Friday, April 26, 2024
The Wolves of Yellowstone
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ tricolored bumble bee
Friday, April 19, 2024
Unexpected Discoveries!
by Jennifer Swanson
56 pages; ages 9-14
Millbrook Press, 2024
This book takes readers on an expedition to an underwater forest. Not a forest of kelp or coral, but a forest of cypress trees. Wait! What? Yes – a forest that once grew along the southern gulf coast of the US that is now submerged in 60 or more feet of salt water.
Author Jen Swanson introduces us to the scientists and their story about finding the forest, taking core samples of the sea floor, carbon-dating, and more. Along the way she tosses in sidebars for deeper info dives and QR codes (with links provided) for videos so you can see what the scientists saw.
Here’s the thing: the ancient underwater forest is around 60,000 years old. Our world looked much different then. With so much of the planet covered in ice sheets, the ocean didn’t cover as much of the gulf coastline as it does now. These forests grew on solid ground some 30 to 60 miles farther into the gulf than the current shoreline. Makes one wonder what would happen if the remaining ice sheets melted…
The book is organized in six chapters, with one focused on the first dive, one showing what the scientists looked for – and discovered, and one detailing their attempts to map the forest. There’s a great graphic (and accompanying text) showing the steps of gene sequences. And there’s a discussion about how scientists continued their research during the pandemic.
For me, the final chapter was the most meaningful, as it asks how current ocean depth might provide insight into how climate has affected the ocean in the past. I particularly liked seeing how quickly animals can adapt to unique environments, such as when hurricanes uncovered the forest from layers of mud. The newly emerged trees created micro-ecosystems, providing places sea creatures could use for shelter. The discovery of the forest also raises questions about what might happen to the future of our current coastlines as the planed warms.
I also like the back matter, which includes hands-on activities and more things to explore.
After reading The Lost Forest, I had some questions for Jen:
Me: In your author notes you mention that you were an “adjunct” member of the team. How did that happen?
Jen: I am lucky enough to be good friends with one of the scientists on the team at Nahant Marine Science Center. Dr. Brian Helmuth was one of the experts on my Astronaut-Aquanaut book and we've stayed in touch since then. He called me one day and told me about the underwater forest project and I was sooo excited. He was like, “Hey, would you like to be a member of our team? And maybe even write a kid's book about it?”
I said, “Brian, are you giving me the exclusive on your story?” and he said, “I guess I am.”
My response was, “I'm in!” I was invited to go on one of their research trips into the Gulf, but those were postponed due to covid. But instead, I got to participate in several of the online team meetings they had. They gave me access to all of their reports, the photos, and the videos. The entire team helped to edit the book and were with me every step of the way. They are SO great to work with! I'm very proud to tell their story.
Me: You love to visit scientists in the field and in the lab. Why is that an important part of your research?
Me: I like how the book ends with considerations of climate change. Because, back in the time of heavy glaciation, the ocean was 30-60 miles away from the current shoreline. And that makes me wonder what a 1-foot sea level rise might look like 25 years from now. Your thoughts?
Jen: Well, that's a good question. And one that we probably don't want to learn the answer to. From what I've read, a 1-foot sea level rise would be devastating to many, particularly the ones that live on any of the coasts near the ocean. For me, I live about 5 miles from the ocean. That might bring the ocean literally to my doorstep as there isn't much in Florida to stop the water once it rises. The one thing I've learned from living near the coast for over 25 year is that water wins! It goes where it wants to, and it's very tough to stop. So, let's hope that this doesn't happen.
Jennifer is a member of #STEAMTeam2024. You can find out more about her at her website, JenniferSwansonBooks.com. She is also the creator and co-host of Solve It! for Kids podcast solveitforkids.com
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ spring flowers
Friday, April 12, 2024
Wilma's Words to Save the Water
32 pages; ages 6-9
Reycraft Books, 2024
theme: Rivers, environment, biography
Born in the Blue Ridge Mountains near the French Broad River, Wilma Dykeman was an only child. Her first words were – “Water coming down.”
Using lyrical language, Shannon Hitchcock tells the tale of an environmentalist who deserves to be better known. An only child, Wilma spent her days exploring ponds and meadows and the creek that ran nearby. She earned a scholarship to college, and after marrying she returned to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the river of her home. She traveled up and down the river, collecting stories about the people who lived there and noticed the pollution that killed the trout and threatened peoples’ livelihoods. Wilma wrote a book about the people living along the river, and a publisher accepted the book. On one condition: she remove what she wrote about water pollution. Wilma refused. She wanted to inspire people to clean up the water and believed that factories and businesses could coexist with clean water.
When her book was published – about seven years before Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring – people paid attention.
I also adore Sophie Page’s artwork. She uses clay, paper, fabric, and wire in her pictures which give them a three-dimensional quality. Blues and greens run through nearly all of the double-page spreads … almost like a river connecting them.
