Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past

Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past

Written by: James M. Deem

"There are books about melting glaciers and books about frozen bodies, but this attractive offering combines the topics in a way that will intrigue readers. It begins with a chance discovery by walkers in northern Italy who find a thawing corpse originally thought to be from the 1800s. Scientists later realized the body was more than 5,000 years old. As glaciers melt throughout the world, more frozen bodies are appearing, adding greatly to the knowledge researchers have about history and culture.

Individual chapters cover types of glaciers and why they are fertile territory for housing bodies; the Chamonix glacier, which saw women climbers in the early 1800s; and the mystery of George Mallory, who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. Perhaps most fascinating to kids will be the chapter on recently discovered Incan children sacrificed to the gods. Heavily illustrated with historical memorabilia as well as photos of bodies, scenery, artifacts, and rather simplistic maps, this offers a lot to look at and learn about."

Booklist Review

Online Resources:
http://www.jamesmdeem.com/page.glacier.htm

One Well: The Story of Water on Earth

One Well: The Story of Water on Earth

Written by: Rochelle Strauss
Illustrated by: Rosemary Woods

"Seen from space, our planet looks blue. This is because almost 70 percent of Earth's surface is covered with water. Earth is the only planet with liquid water -- and therefore the only planet that can support life. All water is connected. Every raindrop, lake, underground river and glacier is part of a single global well. Water has the power to change everything -- a single splash can sprout a seed, quench a thirst, provide a habitat, generate energy and sustain life. How we treat the water in the well will affect every species on the planet, now and for years to come. One Well shows how every one of us has the power to conserve and protect our global well."

Product Description

Online Resources:
*learning guide on left tab of page in pdf format*
http://www.kidscanpress.com/US/One-Well-P3000.aspx

Down the Colorado: John Wesley Powell, the One-Armed Explorer

Down the Colorado: John Wesley Powell, the One-Armed Explorer

Written and Illustrated by: Deborah Korgan Ray

"Although John Wesley Powell's minister father always wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, young Wes had different plans for his future. Enraptured by the wonders of the natural world, he was determined to take the path of science. Even after losing his right arm below the elbow in battle during the Civil War, Wes would not be deterred from his dream of leading the first scientific expedition down the Colorado River and through the Grand Canyon. Braving treacherous rapids and perilous waterfalls, Major Powell would surpass all expectations and return home a national hero.

With breathtaking illustrations and excerpts from Powell's own journals, Deborah Kogan Ray brings to vivid life the exploits and explorations of one of America's greatest conservationists."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://philip.greenspun.com/travel/grand-canyon-rafting

The First Tortilla: A Bilingual Story

The First Tortilla: A Bilingual Story

Written by: Rudolpho Anaya
Illustrated by: Amy Cordova

Elementary Grades

"The First Tortilla is a moving, bilingual story of courage and discovery. A small Mexican village is near starvation. There is no rain, and the bean and squash plants are dying. Jade, a young village girl, is told by a blue hummingbird to take a gift to the Mountain Spirit. Then it will send the needed rain. Burning lava threatens her, but Jade reaches the top of the volcano. The Mountain Spirit is pleased. It allows the ants in a nearby cave to share their corn with Jade. The corn was sweet and delicious and Jade took some back to save the village. Jade grinds the dry corn, adds water, and makes dough. She pats the masa and places it on hot stones near the fire. She has made the first tortilla. Soon the making of corn tortillas spreads throughout Mexico and beyond."

Publishers Synopsis

Online Resources:
http://www.readingtokids.org/Books/BookView.php?pag=3&bookID=00000718

The Great Kapok Tree

The Great Kapok Tree

Written and Illustrated by: Lynne Cherry

"In this breathtakingly beautiful picture book, Cherry combines illustrations that reveal a naturalist's reverence for beauty with a mythlike story that explains the ecological importance of saving the rain forests. The text is not a didactic treatise, but a simply told story about a man who falls asleep while chopping down a kapok tree. The forest's inhabitants--snakes, butterflies, a jaguar, and finally a child--each whisper in his ear about the terrible consequences of living in "a world without trees" or beauty, about the interconnectedness of all living things. When the man awakens and sees all the extraordinary creatures around him, he leaves his ax and "walks out of the rain forest." A map showing the earth's endangered forests and the creatures that dwell within ends the book which, like the rain forests themselves, is "wondrous and rare."

