tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52179713975457643962024-03-19T04:48:46.005-04:00Archimedes Notebookbooks, musings, and STEAM activities Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.comBlogger1345125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-72987519321969358742024-03-15T01:30:00.045-04:002024-03-15T01:30:00.133-04:00The Hole Truth and Nothing But...<div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_Z7xZLGtwsCDAhQ0MJ93qjTOrh0WRfq74mDkI_yoqiTqRAhxWRjkYvkj8ebVjN7yk38h7sQCfocHKWbN9X9wQ0zYCSoio5BMsgXw2KTaaACcn-X0KY1j_AwAMr5DifR8mCIADkvRUoc5Tt8wfzVhjOi6k0lcheXpphv4qkjA3ruV_7zKfWSkAx2j2Gr_/s1500/this%20book%20is%20full%20of%20holes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_Z7xZLGtwsCDAhQ0MJ93qjTOrh0WRfq74mDkI_yoqiTqRAhxWRjkYvkj8ebVjN7yk38h7sQCfocHKWbN9X9wQ0zYCSoio5BMsgXw2KTaaACcn-X0KY1j_AwAMr5DifR8mCIADkvRUoc5Tt8wfzVhjOi6k0lcheXpphv4qkjA3ruV_7zKfWSkAx2j2Gr_/w200-h200/this%20book%20is%20full%20of%20holes.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><b><i>This Book Is Full of Holes: From Underground to Outer Space and Everywhere In Between </i></b></div><div>by Nora Nickum; illus. by Robert Meganck </div><div>40 pages; ages 6-9</div><div>Peachtree, 2024</div><div><br /></div><div><b>theme:</b> emptiness, science, art</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What is a hole? A hollow place. An empty space. A part of something where there’s nothing at all.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>But wait, says author, Nora Nickum. There is something to these holes – and so many places to find holes. From indentations in your waffles to nesting cavities in trees, there are holes all around us. Think about holes in the ground, or in a wiffle ball. Holes in a sprinkler or holes in the ozone layer. Sock holes, worm holes, animal burrows, Swiss cheese … this book is filled with holes!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>What I like about this book:</b> It’s fun! Nora provides great examples of holes we can find in our everyday life, from man-made stuff to nature. For each example she provides a layer of explanatory text. The back matter is just as fun. There’s an entire section called “English is full of holes,” where Nora focused on idioms and phrases we commonly use: loophole; down the rabbit hole… And there’s a section about black holes which are not holes at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>I reached out to Nora with <span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><b>a few questions…</b></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiHJduc3cim6ID4pvXddtNkAclj-TrAhsKOneYMfiK2JOZz8F_6ylA5jV_10fr4jglt2wozDqGHshMlo0hBVuozmiGBHlKKjBDtWCEkBiyPG1zf3LVNydSEoVi5kEQ6b5xF_-p1C8tVZoevwjwPs1hVv1kXb51DxGXWyhKD68MmnzKaMfQ9GsLz5Db6IP/s515/this%20book%20is%20full%20of%20holes_author.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="491" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPiHJduc3cim6ID4pvXddtNkAclj-TrAhsKOneYMfiK2JOZz8F_6ylA5jV_10fr4jglt2wozDqGHshMlo0hBVuozmiGBHlKKjBDtWCEkBiyPG1zf3LVNydSEoVi5kEQ6b5xF_-p1C8tVZoevwjwPs1hVv1kXb51DxGXWyhKD68MmnzKaMfQ9GsLz5Db6IP/s320/this%20book%20is%20full%20of%20holes_author.jpg" width="305" /></a></div></span></div><div><b>Me:</b> How did you come to the idea of writing about holes?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Nora: </b>The first holes I found myself wondering about were the teeny tiny holes in airplane windows and big, beautiful blue holes in the ocean. As I wrote, it turned into a book about all different kinds of holes, and what makes a hole a hole. Then I went down a lot of rabbit holes doing research about all different kinds of holes, and picking my favorites to include in the book.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Me:</b> Are donut holes really holes?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Nora:</b> It depends. Some donuts do have holes, of course. Bakers probably first made a hole in donuts because the gooey dough in the middle wouldn't fully cook in the frier. Dough would be punched out of the center when the donut was made. But larger bakeries now have machines that shape donuts to be rings so there's nothing left over. The term "donut hole" these days is often used for a spherical mini donut which is not a hole--and which, fortunately, is much tastier than a hole would be. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Me:</b> Are you telling the hole truth here?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Nora:</b> Well, this is a nonfiction book, so yes, the hole truth and nothing but the truth. There are no holes in my research, and you can't poke any holes in my arguments. Putting fictional things in this nonfiction picture book would be like trying to put a square peg in a round hole, so none of that. Just pure, not-silly-in-the-least nonfiction. Okay, maybe I found some room for some silliness.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Hole-some Beyond the Books activities:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Go on a hole-finding expedition through your house.</span></i></b> You might find some clothes with holes, pots, a guitar, faucets, and more… How many holes can you find?</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Look for holes in nature around you</span></i></b>. Check for holes in trees, logs, in the ground, in leaves and flower petals. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Make a pinhole eclipse-viewer. </span></i></b>All you need are two index cards (or ½ sheets of cardstock) and a pushpin or very sharp pencil. Instructions in<a href="https://youtu.be/2Hj8O-SLWpU?feature=shared" target="_blank"> this very short video</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nora is a member of #STEAMTeam2024. You can find out more about her <a href="https://www.noranickum.com/" target="_blank">at her website</a>. Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at <a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank">Susanna Leonard Hill's website</a>. Review f&g provided by the publisher.</div><div><br /></div></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-29893006085863495632024-03-13T01:30:00.024-04:002024-03-13T01:30:00.143-04:00Explore Outdoors ~ Who's hanging out in the Crocuses?<div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg205MUOTGDPqyPQL57LrPM356TYdFCqqAOYPiBJBE48ftcFW5sK_auW1a79VgpbaJI7nBInaeGfePcHL2RsW60B3ElsuVI-0mIkg_M5yBXVQzmDiupb9R9UNx2eXl4Eah7uAg3-8Bs81VBjeOHJjgTXJ33yhHuHj-EzJS-YwlhgMsr9FbcxFYux2YHNnpq/s1200/03%20crocus-fly.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg205MUOTGDPqyPQL57LrPM356TYdFCqqAOYPiBJBE48ftcFW5sK_auW1a79VgpbaJI7nBInaeGfePcHL2RsW60B3ElsuVI-0mIkg_M5yBXVQzmDiupb9R9UNx2eXl4Eah7uAg3-8Bs81VBjeOHJjgTXJ33yhHuHj-EzJS-YwlhgMsr9FbcxFYux2YHNnpq/w400-h400/03%20crocus-fly.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Last week I noticed crocuses popping up in yards down in town. Lots of crocuses. So I wandered over to see whether any insects might be checking them out. I expected bees - maybe early bumble bees, though to tell the truth, March 10 is very early for anyone to be waking up and heading outside.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I didn't see any bees, but I did notice flies. Some were tiny and dainty; others were like this stout fellow.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: medium;"><b>What flowers are blooming in your neighborhood?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: medium;"><b>And what insects are visiting them?</b></span></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-27404006382165619662024-03-08T01:30:00.055-05:002024-03-08T01:30:00.133-05:00It's Raining, It's Pouring ...<div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUi97MavRIZd7aeh7CWjF_SWjsZtV2OCig__qpMd5zTgdLuWHqOkZAxvl3sf0XYz1ZrRK9sANm1IN06hvsg4DoGVl0HRomdhdjpuNzdbRx2fsZwP2Y6-zAwA_GftYruGtY4hXakjtBILgElbB1sJHYGrFVvJak1L47PgVXaKCJmiHAdQCOa9PfZkym_gB/s1200/Place%20for%20Rain_1%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="964" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUi97MavRIZd7aeh7CWjF_SWjsZtV2OCig__qpMd5zTgdLuWHqOkZAxvl3sf0XYz1ZrRK9sANm1IN06hvsg4DoGVl0HRomdhdjpuNzdbRx2fsZwP2Y6-zAwA_GftYruGtY4hXakjtBILgElbB1sJHYGrFVvJak1L47PgVXaKCJmiHAdQCOa9PfZkym_gB/s320/Place%20for%20Rain_1%20cover.jpg" width="257" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>A Place for Rain </i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>by Michelle Schaub; illus. by Blanca Gómez </div><div>32 pages; ages 4-8</div><div>Norton Young Readers, 2024</div><div><br /></div><div><b>theme</b>: rain, problem-solving, environment</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Plink. </i></div><div><i> Plip. </i></div><div><i> Plop. </i></div><div><i>We watch the raindrops drop.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Children, warm and dry inside, watch the rain pour down, puddle, pool, and fill the playground and parking lot, flood sidewalks, and run off into the road where it mixes with grit and grease. From there, the stream of water runs into storm drains and eventually into creeks, groundwater, or the ocean. </div><div><br /></div><div>The kids begin to wonder if they could collect some of that rain for a droughty day. And maybe they could keep it from pooling on the playground. Their solution: build a rain garden.