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Ceclia Payne was born in England in 1900, a time when there was no room for women in the field of astronomy or other academic fields. But she was full of curiosity and was a keen observer of the world around her. She knew what she wanted, and she pursued her interests — despite the disapproval of others. She was often the only woman in her college classes, and some professors made her sit by herself. Cecilia was the first to propose that stars are made mostly of gasses. The theory at the time was that stars were made up of the same stuff as Earth. It took the broader scientific community years to catch up with her, but eventually she was proven correct. Beautifully illustrated, this book celebrates one trailblazer's determination and success. Additional information, including a timeline, completes the package. Astronomy; Women Scientists; Staying True to Oneself; Determination |
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This amazing story reminds readers to listen to the dreams of their heart, no matter what others say. Cristina loved the ocean and swam often in the Mediterranean Sea near her home. After moving to the Bahamas and learning to scuba dive, she was able to get closer to her favorite ocean creatures: sharks. Gradually earning their trust, she began to remove rusty fishhooks stuck in the sharks' jaws and fins, relieving their suffering and inspiring her role as conservationist. The book ends with informative notes about sharks and how to help them along with a note from Cristina. Pair this with Jess Keating's Shark Lady, a biography of American ichthyologist Eugenie Clark, to complete the experience. Sharks; Conservation; Perseverance; Following One's Heart |
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Where does dust come from, and how does if impact our planet? Brief text and stunning illustrations describe the creation of dust in a dried-up lakebed on the African continent and traces its journey to the Atlantic Ocean (where it provides nutrients and feeds plankton), the Amazon Rainforest (where it restores phosphorous washed away by the rain), and beyond. The dust can even be spotted from space! An informational section expands on the text, providing more details about Saharan dust and its role in nature and provides additional resources. Ages 4 - 9 Nature; Atmospheric Science; Environmental Science; Desert Biomes |
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Donning snorkels and fins, a boy and his father head into the ocean to discover an amazing array of living things: delicate sea fans, a graceful stingray with a bluehead wrasse following close behind, a banded coral shrimp, and so much more! In a breathless moment, a dark shadow reveals itself to be a large nurse shark that searches the sand "with a mouth made for slurping up urchins and squid." Engaging text and detailed artwork add sense of adventure to this look at a fascinating environment. A list of creatures at the end with descriptions and snapshot images encourages kids to find them in the book and do some further research. Look for other titles in Messner's superb "Over and Under" series. Ages 4 - 9 Nature; Coral Reefs; Biomes; Ocean Wildlife; Adventure |
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Forests by Nell Cross Beckerman; illustrated by Kalen Chock Lush artwork and descriptive text invite readers into a captivating woodland forest to learn about its inhabitants, how trees communicate via roots, and how plants and animals prepare for wildfire. Other settings are also introduced, including kelp forests found along the Pacific Ocean, Mexico's Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve oyamel fir forest, the Amazon's tropical rainforest, the Sagano Bamboo Forest in Japan, and even urban forests. This mesmerizing book echoes the magic and mystery of each locale while also providing fascinating facts. It ends with a call to save shrinking forests and a hearty section of additional information. If your family is enchanted by this volume, check out the companion book about Volcanoes. Ages 5 - 9 Nature; Forests; Conservation |
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Wildfires are destructive, and yet some plants require fire to reproduce. This book is about just such a species: the lodgepole pine. A pine cone waits atop a tall tree, hanging for 40 years until the heat of a wildfire cracks it open and seeds are released to the ground below. The soil has been made nutrient-rich by the fire, and sunlight can now reach through the branches. Simple text and warm artwork provide details and convey the message of finding strength in adversity. Brief information about fire and the regrowth of vegetation is included. Nature; Science; Fire Ecology; Trees; Perseverance |
