Leaves, Migration, Hibernation ~ Seasonal Books for Emergent Readers

 This is the perfect season to check out these new books from Lerner publishing that focus on why leaves change color, why birds migrate, and why animals hibernate. These “First Look” titles are part of Lerner’s Read About Science series (Read for a Better World) and aimed at emergent readers. Written by Candice Ransom, each book spans 24 pages with a first-grade readability level and seasonal science facts that will appeal to ages 5-8.

My grand-kiddo is three fingers away from beginning-to-read, but here’s what I like about these books:

 

For emerging readers, each book poses a question at the beginning and then presents information to help answer the question. For these books, the first page questions are:

Why do birds migrate?
Why do leaves change color in the fall?
Where do animals go as days get cooler and nights get longer?

The information is simple and focused on answering the question.

The words are appropriate for the reading age, and I think will give emerging readers a feeling of success and satisfaction. And – one can hope – help them develop the habit of including nonfiction books in their library bookbag. 

Plus, the photographs are engaging.

 

For parents, homeschoolers, teachers, and librarians there is embedded family and educator support, starting with page two. A bright yellow-on-green “educator toolbox” presents three questions an adult can ask before diving into the book. For example, what do you think this book is about? 

A “let’s read together” section presents handy tips such as encouraging the child to use pictures to understand the text. As a former high school science teacher I just want to point out that this is an important skill, and one I reminded my students about constantly! “Look at the chart/graph/photo,” I would say. “What information can you glean from that?” 

Each book has a “You Connect” page where readers are asked three questions including what else they might want to learn about the topic. This is such a great question to ask kids and gets them thinking like a scientist. A “STEM snapshot” page asks them to think a bit more deeply about the topic. Additional back matter includes a photo glossary, suggested books to read, and a simple – and useful – index.

 

Beyond the Books:

What colors do the leaves turn where you live? If it’s not too late to collect a few, bring them in and make some crayon leaf-rubbings using the colors of the leaves.

Have the summer birds left your area already? Which ones fly south? And where are they going?

What to the animals who live in your area do in the winter? Do they migrate? Hibernate? Or stay active all year round? 

Explore Outdoors ~ nothing's perfect

 

 

It's tempting to think that nature is perfect - but it's not. Maple samaras are not perfectly symmetrical. One might be smaller, or shaped funny. Leaves are slightly different from each other. Fruit size and shape varies. This week, look for the small imperfections that make up the natural world around you.

Take It Apart!

You've heard of Maker-Spaces... now it's time to think about Breaker-Spaces!

Take It Apart

by Katey Howes; illus. by Elizabet Vuković 

32 pages; ages 4-9

Carolrhoda Books, 2026

themes: problem-solving, engineering, rhyme

Some call you a Wrecking Ball. Some say Destroyer.

A troublesome, mess-making, chaos enjoyer.

That’s because when they see you unraveling things, busting and breaking them apart, they think that’s all you’re doing. What they’re not seeing is the way you’re thinking about how something was put together; what makes it work; and how those pieces of broken things might be used to repair – or create – something else. There’s a science to breaking things down and sorting and storing the screws and washers, bolts and nuts and hinges. 

What I like about this book: This is a great cross-curricular book that links STEAM and language arts. I like how Katey Howes expands on the concept of breaking things down. For example, when you’re reading and come across a new word, breaking it into parts is one way to figure out how to read it. And sorting is, at its heart, all about math (think: grouping). Furthermore, she points out that we aren’t the only ones “taking things apart” – consider the compost pile! One of my favorite spreads is where Katey shows how a big project can be broken down into smaller parts. I also like the end pages! Katey Howes and illustrator, Elizabet Vuković worked together on an earlier book, Be a Maker which is every bit as fun as Take it Apart!

Beyond the Books:

Take something apart. Some libraries have “take apart” days where you can break down old phones, radios, and other electronics to see how they are put together. Is there something in your house you can take apart? Make sure you ask for permission first! And if you need help with screwdrivers and other tools, ask for help.

Sort a bunch of parts. Does someone in your home have a bucket of screws and nuts and bolts? Ask if you can sort them, and put them into groups of like-things.

Solve a problem. In our house it’s figuring out a way to sort recyclables so they end up in the right bin at the recycling center. What kind of problem can you help solve around your house? Once you’ve identified the problem, break it into smaller pieces and build a plan.

Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's website. Review copy provided by Blue Slip Media.