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>What I like about this book</b>: I love the language, the onomatopoeia of plink, plop, pitter-patter, splutter-splatter. I like how Michelle Schaub highlights an important environmental issue by showing one solution – a solution many cities are embracing as they focus on mitigating stormwater damage. And I really like that the Back Matter shows how people of all ages can Make Room for Rain with step-by-step instructions on how to build a rain garden.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SXCI_aQj2t8Rci-5K-1-PQMEkQ9NyJFq-qlpgmw7PrvDjPpXUktvw_Jw-CkiGVd6Nm_cVfATbBXLRlALeidlql1NebvL-QCZ__5dQ2Unw8YNJRr8rh0F3-aDRbiHp3ZYQKG_ImI6A50WASzJt0hkINGOOZmz8L5z4QUgiHUZ8SKGN-fNYDu91l-0bJ5K/s1500/Place%20for%20Rain_2%20inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1500" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7SXCI_aQj2t8Rci-5K-1-PQMEkQ9NyJFq-qlpgmw7PrvDjPpXUktvw_Jw-CkiGVd6Nm_cVfATbBXLRlALeidlql1NebvL-QCZ__5dQ2Unw8YNJRr8rh0F3-aDRbiHp3ZYQKG_ImI6A50WASzJt0hkINGOOZmz8L5z4QUgiHUZ8SKGN-fNYDu91l-0bJ5K/w400-h250/Place%20for%20Rain_2%20inside.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>A couple weeks ago, I caught up with Michelle (via the wonders of email) and asked her a couple questions.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Me:</b> What inspired you to write a picture book about building a rain garden?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Michelle</b>: I’ve always been passionate about using water and land sustainably, and I planted my first rain garden over ten years ago to help solve the problem of stormwater flooding my driveway. As I worked on the garden with my own children, I thought that the process would be fun to explain in a picture book.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Me: </b>Why do you think this is an important story to share with children?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Michelle</b>: In the face of doom and gloom news about climate change, A Place for Rain provides children with positive, attainable actions they can take to make a difference, whether it’s planting a full rain garden, or simply adding a rain barrel to a downspout to catch and reuse water.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Me</b>: I agree, Michelle! Now for my favorite part of my Friday picture book reviews …</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Beyond the Books:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Next time it rains, observe how and where the rain collects.</span></i></b> What do you notice?</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">How much rain falls in a rainstorm? </span></i></b>You can measure your rainfall if you have a big bucket and a ruler. Put the bucket in an open spot in your yard or driveway – not under roof eaves or trees. Then, after the storm measure how much rain fell.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Collect rainwater that comes off your roof </span></i></b>by putting buckets under the eaves or a rain spout. How much collects? What could you use collected rainwater for? (water flowers, wash your bike, flush toilets…)</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Michelle has written many books for kids</span></i></b>, including <b><i>Dream Big, Little Scientists</i></b>. You can check out my review <a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/02/books-can-help-us-think-like-scientist.html" target="_blank">here on this blog</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Michelle is a member of #STEAMTeam2024. You can find out more about her<a href="http://www.michelleschaub.com" target="_blank"> at her website</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at <a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank">Susanna Leonard Hill's website.</a> <i>Review copy provided by the publisher.</i></div><div><br /></div></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-76471476557600166792024-03-06T01:30:00.076-05:002024-03-06T01:30:00.148-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ A Wee Pine Tree<div style="text-align: left;">This past year was a huge pine cone year! There are cones covering my yard, the road to the hayfield, and edges of the fields. Stepping on soggy white pine cones isn't nearly as dicey as treading on roly-poly acorns, and for the time being I have left them alone. Partly because, on one of my walks, I discovered a few white pine younglings sprouting up.<br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFStVZmQ18uUSR9oubNIqlekc3gU5IPQN1OYXesqBZQ8YpmPjQFq3NrV_ye5UebZJ69FquoyyOO_LjIwUcYR42ZoKFOne1BEc2oy5FF5yDgMKvywr2fkPLkKiXtmhJTHoFPapEJvyTLJEQ-wQuLOPsW838-E0Gw0Yy2xli_RFO5N-6f8dsg53INfJeRhfP/s1024/03%20baby%20white%20pine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFStVZmQ18uUSR9oubNIqlekc3gU5IPQN1OYXesqBZQ8YpmPjQFq3NrV_ye5UebZJ69FquoyyOO_LjIwUcYR42ZoKFOne1BEc2oy5FF5yDgMKvywr2fkPLkKiXtmhJTHoFPapEJvyTLJEQ-wQuLOPsW838-E0Gw0Yy2xli_RFO5N-6f8dsg53INfJeRhfP/w300-h400/03%20baby%20white%20pine.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"> I got to wondering who, if any of my wild neighbors, might snack on white pine seeds and cones - or even tender needles. Turns out there are a bunch of local mammals and birds who might, including:</div><div style="text-align: left;">black bears<br />porcupines <br />gray squirrels<br />red squirrels<br />eastern cottontails<br />white-footed mice<br />eastern chipmunks<br />white-tailed deer<br />yellow-bellied sapsucker<br />black-capped chickadee<br />white-breasted nuthatch<br />pine warbler<br />pine grosbeak<br />red crossbill<br />white-winged crossbill<br />evening grosbeak<br />pine siskin.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In addition to food, White pines provide nesting sites. Here are a few birds who make their homes in the white pines:</div><div style="text-align: left;">sharp-shinned hawks and cooper's hawks (nests on large branches next to the trunk)<br />broad-winged hawks (nests in a crotch near the top of the tree)<br />barred owls (nest in trunk cavities and use the tree as a roost)<br />least flycatchers<br />blue jays<br />common ravens</div><div style="text-align: left;">American crows<br />common grackles</div><div style="text-align: left;">mourning doves<br />olive-sided flycatchers<br />yellow-rumped warblers (and other warblers)<br />evening grosbeaks<br />purple finches<br /><br />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... </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can find out more about White pines and how they fit into our ecology<a href="https://wildadirondacks.org/trees-of-the-adirondacks-eastern-white-pine-pinus-strobus.html" target="_blank"> here</a>.<br /></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-9373515475165628232024-03-01T01:30:00.035-05:002024-03-01T01:30:00.139-05:00In this corner ... Climate Change<div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVEhlgGeR6_ARDFjH1A911code4_9_1mhl8HzwCbO8y2ITMLcq4cW7vFomn_LnsYnrnL3abPRVOIbumzW8FEN1PUUb0ty9MlkkCkN7bKaPynkRsspHev2lHxKcKsPTPoY1TuNnLDwgjloWLQ7aTDZmzWj5trXjzb2JGVbQe4dAtUpVnzRotEHm4SLRXYG/s1500/animal%20climate%20heroes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1013" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVEhlgGeR6_ARDFjH1A911code4_9_1mhl8HzwCbO8y2ITMLcq4cW7vFomn_LnsYnrnL3abPRVOIbumzW8FEN1PUUb0ty9MlkkCkN7bKaPynkRsspHev2lHxKcKsPTPoY1TuNnLDwgjloWLQ7aTDZmzWj5trXjzb2JGVbQe4dAtUpVnzRotEHm4SLRXYG/w270-h400/animal%20climate%20heroes.jpg" width="270" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Animal Climate Heroes</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div>by Alison Pearce Stevens; illus. by Jason Ford </div><div>104 pages; ages 8-12</div><div>Godwin Books, 2024</div><div><br /></div><div>Just as every story needs a hero, every hero needs a supervillain. In this book that supervillain is Climate Change. “It’s not a living, breathing supervillain,” writes Alison Pearce Stevens, “but it acts like one just the same.” Every year the effects of climate change worsen: record-breaking disasters; wilder wildfires; more severe storms bringing floods – or no rain at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>It’s time to call in the superheroes! And just who might these heroes be? You could be one. Your voice and actions are your superpowers. But you – and your human friends – are not alone. There are already superheroes out in the wild working to help keep our climate in check. They are the great whales, sea otters, forest elephants, and echidnas, each a hero in their own way. </div><div><br /></div><div>They aren’t the only climate heroes in nature. Indeed, there’s a whole bunch of unsung climate-fighters, from algae to trees. But these four are the ones Alison focuses on because of the impact they have on maintaining carbon balance on our planet. Each animal superhero gets its own chapter that details how it captures carbon through its life cycle. There’s also a section in each chapter that shows how we humans can help these animal heroes.