Publishers Weekly Review

Online Resources:
http://www.lynnecherry.com/the_great_kapok_tree__a_tale_of_the_amazon_rain_forest_19411.htm
http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/greatkapoktree.html
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/SCORE/kapok/kapoktg.htm

A River Ran Wild

A River Ran Wild

Written and Illustrated by: Lynne Cherry

"This is a beautifully done biography of a river. By focusing on the life in and around the Nashua River, Cherry brings history, ecology and progress into view. The illustrations alone are a history book.

We start with the pristine river surrounded by woods and, around the text page facing that illustration, we see the birds and animals that once lived in and around the Nashua. The first humans arrive and find and use the bounty of the river. Soon a Native American settlement can be seen there. Later the first Europeans arrive and the first small farm with a small Waterloo is seen. As the farm turns to city, the mill grows larger.

At each stage, items taken from the river or made by its power are isolated and placed around the text. When we look at the river at this stage, it is a polluted mess and the campaign starts to clean it up. At the end of the book there is fishing on the river again but, realistically, it doesn't get back to its original pristine state."

Review by Carol Hurst @ www.carolehurst.com

Online Resources:
http://www.lynnecherry.com/a_river_ran_wild_19410.htm
http://www.carolhurst.com/titles/riverranwild.html

City Green

City Green

Written and Illustrated by: DyAnne DiSalvo-Ryan

"Right in the middle of Marcy's city block is a littered vacant lot. Then one day she has a wonderful idea that not only improves the useless lot but her entire neighborhood as well."

Online Resources:
http://www.mhschool.com/reading/2005/student/activity.php3?story=98

Time of Wonder

Written and Illustrated by: Robert McCloskey

"A family explores an island in the spring during a hurricane and after the storm has passed. The illustrations provide an excellent source for comparisons and discussions about the impact of storms."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
*scroll down this page midway to download a PDF teachers guide for this book*

http://www.nhptv.org/kn/itv/episodes.asp?ser_serial=14140

The Sun, the Wind, and the Rain

The Sun, the Wind, and the Rain

Written by: Lisa Peters
Illustrated by: Ted Rand

"The illustrations compare the forces of nature using a child’s sand structure and mountains that are influenced by sun, wind, and rain over thousands of years. The illustrator places these illustrations on opposite pages so that readers can compare the short- and long-term influences of nature."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://www.lisawestbergpeters.com/Teachers.html

In the Tall, Tall, Grass

In the Tall, Tall, Grass

Written and Illustrated by: Denise Fleming

"Bold, bright, stylized collage illustrations capture the eye and the imagination as they depict the simple, rhyming text of this outstanding nature tale. From a caterpillar's point-of-view, children see the many happenings in the tall, tall grass: "crunch, munch, caterpillars lunch/dart, dip, hummingbirds sip" etc. Bees and birds, ants and snakes are among the daytime inhabitants. Then, with the "stars bright, moonlight" come nocturnal fireflies and bats: "good night, tall, tall grass." The childlike illustrations were created by pouring colored cotton pulp through hand-cut stencils, resulting in remarkable images."

School Library Journal Review

Online Resources:
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/lessonplan.jsp?id=%20%20942

In the Small, Small, Pond

In the Small, Small, Pond

Written and Illustrated by: Denise Fleming

"A rhythmic text introduces the animals and the activities that take place in a pond. The story progresses seasonally from spring to autumn. Text such as “circle, swirl, whirligigs twirl” and “sweep, swoop, swallows scoop” appeals to young children who should be encouraged to join in the reading."

Publishers Description

Online Resources:
http://eduscapes.com/library/i/in_the_small_small_pond.htm
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/lessonplan.jsp?id=941

The Earth and I

The Earth and I

Written and illustrated by: Frank Asch

"A young boy celebrates his friend, the earth. Like other friends, they do things together: go for long walks, talk together, sing and dance, and, of course, play. The child helps the earth grow, and through its bounty it helps the boy grow. And when the earth is sad, encumbered by pollution, the child feels its pain. The relationship of the earth to its inhabitants has been done before, but this appealing story gets right to the heart of a child's experience with nature."

Online Resources:
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/web/earthday/index.html