Unusual Creatures: A Mostly Accurate Account of Some of Earth's Strangest Animals

          Unusual Creatures: A Mostly Accurate Account of Some of Earth's Strangest Animals by Michael Hearst is a humorous look at some of the strangest creatures you probably didn't know about.  This book covers a wide variety of animals that can be located in diverse habitats.  The book features fifty unique creatures that can be found around the world. There is the blobfish that lives of the coast of Australia.  The blobfish is a gelatinous mass whose body construct allows it to float above the sea floor without using energy:

          Unusual Creatures  is illustrated by Arjen Noordemen, Christie Wright, and Jelmer Noordemen.  The pictures feature scientific classification information, in addition to a map of the area the animal can be found.  Many of the illustrations are cover the page.  Not only does the book offer information and illustrations about strange creatures around the world, but one can find true and false questions and answers as well as pop quizzes.  

         Perhaps as strange as his creatures, Michael Hearst is a song writer and musician that is originally from Virginia Beach.  Hearst has composed songs for these unusual creatures for PBS Digital Studios.  Short informational clips on these animals can be found on YouTube, along with compositions inspired by the animals.

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Bugs A to Z

          Bugs A to Z is an informational book by Caroline Lawton on a favorite topic of children...bugs!  The book goes through the alphabet offering examples of bugs that start with each letter. Each page offers two bugs that begin with that letter of the alphabet.  "A" shows us two important sentences on both ants and aphids.  The close up pictures give us eye appealing examples of each bug.

          The simple text of the book using two to three sentence descriptions of each bug makes it easy for the youngest readers to navigate alone.  Important and unique information is offered about these bugs in the text.  The letter of each page is emphasized with a large, colorful picture placed in the corner.  

          

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National Geographic Readers: Caterpillar to Butterfly

          National Geographic Kids: Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh is an informative book about the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly.  The book using simple text and bright colored photos to offer examples.  The book begins with a riddle that asks, "What starts as an egg, then walks on many legs, and then uses wings to fly?"  The main content of the book, however, is on the stages of the butterfly's life: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, butterfly.  The book also discusses what butterflies eat, offers some cool facts about butterflies, and explains the differences between moths and butterflies.  The book offers children a list of ways to encourage butterflies to come to their backyards by creating a butterfly garden.

          The photographs in the book provide beautiful and close-up examples of the subjects.  Some photographs are labeled to show the names of parts.  The pictures serve to extend the information provided in the text.

          National Geographic is a trusted source of non-fiction information and Laura Marsh has written several children's books for them.  All of her books are highly rated by its readers.

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Scaly Spotted Feathered Frilled

          I found this book strolling down the non-fiction aisle pulling out titles that were interesting.  I know, not the best way to select a book.  When I sat down and opened this book I was absolutely amazed by the illustrations and the topic of the book.  Catherine Thimmesh's Scaly Spotted Feathered Frilled book examines the methods that paleoartists use to recreate the images of dinosaurs.  In a description of the book on her website, Thimmesh invites the reader to "follow a paleoartist through the scientific process of ascertaining the appearance of various dinosaurs from millions of years ago to learn how science, art, and imagination combine to bring us face-to-face with the past."  I was blown away at the concept of a paleo-artist reconstructing the image of dinosaurs by analyzing evidence.  Many times these paleo-artist are scientists as well.

          The book not only talks about the process that paleo-artists go through in order to interpret the appearance of a dinosaur, but the difficulties in trying to make these pictures.  One interesting problem is determining color.  As it is impossible for paleo-artists to determine this, any colors they use are purely speculative.  In another example, Stephen and Sylvia Czerka's discussed how their life-sized reconstruction of the dinosaur Deinoychus was incorrect as a model for the raptors in Jurassic Park.  Although the constructed they dinosaurs with scales, it was later discovered that there is strong evidence these dinosaurs were feathered.

          In addition to it's interesting information, Scaly Spotted Feathered Frilled has full bleed images that are a feast for the eyes.  This is to be expected as the book is about artists.  The end of the book features a list of the artists used, their credentials, and addresses for their websites.

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My First Biography: Benjamin Franklin

          My First Biography: Benjamin Franklin written by Marion Dane Bauer and illustrated by Anthony Lewis is a book geared toward the youngest readers (4-8 years).  The book features colorful illustrations that dominate the pages and are accompanied by one or two lines of simple text.  The book shares information about Franklin's family and upbringing, his brief education, and his accomplishments as an adult.  

          Marion Dane Bauer has written an extensive number of children's book.  Twenty-five of her books have been non-fiction.  Her My First Biography books are highly rated by readers.

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How Did Amelia Earhart Make History?

     
          How Did Amelia Earhart Make History? is a biographical book that was written by Jane Sutcliffe.  This book documents the life of the first woman pilot to cross the Atlantic Ocean.  Sutcliffe begins the book by introducing the date and place of Earhart's birth followed by the statement, "When Amelia was growing up, little girls were supposed to behave like young ladies.  But Amelia didn't."  What follows is the story of how Amelia Earhart became interested in flying, her start in air shows, her first flight across the Atlantic, and her developing thirst for record breaking.
          Jane Sutcliffe's biography of Amelia Earhart is filled with interesting photos of Amelia throughout her life interspersed with cartoon images.  Tan boxes with doted lines denote anecdotes about Earhart are included every couple of pages. Sutcliffe's arrangement of text, photographs, and humorous stories are visually appealing.
         Janes Sutcliffe has written over two dozen non-fiction books for children.  Her books are highly rated by readers.

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Polka Bats and Octopus Slacks by Calef Brown

          Calef Brown's Polka-bats and Octopus Slacks is a humorous collection of rhyming story-poems.  The subjects of these poems are often nonsensical and disturbing, a fun combination for children and adults.  Brown's strange pairings leave you shaking your head.  One of my favorite poems is about octupus slacks:

Kansas City Octopus

is wearing fancy slacks.
Bell-bottom,
just got 'em,
fifty bucks including tax.

Red corduroy,
and boy-o-boy,
they fit like apple pie.
Multi-pocket snazzy trousers
custom made for octopi.

Fantastic plastic stretch elastic
keeps 'em nice and tight.
Kansas City Octopus
is looking good tonight!

Brown's poems have a nice rhythm that make for an appealing read aloud.

          The illustrations of Polk-bats and Octopus Slacks serve to enhance the text.  His illustrations alternate between full bleed across either one or both pages.  The colors serve to highlight the topics of the poem.  For example, in Lonely Surfer, a sun-burned surfer who makes his home in the desert for fear of sharks is shown with his surfboard atop a prickly pear in shades of yellow and orange that give us the sensation of warmth and heat.

          This collection of poems is strange and fun rolled into one.  The odd topics will have you shaking your head even as the catchy rhymes will stick in it.

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