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the end there’s a section on how you can be a climate hero, with practical actions kids – and other humans – can take. They range from the simple (turning off lights and electronics not in use) to those that take more planning, such as planting gardens and trees. The book is illustrated throughout with cartoon drawings, which help keep the Superhero Vibe going.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">I wanted to know more about how Alison came up with her idea, so I asked her a question:</span></div><div><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoObkM7tGeuQQ89Lrty30BDN7M4Yv_t3RkYwFGLiRVLqFymZBDrOz9iQsNSBjA2ElIhXXZRaEP-vvzXjGhfPY_TMhEwBWeexDXhAc8bToxtx9ta5TDXfX_QnCUrXHGO32YPk960VOKrYdeU4EYTHqDqfwlGik3xqMVOFSf8UySySJdRS4M2xRUgYJYOhf/s768/Animal%20Climate%20APStevens_headshot5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoObkM7tGeuQQ89Lrty30BDN7M4Yv_t3RkYwFGLiRVLqFymZBDrOz9iQsNSBjA2ElIhXXZRaEP-vvzXjGhfPY_TMhEwBWeexDXhAc8bToxtx9ta5TDXfX_QnCUrXHGO32YPk960VOKrYdeU4EYTHqDqfwlGik3xqMVOFSf8UySySJdRS4M2xRUgYJYOhf/s320/Animal%20Climate%20APStevens_headshot5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>photos: Images for a Lifetime</i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><b>Me</b>: How did you come to the idea of casting climate change as the supervillain instead of, say, fossil fuel corporations? And by doing that, how did it structure the story you wanted to tell?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Alison</b>: Interesting question. No one has asked that before! I honestly never considered casting the fossil fuel empire as the villain, so your question really made me stop to consider why not. It comes down to the spark behind the idea for the book—I heard someone say their favorite fact was that sea otters help fight climate change. Right off the bat, that set up the clash as it’s described in <b><i>Animal Climate Heroes</i></b>—animals taking on climate change, itself. As for structure, I initially set it up like a boxing match, with the opponents in opposite corners of the ring, but it morphed into a superhero book during the writing process.</div><div><br /></div><div>I really don’t know that I could have recast the supervillain as anything else, because animals can’t fight the fossil fuel empire. There simply isn’t a direct interaction there, at least not in a way that animals can have any kind of impact. They can and do, however, help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps us fight climate change. These animals (and others) really are superheroes, and we need to protect them—and other natural spaces—if we want to keep our planet from warming too much.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks, Alison. Alison is a science writer and award-winning children’s author who is also a member of STEAMTeam2024. You can find out more about her <a href="https://apstevens.com/" target="_blank">at her website</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi025PvG0ZWYgq8nW3dyBLyKgBYdFxUQJBKmlk6YaHcJEiMZbky6iOSZ3M9dIiM_xAej01qHTlgKwIgqjXRx9wmkgjDs45abr_87d6piAIwgo5cSNkqJb0RgxEQlqAuRSaG4ccRjK9Hpdr34U9dDFE20VDQ_KsbJ6eYkarWhF3r7keGHIunwH1P7jjmMCbT/s100/middle%20grade%20monday%20sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi025PvG0ZWYgq8nW3dyBLyKgBYdFxUQJBKmlk6YaHcJEiMZbky6iOSZ3M9dIiM_xAej01qHTlgKwIgqjXRx9wmkgjDs45abr_87d6piAIwgo5cSNkqJb0RgxEQlqAuRSaG4ccRjK9Hpdr34U9dDFE20VDQ_KsbJ6eYkarWhF3r7keGHIunwH1P7jjmMCbT/s1600/middle%20grade%20monday%20sm.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><div>Thanks for dropping by today. On Monday we'll be hanging out at Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with other bloggers. It's over at Greg Pattridge's blog, <a href="https://gpattridge.com/" target="_blank">Always in the Middle</a>, so hop over to see what other people are reading. Review copies provided by the publishers.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-9046733056055596872024-02-28T01:30:00.021-05:002024-02-28T01:30:00.130-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ Tree-gazing<p> 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. </p><p><span style="color: #990000; font-size: medium;">What will you notice when you go tree-gazing? </span><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqfuDJsOqiAD6stsEzSwTI5sxCLK6b5EUF0lCJcU4G4Ov_wtF736WUq9a6L6fAGw_Mv6nXcxgDhqHHGpE22J8nqfE-LbCu1rTD0cKVpGAWrWgtP12k3l9u8RDGtYi1ZvDWwr_nGHavRLPtKpRZKUS631LRLRy3VunoO9oP72MvGz3irsbSaGrv5LInreo/s1000/02%20tree%20fungi.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="749" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqfuDJsOqiAD6stsEzSwTI5sxCLK6b5EUF0lCJcU4G4Ov_wtF736WUq9a6L6fAGw_Mv6nXcxgDhqHHGpE22J8nqfE-LbCu1rTD0cKVpGAWrWgtP12k3l9u8RDGtYi1ZvDWwr_nGHavRLPtKpRZKUS631LRLRy3VunoO9oP72MvGz3irsbSaGrv5LInreo/w480-h640/02%20tree%20fungi.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-17698251052103338652024-02-23T01:30:00.067-05:002024-02-23T01:30:00.142-05:00An Antarctic Adventure<div style="text-align: left;">My favorite time of year to read about polar adventures is in the winter, when snow and sleet swirl around my house and my road resembles a sloped ice rink. That’s when I whip up a steaming mug of hot cocoa and sit by the window, reading about adventures in far off (and much colder) places.</div><div><br /></div><div>This book doesn’t come out till March 5th, but I wanted to squeeze a review before spring thaw – just in case you want to go outside on a totally NOT-Antarctic-but-still-cold-and-snowy expedition</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqccoQYt1eqdILr-bUC68h6fKHa16sQJokkviykVZehkNDv9Tk5pks5WjKwwlqse2r-gwmiJmGxZEnfLgZC8MEeTSRvFrA8g-FMPVPGexbuD00-XnAVDFlaw0XzPl01MVAmlvDGf9cqgLJe6E3OjMf9hieNfYi8sEbq4fmfoT-5LMA7PQLBHA5pZlF6-D/s1500/My%20Antarctica_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1438" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqccoQYt1eqdILr-bUC68h6fKHa16sQJokkviykVZehkNDv9Tk5pks5WjKwwlqse2r-gwmiJmGxZEnfLgZC8MEeTSRvFrA8g-FMPVPGexbuD00-XnAVDFlaw0XzPl01MVAmlvDGf9cqgLJe6E3OjMf9hieNfYi8sEbq4fmfoT-5LMA7PQLBHA5pZlF6-D/s320/My%20Antarctica_1.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><div><b><i>My Antarctica: True Adventures in the Land of Mummified Seals, Space Robots, and So Much More </i></b></div><div>by G. Neri; illustrations by Corban Wilkin </div><div>96 pages; ages 7-10</div><div>Candlewick, 2024</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Themes:</b> Antarctica, animals, adventure</div><div><br /></div><div><i>When I was a kid, I dreamed of being an explorer. I hoped to trek to the Poles or dive into the Mariana Trench or rocket to the Moon one day.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, Greg Neri grew up and started writing books for kids. Lots of books – and that unexpectedly landed him in Antarctica. He was (finally) an explorer!</div><div><br /></div><div>This book is a fun, wonderfully illustrated scrapbook-like memoir of Neri’s expedition to Antarctica as one of three artists/writers to be awarded a National Science Foundation fellowship. Neri confesses that he wasn’t the best science student in school, but he wanted this opportunity to join the expedition and spend time around lots of scientists, all of whom “seemed to be looking for answers to life’s big questions.” He wanted to bring back stories and photos he could share with kids, adventures that might inspire <i>them</i> to explore science.</div><div><br /></div><div>Neri, who lives in Florida, had a lot to learn, starting with how to dress. Fortunately, he got outfitted with the right gear – SO many layers! He introduces the scientific community living at McMurdo research station and what they’re working on: geology, plants and animals, outer space. His job: to follow different science teams into the field and learn about their research – and then try to explain it to kids.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLA6gEeu-CuU19sIsockTeKdUOFEQRVpoyCvV0iMTIZMnv7pwKmmK6u3J3CthPSTmzJsx14JMboL6B76xIqY0ZhuLvcc9C4unULf6I_K1IEYtWayIozV0zlExVyJliG-aIpihYmzvWBd1U1GasMHNuy6Y3iuwkf4T-WwbF5p3sP3A5puHVtVx7Vk_Gazo/s1054/My%20Antarctica_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="1054" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSLA6gEeu-CuU19sIsockTeKdUOFEQRVpoyCvV0iMTIZMnv7pwKmmK6u3J3CthPSTmzJsx14JMboL6B76xIqY0ZhuLvcc9C4unULf6I_K1IEYtWayIozV0zlExVyJliG-aIpihYmzvWBd1U1GasMHNuy6Y3iuwkf4T-WwbF5p3sP3A5puHVtVx7Vk_Gazo/w400-h208/My%20Antarctica_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><b>Here's what I love about this book:</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The front end papers show a map of Neri’s flight to Antarctica and a map of the ice shelf and landscape;</li><li>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;</li><li>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</li><li>Back matter, which includes an authors note, facts about Antarctica, books, websites, and other stuff curious folks will want to know.</li></ul></div><div><b>Beyond the Book:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Fold an origami penguin.