I’ve come to appreciate the question and answer text structure for
nonfiction books. Can an aardvark BARK? goes
beyond the simple Q&A structure in that it poses a question and answers it on
one page spread, then devotes a second page spread to providing additional
information. This means any child who is interested in animal communication
will learn a lot about the ways animals use sounds to get their message across from
this text.
Hidden Dangers: Seek and Find 13 of the World’s Deadliest Animals by Lola
M. Schaefer and Tymn Armstrong (Chronicle, 2017)
As a mom, I’ve come to put the phrase, “it’s more afraid of you
than you are of it,” toward the top of my vocabulary. However, I’ve never
really explored why animals pose a certain danger with my daughter. This book
gives young readers a sense of why animals may rattle their quills, raise their
tails, or charge at humans. There’s a wonderful spread in the back matter
called “Be Prepared,” which helps young explorers understand what they need to
bring with them when they’re exploring in nature.
If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams (Roaring Brook/Macmillan, 2017)
I have a longtime fear of sharks, but have newfound respect for this
animal because of Williams’ text. It’s an informative look at the significance
of sharks in our world and lets readers think about the consequences of sharks
disappearing. Despite my fear of sharks, this book helped me appreciate these
predators.
Lesser SpottedAnimals: The Coolest Creatures You’ve Never Heard Of by Martin Brown
(Dave Fickling Books/Scholastic, 2017)
I’m
one of those people who enjoys discovering new animals anytime I go to a zoo or
aquarium, or take a hike, which is probably why this book appealed to me. Brown
teaches readers a bit about some obscure animals, shares interesting facts, a
detailed illustration, and basic stats (e.g., size, what they eat, where they
live, and status) on each page spread.
Rivers of Sunlight: How the Sun Moves Water around the Earth by Molly Bang and Penny Chisholm (Blue Sky
Press/Scholastic, 2017)
This
post would’ve been all about animals if it weren’t for my recent discovery of
Bang’s newest science book on one of our most precious resources—water! For any
reader who has wondered how water makes it into their glass or why some areas have
more rain than others, this book is a must-read.
Stacey
Shubitz is an independent
literacy consultant, an adjunct professor, and a former elementary school
teacher. She’s the author Craft
Moves: Lesson Sets for Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts and the co-author of
Day by Day: Refining
Writing Workshop Through 180 Days of Reflective Practice. She blogs at Two
Writing Teachers and can be found on Twitter @sshubitz.
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