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This book begins on the shores of the Ria Lagartos nature reserve in Mexico, where a baby green turtle breaks out of an egg buried in the sand and makes the harrowing journey across the beach (escaping one predator after another) and into the ocean (where more danger awaits). Handsome illustrations and action-packed text details the turtle's way of life, covering physical attributes, diet, geographical range, and dangers imposed by both sharks and human fishing practices, before she returns to her birthplace (now fully grown) to lay her own eggs. This captivating true life adventure ends with additional information about sea turtles. Ages 5 - 10 Turtles; Marine Life; Oceans |
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Touches of humor, a fun adventure, and admiration for the main character, a real-life Māori octopus in a New Zealand aquarium, are what make this book standout. Rhyming text and entertaining artwork introduce Inky, whose curiosity reaches well beyond the aquarium tank in which he lives. He is always observing and thinking, and when his keepers accidentally leave the lid to his habitat open and unlocked, he makes a break for it and manages to find his way to freedom. The book ends with more about the Inky (including a photo) and an array of amazing octopus facts. Ages 4 - 8 Cephalopods; Marine Life: Animal Intelligence; Curiosity; Humor |
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Jump into the ocean for an informative lesson about some amazing animals! In this engaging graphic novel, Grimpy (short for Grimpoteuthis, also known as a dumbo octopus) introduces the fascinating features of the cephalopods in its animal class (octopuses, squid, nautiluses, and cuttlefish), comparing and contrasting an array of attributes. When Grimpy bemoans the fact that it has none of these nifty traits, the other creatures point out that Grimpy has its own unique ability: living in ocean waters so deep that there is no light and intense pressure that would squash all the others flat.Several facts are included throughout, and a photo of a real-life Grimpy at the end of the book shows kids that this is a real animal, not a cartoon creation. The concise text printed in a large font makes reading easier for kids. Science; Graphic Novel; Cephalopods; Marine Life; Adpaptability |
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Children and adults alike enjoy short stories that have been passed down through oral tradition in many cultures around the world. Featuring 50 tales that are inspired by water, this collection is sorted into intriguing sections such as "Fishy Tales," "Tricks and Trials," and "Beneath the Waves." The country of origin for each tale is listed after the title of the story in the table of contents. This makes it fun to pick a story from the title, turn to the page (also a great learning activity), and read together. Charming illustrations bring the stories to life. A sources section at the back of the book provides more details about each offering. A great choice for family sharing! Check out other story collections by this author. Ages 4 - 10 Folktales; World Literature; Imagination |
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The folktales in this book are focused on faerie creatures of Irish stories, but as the author points out in her introduction, these beings do not have gossamer wings and magic wands. Irish fairies are "more likely to be shapeshifters, tricksters, or revenge-seeking, lesson-teaching fiends.” The author provides background about each creature before each short story, including origins, cultural background, and traditional behavior. Mermaids, pookas, water horses, giants, and more fill this book. One tale, “At the Crossroads,” features a brave young girl’s encounter with the Headless Horseman, and may be familiar to American readers. The dark-hued illustrations are filled with mystery and perfectly fit the subject matter. A glossary and list of sources are included. This will appear to readers who like their fairytales with a darker edge. Folktales; Irish stories; Irish faeries |
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by Natalia Shaloshvili During a playdate, Leo is full of fun ideas for activities, but Sasha feels shy and reluctant to participate. When she asks to go home, Leo reveals that he can be bossy as a result of his own shyness, and a friendship is formed. Being shy with new people is a difficulty for many people. With simple text and adorable illustrations, this book provides a gentle way to talk about how to work through these feelings. Adults, too, can learn about a shy child and the challenges of getting through those first stages of being in a new place and meeting new people. Social Skills; Personality Differences; Meeting New People |
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This simple story follows Cat, who says what he thinks, even if it isn’t very polite. His friends suggest that he slow down and think before he speaks. With bright illustrations, appealing animal characters, and a gently conveyed message, this book can help all kids think about their words and the impact they have on others. Social Skills; Self-expression; Kindness; Truthfulness |
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Pikes Peak Library District
P.O. Box 1579, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901
(719) 531-6333https://ppld.org/ |
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