</span></i></b> You need origami paper or gift wrap with one side that’s white. Here’s a <a href="https://youtu.be/nPby_m_Vfw0?feature=shared" target="_blank">video </a>showing how to make one.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Go on your own expedition to Antarctica</span></i></b>. You can start <a href="https://www.antarctica.gov.au/about-antarctica/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Print out 2-3 photos </span></i></b>of what you might see if you visited Antarctica. Then add your own cartoon art and a bit of a story. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">You can check out the Antarctic Artists and Writers Collective</span></i></b> here. They host events and exhibitions to celebrate Antarctica and have recordings archived on their <a href="https://www.aawcollective.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. They have a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/antarcticcollective/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, too.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEu_YOR_mVRiHwGEHDF8onq0m_lScEBMG5JZ3lM47c0C5uUZsZeK2Ldq7vD3bKFAFStWw5bd8uQlEqwTKAF86NRgE2WqhU2jEReo6jhgWCjOI1TTzBs1hBkyBerlJAGbLcDwM_BwFEYn6WOOcM3TLzaUDZ1WoTyTS0S3yiY7mnty2aQmJmD1PR-QYxLfR/s100/middle%20grade%20monday%20sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkEu_YOR_mVRiHwGEHDF8onq0m_lScEBMG5JZ3lM47c0C5uUZsZeK2Ldq7vD3bKFAFStWw5bd8uQlEqwTKAF86NRgE2WqhU2jEReo6jhgWCjOI1TTzBs1hBkyBerlJAGbLcDwM_BwFEYn6WOOcM3TLzaUDZ1WoTyTS0S3yiY7mnty2aQmJmD1PR-QYxLfR/s1600/middle%20grade%20monday%20sm.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><div>Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at <a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank">Susanna Leonard Hill's website</a>. On Monday we'll be hanging out at Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with other bloggers. It's over at Greg Pattridge's blog, <a href="https://gpattridge.com/" target="_blank">Always in the Middle</a>, so hop over to see what other people are reading. <i>Review copy provided by the publisher.</i></div><div><br /></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-40239360263033921862024-02-21T01:30:00.050-05:002024-02-21T01:30:00.132-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ Winter Weeds wear snowy top hats<p> 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. </p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZj78YDYqiFJ-hlBoLwwpUcSoJf96G26G33yNgLlF7k6G6KhaC8XAS7Jo0nD9fd9RbPORM89P7vxXqQgq-6YzzsZ4uWJTcX4uF9RL0e4Tjj1JlAeMVz98O3451zKve7t-QHSUCw7Sttr_8X-vT-IzohMSRfQLf_4xWZ3QeJiyedAXitAU1MJVox9oI7Ugb/s1000/02%20winter%20weed%20seed%20hats_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZj78YDYqiFJ-hlBoLwwpUcSoJf96G26G33yNgLlF7k6G6KhaC8XAS7Jo0nD9fd9RbPORM89P7vxXqQgq-6YzzsZ4uWJTcX4uF9RL0e4Tjj1JlAeMVz98O3451zKve7t-QHSUCw7Sttr_8X-vT-IzohMSRfQLf_4xWZ3QeJiyedAXitAU1MJVox9oI7Ugb/w300-h400/02%20winter%20weed%20seed%20hats_2.JPG" width="300" /> </a> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>When you look closely you can see dainty curls and spirals...</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGbkBgpP4qdvWPnii3U2lbaeD0zfr1IrLrXZn1ErOlrYSecLCWEtKHq-bodiP3zyr2znunJaTnUFJK8ju-ZgeuXUiSKy1iVM1GhS3a2Jg-EbAz9rVxBw-WUkJ9WsTQUUburlyvEAqVMptAGbN225yq35UkQUHRbB_xJWeFmYpy238N3kP1FejOU_GJC3r/s1500/02%20winter%20weed%20seed%20hats_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiGbkBgpP4qdvWPnii3U2lbaeD0zfr1IrLrXZn1ErOlrYSecLCWEtKHq-bodiP3zyr2znunJaTnUFJK8ju-ZgeuXUiSKy1iVM1GhS3a2Jg-EbAz9rVxBw-WUkJ9WsTQUUburlyvEAqVMptAGbN225yq35UkQUHRbB_xJWeFmYpy238N3kP1FejOU_GJC3r/w300-h400/02%20winter%20weed%20seed%20hats_1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div> <p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>... or perhaps the scraggly hairs and thin points of dried bracts. <br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: medium;"><b> What beauty are you finding in the winter weeds and flowers around you?</b></span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /> <br /></div><br /><p></p>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-87711345122599391832024-02-16T01:00:00.005-05:002024-02-16T01:00:00.132-05:00Books that Explore Volcanoes<div style="text-align: left;"> There are so many ways to explore volcanoes: you could hike up a dormant volcano (there are plenty hanging around North America), or fly over an active volcano. There are also plenty of ways to share your volcano discoveries: you could paint pictures, take photos, write poetry, film a video. Here are two books that take different paths up a volcano.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>theme:</b> volcanoes, geology, nature</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYUpnIUgED6I0v1MQevg0OkahVuyU-X6vZdRbg2N0qSw6s9nMaXQ7tAv7S8stywYUa4eHZX-JoPz1gRyxVnbMxnpO5ti6LpB1Ri5ZDjUUbE4KtA-F1g6zxKuYNT2T4n1igFeN_bhqeLVRkmucFqJBhEt2fQ7dtIMFRafsQNlWBMgJxmfwDlm9LxxJJ15P/s1500/climbing%20volcano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1100" data-original-width="1500" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYUpnIUgED6I0v1MQevg0OkahVuyU-X6vZdRbg2N0qSw6s9nMaXQ7tAv7S8stywYUa4eHZX-JoPz1gRyxVnbMxnpO5ti6LpB1Ri5ZDjUUbE4KtA-F1g6zxKuYNT2T4n1igFeN_bhqeLVRkmucFqJBhEt2fQ7dtIMFRafsQNlWBMgJxmfwDlm9LxxJJ15P/w400-h294/climbing%20volcano.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><b><i>Climbing the Volcano: A Journey in Haiku</i></b> </div><div>by Curtis Manley; illus. by Jennifer K. Mann </div><div>48 pages; ages 4-8</div><div>Neal Porter Books, 2024</div><div><br /></div><div><i>dormant volcano—</i></div><div><i>but at sunrise each day</i></div><div><i>it blazes</i></div><div><br /></div><div>This book is an adventure story. Author, Curtis Manley shares a “there and back again” tale in which a family hikes up Oregon’s South Sister volcano. Along the way, we discover tiny toads, a trail of pawprints through the snow, butterflies … and what the world looks like from a raven’s point of view. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>What I like about this book:</b> The entire story is told through a series of haiku – small snapshots of the journey. The journey extends over the course of a day, and also through different ecosystems as the family climbs above treeline. There is also back matter: more information about the South Sister volcano; things to carry with you on a mountain hike; a visual guide to the plants and animals observed along the way; and a bit about what haiku is and how you can try to write your own. They may be short, notes Curtis, but they are powerful. Also, did I mention the illustrations? They are marvelous! Make sure you peek under the dust jacket so you can see the ”undies.”</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZeuGAbAR7T2vOr7_k6okmul40tuN699iVgAiybi9bYyTQt_piqcYBJUWHnGcpFfAiUFBPOJLcmK7Ddlgsybk2fK_4BmylG1x9ISGyreWo39FSs9iyWz5GCApiojLJnmpLuOOWiFAE5yXBMOKmrB6IPmAOGfXRWlzJlx05Q2nUVbBPPgX7NetGgz6mvDi/s768/volcanoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZeuGAbAR7T2vOr7_k6okmul40tuN699iVgAiybi9bYyTQt_piqcYBJUWHnGcpFfAiUFBPOJLcmK7Ddlgsybk2fK_4BmylG1x9ISGyreWo39FSs9iyWz5GCApiojLJnmpLuOOWiFAE5yXBMOKmrB6IPmAOGfXRWlzJlx05Q2nUVbBPPgX7NetGgz6mvDi/s320/volcanoes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div>I can’t believe that I’ve had this book lost in my book basket for two years! (That’s what happens sometimes when they come as F&Gs … they are very “slouchy” and easy to lose track of) </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Volcanoes</i></b> </div><div>by Gail Gibbons </div><div>32 pages; ages 4-8</div><div>Holiday House, 2022</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The ground begins to rumble. Loud roars, hissing, and violent blasts are coming from deep inside the Earth. Suddenly ….</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ash, lava, rocks, and steam shoot into the air! We’ve got a volcano. Author Gail Gibbons introduces children to the inner earth layers, and what happens when a volcano breaks through the crust. Bold, bright colors will entice children to linger over the illustrations.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>What I like about this book:</b> One thing Gail does in her books is show the details. In this one she shows the tools and equipment volcanologists use as they study the volcano, maps of the tectonic plates, and an inside look at how a volcano forms. I like that she includes a list of what to do when there’s a volcano warning and an introduction to famous volcanoes. This book is so fact-filled there is no need for back matter. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Beyond the Books:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Tour a volcano – above and inside!</span></i></b> You can do this safely with this <a href="https://youtu.be/XDiYl8IizH4?feature=shared" target="_blank">National Geographic video</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Create and map a volcano</span></i></b>. Here’s a <a href="https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/learn/project/make-a-volcano/" target="_blank">NASA video</a> that shows how.