Shannon graciously answered Two Questions:
Me: Why Wilma? What drew you to her story?
Me: There is something special about canoeing or rafting down a river: the smell, the sounds, the way the air feels different than on shore. Have you traveled down the French Broad (or maybe another) river?
Beyond the Books:
Spend some time near a river – or even in a boat on a river. What do you see? Listen: what sounds do you hear? Does the air smell or feel different the closer you get to a river? Write or draw your observations.
If you have a stream or creek or river nearby, visit it at different times of the year. How does it change? Besides you, what other animals hang out at the river?
Create a mixed-media picture that shows something of the world around you. Some materials to use: different kinds of paper (store bags, giftwrap, origami, construction); fabric; natural materials; clay or play-dough; paint, pencil charcoal, or ink.
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.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ Lichens and Moss
There's something about lichens that enchants me. I love the idea of cooperative housing (fungi and algae living together) and how they are such pioneers. Lichens grow on rocks and tombstones and old picnic tables and even trunks and limbs of trees. Here are some I saw over the past week. Granted, the moss is pretty cool, too!
What kinds of lichen have you found lately?
Friday, April 5, 2024
A Farm is a Farm...
Xin Li gallery |
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ Look Closely to Find Spring
Spring has sprung, they say. And sure, a couple of daffodils have bloomed. But for the most part, my yard is boring...
It looks bare and brown with a bit of moss here and there and scraggly tufts of grass and lots of dead leaves.
But look closer...
... lots of teensy mustards blooming. You can tell they're mustard flowers because they have four petals. These are growing in thin soil over rocky ground and I think they are one of the rock cresses.
What's growing in your lawn?
Friday, March 29, 2024
If a Tree Falls...
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ appreciating the other side of a flower
Friday, March 22, 2024
Celebrating Seeds and a book anniversary
I missed this book by a fellow Sleeping Bear Press author when it released last year, so I’m celebrating its One Year Anniversary! Full disclosure: I am a gardener and seed-saver… so yeah, I may be a bit biased.
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ Spring Trees
What are the trees doing in your neighborhood?
Friday, March 15, 2024
The Hole Truth and Nothing But...
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ Who's hanging out in the Crocuses?
Friday, March 8, 2024
It's Raining, It's Pouring ...
Wednesday, March 6, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ A Wee Pine Tree
porcupines
gray squirrels
red squirrels
eastern cottontails
white-footed mice
eastern chipmunks
white-tailed deer
yellow-bellied sapsucker
black-capped chickadee
white-breasted nuthatch
pine warbler
pine grosbeak
red crossbill
white-winged crossbill
evening grosbeak
pine siskin.
broad-winged hawks (nests in a crotch near the top of the tree)
barred owls (nest in trunk cavities and use the tree as a roost)
least flycatchers
blue jays
common ravens
common grackles
olive-sided flycatchers
yellow-rumped warblers (and other warblers)
evening grosbeaks
purple finches
Even more birds use white pine needles as nesting materials. So I'll be leaving my cones scattered around my yard for a bit longer...
Friday, March 1, 2024
In this corner ... Climate Change
photos: Images for a Lifetime |
Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ Tree-gazing
With leaves gone, it's easier to see lichens and other fungi growing on trees. Here's one I found just a couple weeks ago, along our road. I've walked by this tree nearly every day, but on that day I stopped and spent time looking at it. Really getting to know it - lichen patches and all.
What will you notice when you go tree-gazing?
Friday, February 23, 2024
An Antarctic Adventure
- The front end papers show a map of Neri’s flight to Antarctica and a map of the ice shelf and landscape;
- The mix of photos and Corban Wilkin’s annotated comics and illustrations .They not only show what the scientists are working on, but life at the South Pole;
- The lists he makes (as you probably know by now, I am a list-maker!). His lists include things you won’t find in Antarctica, things you will find, vehicles found around the research station, critters living on the continent, the things people wear, and toilets. Yep, you heard right – toilets; and
- Back matter, which includes an authors note, facts about Antarctica, books, websites, and other stuff curious folks will want to know.
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ Winter Weeds wear snowy top hats
Winter is every bit as good for flower-watching as any other season. It's all about appreciating the seeds and pods and (sometimes prickly) stems.
When you look closely you can see dainty curls and spirals...
... or perhaps the scraggly hairs and thin points of dried bracts.
Friday, February 16, 2024
Books that Explore Volcanoes
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Explore Outdoors ~ the way snow collects
A couple of weeks ago I took my camera out into the snowstorm. It was one of those "snow globe shook and flakes are flying" days. The snowflakes were fat and heavy and ... wet! Noisy, too - I could hear them SPLOT on the ground as they fell. A good day for watching how snow collects on branches, twigs, and pine needles.
Next time it snows, watch how - and where - the flakes collect.