
Secret Coders
by Gene Luen Yang

Attending an elite school where enterprising students are challenged to solve a variety of clues and puzzles using computer programming, Hopper and her friend, Eni, resolve to crack the school founder's most elusive mystery together.
 
Read the series.
20-Minute (or Less) Animation Hacks
by Sheela Preuitt

Beginning coders can build their skill set with the book's step-by-step instructions and animation projects on the Vidcode platform. Start with stopmotion, add text and emoji, and finish with a few special effects!
 
Check out the rest of the books in the series.
Algorithms with Disney Frozen
by Allyssa Loya

This simple, unplugged introduction to algorithms is designed for young readers not yet ready for coding on computers. Beloved characters Elsa and Anna, from Disney's Frozen franchise, draw in readers new to coding concepts. How do computers know what to do? Do they have brains? Of course not! People write lines of code that tell a computer what to do. Several lines of code make up an algorithm. You can write algorithms too! You can even write algorithms for a friend instead of a computer.
 
Love this title? Discover more Disney Coding Adventures.
The Friendship Code
by Stacia Deutsch

Loops, variables, input/output - Lucy can't wait to get started with the new coding club at school. Finally, an after school activity that she's really interested in. But Lucy's excitement turns to disappointment when she's put into a work group with girls she barely knows. All she wanted to do was make an app that she believes will help someone very special to her.

Suddenly, Lucy begins to get cryptic coding messages and needs some help translating them. She soon discovers that coding - and friendship - takes time, dedication, and some laughs!
 
Read the series.
Brainfuse - Connect to a Live Tutor!
 
The Brainfuse database offers a comprehensive suite of online academic services designed to support many learning needs and styles.
 
- Access live online tutoring every day between 2:00 pm and 11:00 pm. Tutoring available in English et en français.
 
- Access curriculum-based learning with lessons, videos, and practice tests.
 
- Submit essays and other forms of writing for constructive feedback.
 
- Access the Vocabulary Builder to help you learn a new language.
 
Visit www.ckpl.ca/virtual to access Brainfuse and CKPL's other databases.
 
Ask us for more great recommendations!
Sign up for more NextReads newsletters here.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube Instagram
www.ckpl.ca