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Last year, Lestie Barnard Booth shared her field trip to the Fagradalsfjall volcano in Iceland</span></i></b>. You can <a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2022/12/geology-in-action-at-fagradalsfjall.html" target="_blank">read it here</a>. And here is the CBS <a href="https://youtu.be/-LuPF5JTms0?feature=shared" target="_blank">60 Minutes video</a> about it.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Climb a volcano – if you don’t have one nearby, hike up a mountain.</span></i></b> What plants and animals do you see on your hike? What do you hear? What does the world look like from the top? Share what you discover by writing your own haiku or drawing a picture.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at <a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank">Susanna Leonard Hill's website</a>. <i>Review copies provided by the publishers.</i></div><div><br /></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-33787070917769659872024-02-14T01:30:00.031-05:002024-02-14T01:30:00.171-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ the way snow collects <p> 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.</p><p><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;">Next time it snows, watch how - and where - the flakes collect.</span> <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmgoimxsjD9jgERZH45zy0cav4e-l3XT-dGGYkFFBOLMlOePK_u3kyxpa0RzObR6dsSptWvvT_8tKLv2XO84p877DWv6DC8gh1R3noQFoGQ-iLWN727013Mc5UsuJchBbmGDp1FUgny0NIhB5p09w5qH3ARJfScy0yH7N5SXBBhe4BXlNUCxY_jg8asXg/s1000/02%20snow%20collecting%20on%20needles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmgoimxsjD9jgERZH45zy0cav4e-l3XT-dGGYkFFBOLMlOePK_u3kyxpa0RzObR6dsSptWvvT_8tKLv2XO84p877DWv6DC8gh1R3noQFoGQ-iLWN727013Mc5UsuJchBbmGDp1FUgny0NIhB5p09w5qH3ARJfScy0yH7N5SXBBhe4BXlNUCxY_jg8asXg/w480-h640/02%20snow%20collecting%20on%20needles.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-90859247628859621912024-02-09T01:30:00.054-05:002024-02-09T01:30:00.138-05:00There's no lack of animal books!<div style="text-align: left;"> I am still dredging up books from the bottom of my book basket! Here are two wonderful picture books about animals that were published last year.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>theme:</b> animals, ecology, cumulative story</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb11AFcRbZ9gcgBTnYmAHBOrDIbwMGBTNqokX-3wGyNOhF46-DXf-i1N4k2cfVB227Xg5nndxZRW4Bkeih5RGJdhrRhyfm35KTKrtAGSGetNcqStPc8kNx4qTVUO7ii_wM6KOK_Sq5f6R0HG-MDVJQVWMKtiLP3HVpNN5aglGEEx53WvBnAP99w1LLvMc/s410/kind_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="351" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjb11AFcRbZ9gcgBTnYmAHBOrDIbwMGBTNqokX-3wGyNOhF46-DXf-i1N4k2cfVB227Xg5nndxZRW4Bkeih5RGJdhrRhyfm35KTKrtAGSGetNcqStPc8kNx4qTVUO7ii_wM6KOK_Sq5f6R0HG-MDVJQVWMKtiLP3HVpNN5aglGEEx53WvBnAP99w1LLvMc/s320/kind_1.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Kind, A call to care for every creature</i></b></div><div>By Jess McGeachin</div><div>32 pages; ages 3-7</div><div>Kane Miller EDC Publishing, 2023</div><div><br /></div><div>I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, given the title, “Kind.” And what did “a call to care” mean? I almost didn’t pick it for review, but I’m glad I did – what a remarkable book. Here’s the first few lines:</div><div><br /></div><div><i>In this book you’ll find</i></div><div><i>Many kinds of things</i></div><div><i>Some have slippery scales</i></div><div><i>Some have feathered wings</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>But kind is more than type</i></div><div><i>Kind is how to care</i></div><div><i>For creatures that you meet</i></div><div><i>And places that we share</i></div><div><br /></div><div>On each spread, illustrations depict the diversity of creatures in a group: butterflies, spiders, snakes, penguins. Short verses remind us to be kind to these animals, and at the end remind us to care for our planet and ourselves. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgvyplbmyc9jZ6bK4ZGXd_NrApG3r3BFu8VgCAhgVCDRO-CCiy-oIHDR6Uafd1C7_GROzZVT8FMYgBsLSFMeg-PSSCRuymIdVu4DRtFEpcskQ_yJdqM5JwQr8YuSWin0qw5HjLzcNRqjaEI0RNjwyNZI_tFt5vaxdlbHdJCrDTFQFEaDC0ulfTXUf_1oG/s1100/Kind_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="1100" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmgvyplbmyc9jZ6bK4ZGXd_NrApG3r3BFu8VgCAhgVCDRO-CCiy-oIHDR6Uafd1C7_GROzZVT8FMYgBsLSFMeg-PSSCRuymIdVu4DRtFEpcskQ_yJdqM5JwQr8YuSWin0qw5HjLzcNRqjaEI0RNjwyNZI_tFt5vaxdlbHdJCrDTFQFEaDC0ulfTXUf_1oG/w400-h241/Kind_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><b>What I like about this book</b>: What a great resource for exploring similarities and differences within a type of animals. Take butterflies for example. Some are large, with thick bodies while others are tiny. And who knew that there are so many different kinds of frogs! In addition to appreciating the biodiversity of life around us, this book shares a great SEL message. It reminds us to treat those that live around us – no matter how they look or sound, no matter how many legs or wings they have – with kindness. And it does all of that that using lovely, lyrical language.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKT_kv_RGHd39K3x605iIajVMcUorlEJSajy5NOrsaQG7uZVdASeX75_GUoUfWYf7FXE_9JbzGQXm_M-4xn9rKwtd5QMJO1UlpEHghLCqK0d693o_o14TurEssyfFfMJtmUXTqAGB3SwQwi-TEOWzwE_LKD6jFwyuh7lM7v8b-3Q_4BAOu1KnJJBj9YJ3c/s1500/Creep%20Leap%20Crunch_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKT_kv_RGHd39K3x605iIajVMcUorlEJSajy5NOrsaQG7uZVdASeX75_GUoUfWYf7FXE_9JbzGQXm_M-4xn9rKwtd5QMJO1UlpEHghLCqK0d693o_o14TurEssyfFfMJtmUXTqAGB3SwQwi-TEOWzwE_LKD6jFwyuh7lM7v8b-3Q_4BAOu1KnJJBj9YJ3c/s320/Creep%20Leap%20Crunch_1.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><div><b><i>Creep, Leap, Crunch! A Food Chain Story</i></b> </div><div>by Jody Jensen Shaffer; illus. by Christopher Silas Neal </div><div>48 pages; ages 4-8</div><div>Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2023</div><div><br /></div><div><i>There was a blue sky with a bright shining sun, a glorious, life-giving, fiery sun. The day had begun.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>We see trees, and plants, and there – right there – is a cricket nibbling sweet grass. A mouse sees the cricket and pounces, because nothing tastes better for breakfast than a crunchy cricket. A milk snake swallows the mouse that gobbled the cricket that nibbled the grass… you can see how this is going, right?</div><div><br /></div><div><b>What I like about this book:</b> I like the cumulative structure for a food chain story. I also like that in this story, there’s not a 100-percent chance of catching the food you pounce on. The cricket is too fast for the mouse that, in turn, evades the snake, and so on. Truth is, hunting is hard and sometimes the hunter misses its prey. There is also back matter – an illustrated glossary explaining what a food chain is, more about the setting of this tale (a temperate deciduous forest), and a bit about each of the animals featured.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvem8zlmMjq0fAAow158cCfwfU8hPHm_SEL7D6newv8T1VYkSh7Snpx3VVs7tTe9pGqGcBhLKEiSAF5vYaW5iXnucmF1iLMsFE52b512cQsIrxnGqyLFmYVSICsYOgnwOH9zZ22AfbpPj0EqGIjZHXGJLenxjcfqFSmdhkvfZEGykiiZdHA85sUA7x-yWD/s1500/Creep%20Leap%20Crunch_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1500" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvem8zlmMjq0fAAow158cCfwfU8hPHm_SEL7D6newv8T1VYkSh7Snpx3VVs7tTe9pGqGcBhLKEiSAF5vYaW5iXnucmF1iLMsFE52b512cQsIrxnGqyLFmYVSICsYOgnwOH9zZ22AfbpPj0EqGIjZHXGJLenxjcfqFSmdhkvfZEGykiiZdHA85sUA7x-yWD/w400-h231/Creep%20Leap%20Crunch_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>One more thing I like about this book is … what it’s wearing underneath the dust jacket. The case cover for most of the books on my shelves wears the same illustration as the dust jacket. But every now and then I peek under the jacket and find a surprise. You can find out more about book “undies” <a href="https://vimeo.com/letstalkpicturebooks" target="_blank">here</a> – and they even <a href="https://100scopenotes.com/2023/12/14/and-the-2023-undies-case-cover-awards-go-to/" target="_blank">give out awards</a>! </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Beyond the Books:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Get to know the biodiversity in your neighborhood.</span></i></b> How many kinds of frogs live around you? What about birds and butterflies? How about trees? Maybe draw a picture of all of the different kinds you see.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">What can you do to be kind to the environment where you live?</span></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">What sort of food chains might you find in your area? </span></i></b>Look for animals that eat plants, and find out what eats them. See if you can create a chain of hungry animals that live around you.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at <a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank">Susanna Leonard Hill's website</a>. <i>Review copies provided by the publisher (KIND) and Blue Slip Media (CREEP, LEAP, CRUNCH).