A Tiger Cub Grows Up

A Tiger Cub Grows Up by Joan Hewett has great photographs showing the journey of a tiger cub to full grown tiger.  This book is very personal showing the relationship between the tiger cub and it’s trainer.  The photographs really capture this relationship.  It is also realistic, showing the danger of tigers with their teeth, pouncing, and largeness.  Readers will enjoy following Tara, the tiger cub’s, journey of growing up.  For children, they will probably be able to relate to some of the things Tara’s trainer does to take care of her.  The book ends with Tara living with grown up tigers in a park showing the importance of revering nature and allowing these large animals to live in natural settings.  At the end of the book, there is a timeline which shows Tara’s life from birth to 1 year.  Children will find this timeline very interesting as Tara does things in 1 year that it takes humans 10 years or more to do!  This book is great for grasping time and sequencing as students will attempt to wrap their minds around how animals grow and mature at faster rates than humans.  The photographs will capture readers’ attention and keep them engaged through the book.  This book left me wanting to read more about Tara’s life and what happened after she turned one year old!

A Tree Is a Plant

A Tree Is a Plan by Clyde Robert Bulla describes how a tree grows from a seed to become the huge trees children see outside.  While the words and descriptions are great, the pictures really solidify the idea.  The illustrations show the underground part of the seed growing roots, those roots reaching the surface and expanding, and how those roots grow as the tree grows.  This book is relatable to children as it discusses that trees are where apples and other fruit come from.  It relates the growing of the tree to the growing of the fruit.  This will enable students to know where their food comes from and understand how it grows from something so little and dirty to something we can eat!  There is even an experiment at the end of the book that allows children to see how the water is absorbed through the roots to eventually feed the leaves.  Students can read this book to better understand the journey from seed to tree, and then do the experiment to see first-hand how this happens!

From Seed to Pumpkin

From Seed to Pumpkin by Wendy Pfeffer goes through the entire life cycle of a pumpkin from seed to jack-o-lantern or pie!  While the pictures are drawings and not true photographs, they do a great job of showing up close the different parts of the pumpkin.  A great thing about this book is that it uses very little difficult vocabulary.  Because it does not give the actual vocabulary words for the parts of the plant, it can be used for primary grades during fall to discuss life cycles.  Teachers for upper grades can supplement the text with the science vocabulary if they are using the book to teach science.  In addition to the parts and life cycle of the pumpkin, it also touches on the process of photosynthesis.  Once again, science terms are left out but the process is shown through pictures and described in words that students can understand.  This could be a great introduction to plants, life cycles, and photosynthesis for primary students.  However, with supplementation, it can be a great reinforcement of those same topics for upper elementary students, especially those visual learners who want to see the whole process shown in pictures.  Another interesting aspect of this book is that it includes a “Find out more about pumpkins” section at the end.  Using this, students can learn how to make pumpkin pie, roast pumpkin seeds, and even learn more about photosynthesis. 

I Can Read About Seasons

I Can Read About Seasons by Robyn Supraner is a nonfiction pictures book that is great science resource.  This book has great information that will enrich students understanding of science.  Not only does it discuss the scientific reason for the seasons, but it also discusses animal and human reactions and adaptations to seasons.  From my experience in planning science instruction, these are two huge topics for both second and third grade.  This book could be used as a read aloud to introduce a unit on seasons or animal adaptations, or it could be used as enrichment for students to read independently.  It does include some science vocabulary which can be challenging, but for the most part it sticks with vocabulary students will have heard during science instruction so they will be familiar with it.  The pictures are great for students who are visual learners.  I have observed much science instruction and have seen how it can be difficult for visual learners to understand such abstract concepts.  This book allows students to read the science vocabulary in context and see pictures displaying the abstract science concepts.

F is for Flag

F is For Flag by Wendy Cheyette Lewison is a nonfiction picture book about the history and importance of the American flag.  The illustrations are engaging and extend the story.  The book shows the flag as present in good and bad times with the picture illustrating a flag draped over a veteran’s casket.  While the text only goes so far about the history and importance of the flag, the vocabulary and pictures lend themselves to student questions which may lead to a great inquiry lesson.  Not only does this book give the history of the flag, but it also discusses how the flag is a representation of diversity and unity at the same time.  This diverse but united concept is one that can be difficult for teachers and parents to teach children, but this book does an excellent job at using a symbol we are familiar with to explain that concept.  For any third grade students, this book would be a good review of famous Americans they need to know for the SOLs as it includes George Washington and Betsy Ross.  The title may trick people into thinking it is an alphabet book, but really it is a great social studies book for students of all ages.