</i></div><div><br /></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-11835219435887535772024-02-07T01:30:00.001-05:002024-02-07T01:30:00.142-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ Nature's Window<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfJ_WT6XO0oqtwHEs3YUiJkT2_JZ-w5DgRMGi0wXYJQFcU3syuJnRqF5Ia_6sKrt_ggZ-1d_G_OiRzJxXuk_lhrqkAXlzw02u4u78nxG2HrMmvEMu9dm3LMrWjUrndrN3X4vNhb-PrSrjyjJWmGSJX3Z06uCua8I9NDc6NLALhx4tNAljgUlRhD1yRdds/s1000/01%20beech%20window.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfJ_WT6XO0oqtwHEs3YUiJkT2_JZ-w5DgRMGi0wXYJQFcU3syuJnRqF5Ia_6sKrt_ggZ-1d_G_OiRzJxXuk_lhrqkAXlzw02u4u78nxG2HrMmvEMu9dm3LMrWjUrndrN3X4vNhb-PrSrjyjJWmGSJX3Z06uCua8I9NDc6NLALhx4tNAljgUlRhD1yRdds/w480-h640/01%20beech%20window.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>I love the way snow clings to beech leaves. It collects in the curls and hollows, along veins and ridges... and pulls my attention to the leaf details. This one, for example. Who gnawed that picture window in it? And do you notice the points along the margin?</p><p><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b>What do you notice about winter leaves this week?</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-40504647072650061662024-02-02T01:30:00.072-05:002024-02-02T01:30:00.142-05:00Arthropods and the People who Love Them!<div style="text-align: left;"> It’s Groundhog Day – and that means that we are <span style="color: #38761d;"><b><i>Halfway To Spring</i></b>!</span> Soon there will be snowfleas hopping about, and sap moths – I can’t wait. But for now, while snow and ice make bug life hard, I’m sharing a couple of fun books. You get a two-fer today because my book basket is filling up faster than I can post reviews…</div><div><br /></div><div><b>themes:</b> nature, insects, arthropods</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPKKhxGUuQMc_0yIa4h9iaxaiIdkSoQojc0DZoKjrhmx11kp1Wv7NDIgMEJg67M9xeiM_IeatClFS3eBC0445PmXVTN6PKtmIFW3sBbn1tLCXTXhgB-OKHNim6J-9atMHq9-Om58w3pvGCMOJYtrsdty6_zZK1yGtd2MmVgwVLbz5UP51mFvb6zXpX89a/s1500/house%20for%20hermit%20crab_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPKKhxGUuQMc_0yIa4h9iaxaiIdkSoQojc0DZoKjrhmx11kp1Wv7NDIgMEJg67M9xeiM_IeatClFS3eBC0445PmXVTN6PKtmIFW3sBbn1tLCXTXhgB-OKHNim6J-9atMHq9-Om58w3pvGCMOJYtrsdty6_zZK1yGtd2MmVgwVLbz5UP51mFvb6zXpX89a/s320/house%20for%20hermit%20crab_1.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Is this a House for a Hermit Crab?</i></b></div><div>By Megan McDonald; illus. by Katherine Tillotson</div><div>40 pages; ages 4-8</div><div> Neal Porter Books, 2024 (originally published 1990)</div><div><br /></div><div>I became acquainted with hermit crabs while doing field research on Cocos Island, Costa Rica. I loved watching them toddle across the beach, carrying snail shells on their back. So when I had kids, of course I read them this book. Now, re-visioned with new artwork, it is just as fun to read as it was more than 30 years ago.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Hermit Crab was growing too big for the house on his back.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>So up, onto the shore he climbs as he sets out to find a new house. Something that will give him room to grow and keep him safe from his enemies – especially the porcupine fish. Hermit Crab tries one improbable thing after another – a rock, a tin can… but before he can complete his quest, a wave washes him back into the sea where a hungry porcupine fish lurks!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>What I like about this book:</b> The language! Megan McDonald indulges our senses with words that evoke the sounds of the crab scuttling along the beach. <i>Scritch-scratch, scritch-scratch</i>. Then there’s the repetition of this line every time Crab sets off to find a new home: <i>he stepped along the shore, by the sea, in the sand</i>. And there is back matter. Megan explains more about hermit crabs and includes fun facts, such as how many legs they have and how they are best friends with sea anemones. And – whew! Hermit Crab manages to find a home in the nick of time so he doesn’t become a fish meal.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you read my blog much, you know I am passionate about bugs! So I was eager to get my tarsi on this new-to-the-States book!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ883YNdo4vGi_vovEuhn0z9ZEi7XsA9WoUVh4HYJMixvILNvsN10ubk7cSeo0rmrMoG4Lb6YzRRxYAHMtSkx5dIFzWfwMNSh8by14SKuYSnQKbtD54SLXLljpJmIcwav2BLzSknytLaq9Fwpo-K5VtugabFOdGvlEp-pOPn1QBZkQdKBYhf-QkphYX8sV/s1500/Girl%20who%20loves%20bugs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1495" data-original-width="1500" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ883YNdo4vGi_vovEuhn0z9ZEi7XsA9WoUVh4HYJMixvILNvsN10ubk7cSeo0rmrMoG4Lb6YzRRxYAHMtSkx5dIFzWfwMNSh8by14SKuYSnQKbtD54SLXLljpJmIcwav2BLzSknytLaq9Fwpo-K5VtugabFOdGvlEp-pOPn1QBZkQdKBYhf-QkphYX8sV/s320/Girl%20who%20loves%20bugs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><i><b>The Girl who Loves Bugs</b></i></div><div>By Lily Murray; illus. by Jenny Løvlie</div><div>32 pages; ages 4-8</div><div>Peachtree, 2024 </div><div><br /></div><div><i> Evie loves bugs! Fat bug and thin bugs and bugs that can fly, beautiful butterflies filling the sky.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>She loves bugs SO much that she brings them inside. And then they … escape! On the day Great Gran and the family are coming to visit. What happens when they sit down for a big meal and find bugs on the plates and chairs? But ... instead of being sent to her room, Evie learns that Great Gran loves bugs, too. Together they come up with a marvelous solution for Evie’s desire to care for her mini-beasts.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>What I like about this book: </b>What a fun story for kids – and inspired by a real entomologist: Evelyn Cheesman. I like the way we discover that "loving bugs" is fine, as long as they are loved and admired in their own habitat (which is where they feel safest). I love the endpages filled with fanciful insects. And there is back matter! Lilly Murray tells us a bit more about Evelyn Cheesman and shares two fun buggy activities</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Beyond the Books:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Some hermit crabs line up to trade shells with their friends</i></b>.</span> Here’s a <a href="https://youtu.be/qUisYE5kOZI?feature=shared" target="_blank">video showing how hermit crabs switch shells</a>. And some hermit crabs don’t even bother with shells. They use plastic bottle caps and other trash. You can <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-68071695" target="_blank">find out more here.</a></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Pretend you are a hermit crab seeking a safe place to snuggle.</span></i></b> What sorts of things might you choose for your home? A sleeping bag roll? A large pillow? A cardboard box? Try it on for size…</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Make a Bug Hotel for the beetles and other insects hanging out in your yard</span></i></b>. Bug hotels can be pretty simple. Begin with a wooden frame (a CD crate works well) and fill with bundles of sticks, pine cones, leaves, moss, and lichens. <a href="https://www.uvm.edu/news/extension/building-bug-hotel" target="_blank">This article</a> from University of Vermont can help you get started.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Want to read more about Evelyn?</span></i></b> Check out <a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-true-story-of-world-traveling-bug.html" target="_blank">this review of </a><i><a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2019/10/the-true-story-of-world-traveling-bug.html" target="_blank">Evelyn The Adventurous Entomologist</a> </i>I wrote just a few years ago.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at <a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank">Susanna Leonard Hill's website</a>. <i>Review copies provided by the publishers.</i></div><div><br /></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-50199718196931274132024-01-31T01:00:00.001-05:002024-01-31T01:00:00.246-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ Seeds in the Garden<div style="text-align: left;"> I am one of those "lazy" gardeners who doesn't clean up at the end of the season. I leave the seedheads standing, hoping that birds will drop by and chow down on the seeds over winter. And sure enough, they have.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCP9fG6QDQFIwsa7LaICR66do4Gw96jtN7dzl5H211_8toFD-u9Baa-2ynjdSzdFGd1v1lwZAlFFry6HFSzbqqDVMmNxuouUzt4MNge29i6zeo93_NwaTd4CRPtpSkIPt3hCtLBLA5hJWvDA99w2QlQtjAnPt5xsKGtsFTQgxxuaTa8eAW0dIt0BeFeW-/s1200/01%20seedhead%20coneflower.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxCP9fG6QDQFIwsa7LaICR66do4Gw96jtN7dzl5H211_8toFD-u9Baa-2ynjdSzdFGd1v1lwZAlFFry6HFSzbqqDVMmNxuouUzt4MNge29i6zeo93_NwaTd4CRPtpSkIPt3hCtLBLA5hJWvDA99w2QlQtjAnPt5xsKGtsFTQgxxuaTa8eAW0dIt0BeFeW-/w300-h400/01%20seedhead%20coneflower.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi350RAH3qlqmwnuJxUm_BE_IYbV5Mbp1_BPHQBTlfGol6VqXvXz4NzNjiOSQ6l6h_SgL1jEFGlcZ1R-FKetrosCew8eccJEZ1rjxmkSaPZhhHBuJdK3EzWzWKrQpLbyLIVvSG0QyHDlbuV5i4cu2OF_QvqObMePfhH9_1rob7v6OPfbmS6-VX986RkF9dQ/s1200/01%20seedhead%20rudbekia.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi350RAH3qlqmwnuJxUm_BE_IYbV5Mbp1_BPHQBTlfGol6VqXvXz4NzNjiOSQ6l6h_SgL1jEFGlcZ1R-FKetrosCew8eccJEZ1rjxmkSaPZhhHBuJdK3EzWzWKrQpLbyLIVvSG0QyHDlbuV5i4cu2OF_QvqObMePfhH9_1rob7v6OPfbmS6-VX986RkF9dQ/w300-h400/01%20seedhead%20rudbekia.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Not all seeds are gone... many of the milkweed pods are still filled with seeds and their fine, fibrous parachutes. Every time we get a strong wind, I expect these seeds to take flight. But no, even though the wind tugs at their fibers, they continue to cling to their cozy pod. Maybe next storm...<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSYV7fGxsfKj2-gXO__8GQmpfwyigGNkSbb6gxbNoyTG0QupZOUQ0fDUvC1UQx7wfsxm93DUdGMNF6SFKtXGnrszSSk65IgF2WJIBE4GqTuRb9YWKGOX6LZUGbYUKfB-8s4ud6FuwbfyMh4odOIom4GaLZ6NjDT-5axK3070IOrVig-SkTcvZ7Nh2tBTH/s1200/01%20seedpod%20milkweed.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSYV7fGxsfKj2-gXO__8GQmpfwyigGNkSbb6gxbNoyTG0QupZOUQ0fDUvC1UQx7wfsxm93DUdGMNF6SFKtXGnrszSSk65IgF2WJIBE4GqTuRb9YWKGOX6LZUGbYUKfB-8s4ud6FuwbfyMh4odOIom4GaLZ6NjDT-5axK3070IOrVig-SkTcvZ7Nh2tBTH/w300-h400/01%20seedpod%20milkweed.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b>What seeds are you finding in gardens and along roadsides?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-8734414820473326552024-01-26T01:30:00.070-05:002024-01-26T01:30:00.146-05:00Fighting about Fossils...<div style="text-align: left;">I grew up in the land of Dinosaur skeletons. I loved to visit the natural history museum at the University of Utah just so I could walk through the dinosaur exhibit and imagine those thunderous creatures stomping across the hillsides. What I didn’t know – and didn’t learn until much later – was how much our exhibits depended on a war… a Bone War! So I was delighted when this book came out just a couple months ago…</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRnEAhUrSFZFCXJ5WSlUzXBvdTrjbaN2jvLwgKQQhdzTvVvxEAU8ftUwRp6z4uiKN4xNB0oSYYYIeW1MP6trBzSqCyMe51dZ33PSe2iSVCoIUP28vO5Axwdix7VIihT-H1xC2Ab5j_ZimCgRfDR_3RxCdH1AJVsI21ha4qyfRzNUYhz0ObIE7Ocqq6RGI/s1273/BONE%20WARS_1_cover.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1273" data-original-width="1000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcRnEAhUrSFZFCXJ5WSlUzXBvdTrjbaN2jvLwgKQQhdzTvVvxEAU8ftUwRp6z4uiKN4xNB0oSYYYIeW1MP6trBzSqCyMe51dZ33PSe2iSVCoIUP28vO5Axwdix7VIihT-H1xC2Ab5j_ZimCgRfDR_3RxCdH1AJVsI21ha4qyfRzNUYhz0ObIE7Ocqq6RGI/s320/BONE%20WARS_1_cover.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>The Bone Wars: The True Story of an Epic Battle to Find Dinosaur Fossils </i></b></div><div>by Jane Kurtz; illus. by Alexander Vidal </div><div>40 pages; ages 3-8</div><div>Beach Lane Books, 2023</div><div><br /></div><div><b>theme:</b> biography, paleontology, fossils,</div><div><br /></div><div><i>In 1863 two smart, bold young men met for the first time. They had a lot in common. O.C. Marsh and Edward Drinker Cope were fascinated by science.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>They tromped around fossil beds together and even named fossils after each other. Friends forever, right? Until…</div><div><br /></div><div>Marsh pointed out a mistake Cope had made in describing Elasmosaurus. Cope had attached the skull to the tail end, and Marsh was delighted to point out this error! From now on it was all-out competition to see who would make the next big fossil discovery. No more working together for these two. Instead there was trickery! Espionage! Skullduggery!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCx4WgV83nA1tmZXIsfCLQoSzytjnlk4TNIvf7LmnBsExP4ErCleYNtFRKuA7JyiKpD2dTq8t7L6ya3N29qKdNbaoQA21qBcQhL2C3lbfioRiy-DAY8vPUi1tDyb-d2IkO38szJvnn0TLX-bu_2iLcvcqc-pUg_Knt99Q9ZhY_-q4OM8QYwS1ULGD29JC/s1000/BONE%20WARS_3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="1000" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCx4WgV83nA1tmZXIsfCLQoSzytjnlk4TNIvf7LmnBsExP4ErCleYNtFRKuA7JyiKpD2dTq8t7L6ya3N29qKdNbaoQA21qBcQhL2C3lbfioRiy-DAY8vPUi1tDyb-d2IkO38szJvnn0TLX-bu_2iLcvcqc-pUg_Knt99Q9ZhY_-q4OM8QYwS1ULGD29JC/w400-h255/BONE%20WARS_3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><b>What I like about this book:</b> Young paleontologists will love reading about the race to discover new dinosaur fossils and the work it takes to get them out of the rock and into museums. The discoveries Cole and Marsh uncovered inspired other scientist to look for bones as well as eggs, skin, footprints – even fossilized poop (called coprolite, in case you’re wondering). Even now paleontologists are out in the field searching for more bones and fossilized dino-bits.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then there’s the story of two dedicated scientists who could have been great, but ended up destroying their lives in a bitter rivalry that grew into the Bone Wars. What could they have accomplished had they worked together?</div><div><br /></div><div>Back matter includes notes from the author and illustrator, who remind readers that scientists are learning more about dinosaurs every day. And there’s a list of resources and suggested reading for curious kids who want to dig deeper.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Beyond the Books:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Think like a paleontologist </span></i></b>with the educators at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. This <a href="https://youtu.be/s1Ygz3vYrgo?feature=shared" target="_blank">20-minute video </a>encourages viewers to make close observations, form a hypothesis, and use information from fossils to understand more about extinct creatures. There’s also a visit to the Fossil Prep Lab to learn how fossils are prepared for research and display.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Check out these fun activities</span></i></b> from the <a href="https://nhm.org/stories/virtual-tour-dino-hall-english" target="_blank">Los Angeles Natural History Museum</a> – from coloring pages to dying dino-like eggs to making your own fossil. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Plan how you could tackle a huge project </span></i></b>that needs to get done. Maybe it’s cleaning out the garage, or mowing and raking the yard. Would it be better to have someone help you? How would you divide the work? When things don’t go smoothly, how might you solve disagreements? Once you’ve thought things through, gather your team and tackle that project.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #cc0000;">Here are reviews of other books about paleontologists</span></i></b>:</div><div><a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2020/01/paleontology-girls.html" target="_blank">Fossil Huntress: Mary Leakey, Paleontologist</a>, by Andi Diehn</div><div><a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/09/mary-annings-curiosities.html" target="_blank">Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist</a>, by Linda Skeers</div><div>T<a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2019/02/the-dinosaur-expert.html" target="_blank">he Dinosaur Expert</a>, by Margaret McNamara</div><div><a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2023/07/books-for-beach-backyard-or.html" target="_blank">Here We Go Digging for Dinosaur Bones</a>, by Susan Lendroth</div><div><br /></div><div>Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at <a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank">Susanna Leonard Hill's website</a>. <i>Review copy provided by Blue Slip Media.</i></div><div><br /></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-1945603865540509682024-01-24T01:30:00.066-05:002024-01-24T01:30:00.250-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ Birds playing in the snow<p> This week we've had some snow ... which means when squirrels zip over to the feeder, I can see their tell-tale tracks in the snow. Deer and squirrels aren't the only ones leaving tracks. My friend, Trish Engelhard, and I have been enjoying evidence of some bird fun outside our back doors.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjMpsTvd3vKidoBqh4UuLvV4tLtMcvjlhmTGHlPRg_ALsg08LzL5hNMi-bUDKmKZLacVvS7eEBPNdUREe1m8hAT8zWIVhrrfwSl0PMHhP08R8OHW_hGpMuatI0tTPmnqjZj5hNGBhQITp6sl3dCBdfVGhLcDcqvGBXotrKOr8znwc9uuB61sd7sS-5gQI/s960/bird%20angels_Trish%20Engelhard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjMpsTvd3vKidoBqh4UuLvV4tLtMcvjlhmTGHlPRg_ALsg08LzL5hNMi-bUDKmKZLacVvS7eEBPNdUREe1m8hAT8zWIVhrrfwSl0PMHhP08R8OHW_hGpMuatI0tTPmnqjZj5hNGBhQITp6sl3dCBdfVGhLcDcqvGBXotrKOr8znwc9uuB61sd7sS-5gQI/w300-h400/bird%20angels_Trish%20Engelhard.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photo by Trish Engelhard<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Over on Trish's side of the hill, the birds have been making Snow Angels!</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Meanwhile, on my hill the juncos are holding square dances. <br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJ4VJdo3kqbbWJ5HB3ixp7Vod4UpXD7-f9848gOikF6A96N4SCpSZZVoMDmii8Flygo_xMPMCJNoZB-YuumDl-gc7AmFF8DGx3cVisLvymoeuABxQKFIWmUfHEdKfBUl7vbxRjqI0mncL1XshgtIm3ZxKxVlBxvlwbh4Viaanqhfr1Dvz90DPRhkHaolT/s1000/bird%20dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJ4VJdo3kqbbWJ5HB3ixp7Vod4UpXD7-f9848gOikF6A96N4SCpSZZVoMDmii8Flygo_xMPMCJNoZB-YuumDl-gc7AmFF8DGx3cVisLvymoeuABxQKFIWmUfHEdKfBUl7vbxRjqI0mncL1XshgtIm3ZxKxVlBxvlwbh4Viaanqhfr1Dvz90DPRhkHaolT/w300-h400/bird%20dance.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-size: large;">What kinds of stories do the birds leave in the snow where you live? </span></b><br /></div><br /> <br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-39245183011342947132024-01-19T01:30:00.061-05:002024-01-19T01:30:00.136-05:00How the Sea Came to Be<div style="text-align: left;">I’m always on the lookout for good books that show evolution of life on our planet. I can’t believe I missed this one when it came out last spring – but I got a copy last month and I’m glad I did. It’s lovely! Just look at the gorgeous cover art ...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3vPGIc-f0PBSWrzoCVjal57KjtD6jwlu5_OpCjjyoRJu9pyr5IyoQWb7b5QpuG9Tx0VxK2D2sGxZTrSdrsdS7TA4g047NEpqpRwVe_gu-87f9QnQlqIIq1-ox5rR-yqgiECF7kp2k4Ra1axEmuSmEZYxDkcpTy_Y0FFtAGObKaIyAMQA9U4KYW70tVZt/s1500/How%20the%20Sea%20came%20to%20be_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1437" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3vPGIc-f0PBSWrzoCVjal57KjtD6jwlu5_OpCjjyoRJu9pyr5IyoQWb7b5QpuG9Tx0VxK2D2sGxZTrSdrsdS7TA4g047NEpqpRwVe_gu-87f9QnQlqIIq1-ox5rR-yqgiECF7kp2k4Ra1axEmuSmEZYxDkcpTy_Y0FFtAGObKaIyAMQA9U4KYW70tVZt/w384-h400/How%20the%20Sea%20came%20to%20be_1.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><i>How the Sea Came to Be</i></b> (And All the Creatures In It) </div><div>by Jennifer Berne; illus. by Amanda Hall </div><div>56 pages; ages 6-10</div><div>Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2023</div><div><br /></div><div><b>theme:</b> ocean, marine animals, evolution</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Billions and billions of years long ago,</i></div><div><i>when the Earth was young and new,</i></div><div><i>the world was so hot, rock melted and boiled,</i></div><div><i>and fiery, wild winds blew.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>The birth of our planet was hot and sizzly. Volcanoes exploded. Asteroids crashed from the sky. But over time our planet began to cool. Rains washed into low spots, filling oceans and creating habitat ripe for emerging life. Simple organisms paved the way for ribbed and frilled creatures, spongy clusters clinging to rock, worms, trilobites … eventually fish.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>What I <strike>like</strike> love about this book:</b> I love the language in this book! So many verbs. The young Earth sizzles, simmers, bubbles and burbles. As it cools, the crust heaves and puckers, wrinkles and bulges. I love that you have to turn the book, at one point, to get a vertical view of the deep, deep sea. The lyrical language introduces young readers (and listeners) to geology, oceanography, marine biology, and the diversity of life that has inhabited the seas over four and a half billion years.</div><div><br /></div><div>And there is Back Matter! We are still discovering, still learning, says Jennifer Berne in her author’s note. Gate-folds open to show more about ocean creatures through time. There’s a glossary of key terms and concepts, and lots of resources: books, videos, webpages, museums and aquariums. This book is a tremendous resource for any classroom – and guaranteed to ignite the imagination of any child interested in the ocean.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Beyond the Books:</b></div><div><br /></div><div><i><b><span style="color: #0b5394;">Visit a museum and look at the displays of fossils of ancient sea life</span></b></i><span style="color: #134f5c;">.</span> My favorites are trilobites!</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Check out this video of Trilobites</span></i></b> (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aji2VnQFUCs" target="_blank">here</a>). Remember when I said trilobites are my faves?</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><i>Write or draw a story about exploring the ocean and some ancient creatures you find.</i></b></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQUFkmpradYSjUu5oTcmUovMhkf7-fROzYIEm662MZz3x8uU-wdfH8OVdqaq3xnJnsONcyxntZEsyYCoA5k3JAeIXSIShyphenhyphenJVt92K7GHm0a6YlxzJTdRakbLMdunYRI7l7TOH-sEGqJPZotwxC4SOLt2ZkDOlXFeFYV4Wucab4byjaVdPvAR4cJivvQQTn/s200/00%20MMGM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQUFkmpradYSjUu5oTcmUovMhkf7-fROzYIEm662MZz3x8uU-wdfH8OVdqaq3xnJnsONcyxntZEsyYCoA5k3JAeIXSIShyphenhyphenJVt92K7GHm0a6YlxzJTdRakbLMdunYRI7l7TOH-sEGqJPZotwxC4SOLt2ZkDOlXFeFYV4Wucab4byjaVdPvAR4cJivvQQTn/w200-h200/00%20MMGM.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at <a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank">Susanna Leonard Hill's website</a>. Since this book also appeals to older readers, look for us on Monday over at Marvelous Middle Grade Monday. It's over at Greg Pattridge's blog, <a href="https://gpattridge.com/" target="_blank">Always in the Middle</a>, so hop over to see what other people are reading. <i>Review copy provided by the publisher.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-46260580642570864982024-01-17T01:00:00.057-05:002024-01-17T01:00:00.147-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ Funky Winter Fungi<div style="text-align: left;"> Welcome Back to a New Year of nature breaks, seasonal observations, and outdoor exploration. I now have a macro-lens that clips onto my mobile phone! And that allows me to see things "up close and personal" - it's like having a hand-lens attached to the camera. So of course I took it out for a walk!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love lichen, so of course I just <i>had </i>to take some photos! Some lichens look crusty and tough, but it's not until you look closer that they look a bit ... scaly, like tiny dragons raising their heads above the field of leafy fronds.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhuavH1Hbz5fsCuLfxbKPzynRgMariirfjgLmp7-CRk5OHVDa7zbv1QkJnTxa7clUWzwr9qA4gZKmMkHxqSBw9pDJNn6Ks8-19qG_5vI6IZFVfRfRfhxqzNNlGbGBU66mSvRqDKqZjG2LQn3ikyJHaW6yQKUuMhpe1opB75raJpQlaTHV6QO4WfDsYiVm/s1200/01%20lichen%20cups.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="959" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhuavH1Hbz5fsCuLfxbKPzynRgMariirfjgLmp7-CRk5OHVDa7zbv1QkJnTxa7clUWzwr9qA4gZKmMkHxqSBw9pDJNn6Ks8-19qG_5vI6IZFVfRfRfhxqzNNlGbGBU66mSvRqDKqZjG2LQn3ikyJHaW6yQKUuMhpe1opB75raJpQlaTHV6QO4WfDsYiVm/w320-h400/01%20lichen%20cups.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Others look sharp and dangerous - like deer antlers!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtFkAyPNrwSyWKEIG6taXFQCjILUGsprw9VQsbGcYx33wFL12C_dZHHhnmMjdKKGX__KxmTDJy2izIHGH6G_FrKQIPL3WxOA6DYh7Fqe5Z0VH4KslOZl5X4GwB3PMr3UolrEh4gmeRHOdvUGo3AT_J05OgEeyq3dp4jB7bsD2XaMwadEUyuaqGDOj_o9x/s1200/01%20lichen%20antlers.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtFkAyPNrwSyWKEIG6taXFQCjILUGsprw9VQsbGcYx33wFL12C_dZHHhnmMjdKKGX__KxmTDJy2izIHGH6G_FrKQIPL3WxOA6DYh7Fqe5Z0VH4KslOZl5X4GwB3PMr3UolrEh4gmeRHOdvUGo3AT_J05OgEeyq3dp4jB7bsD2XaMwadEUyuaqGDOj_o9x/w300-h400/01%20lichen%20antlers.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are all kinds of soft fungi growing on old logs. These looked like someone had pushed a bunch of yellow trumpet-shaped tacks into the wood. Hey look! you can even see the mycelium network spreading across the log.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVFKMoxs71hi1X5Nq3_wPIJnnOaXjRbpdjMtIjslIKl5ea2tVKnsWS4Lj2nd4W3EA6RpwettLFnKfy30hckcw75EZTnzpPhWxDzz2HTa4865C4hYbBXyRRBCNzEGzNSmzfWIPF4vqQxhBIufb_jY_7BdXqpbqBrx_P_zkcoS03_XSWCogp1PdTWHNi0fL/s1000/01%20fungi%20yellow.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVFKMoxs71hi1X5Nq3_wPIJnnOaXjRbpdjMtIjslIKl5ea2tVKnsWS4Lj2nd4W3EA6RpwettLFnKfy30hckcw75EZTnzpPhWxDzz2HTa4865C4hYbBXyRRBCNzEGzNSmzfWIPF4vqQxhBIufb_jY_7BdXqpbqBrx_P_zkcoS03_XSWCogp1PdTWHNi0fL/w400-h400/01%20fungi%20yellow.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><b>What tiny natural wonders will you discover this week?</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-77198696852458303382023-12-20T01:30:00.069-05:002023-12-20T01:30:00.128-05:00<p><b><span style="font-family: trebuchet; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #38761d;"> Merry Solstice</span> & <span style="color: #990000;">Happy New Year</span></span></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUNZMPpJEYO6JU0yC3m09nPYblBu0Kao4Uwk54nlubeARE8vs3-zXs_hA4k0PIZ4i2BfHD4Yxq8thsRD0vWUBCxtmntqX4tN42Anxy3dlUeZIkvrfBfQFLEx5w5C8mZq53HXjJgq_uUnPB2DMqoGzY7aIBlL57utEhCkACBGo03gZu_OlcgUXEj33q_z4/s1024/12%20Soltice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUNZMPpJEYO6JU0yC3m09nPYblBu0Kao4Uwk54nlubeARE8vs3-zXs_hA4k0PIZ4i2BfHD4Yxq8thsRD0vWUBCxtmntqX4tN42Anxy3dlUeZIkvrfBfQFLEx5w5C8mZq53HXjJgq_uUnPB2DMqoGzY7aIBlL57utEhCkACBGo03gZu_OlcgUXEj33q_z4/w480-h640/12%20Soltice.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: medium;"><b>'Tis the Season to:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2016/01/wild-outdoor-wednesday_27.html" target="_blank">Capture a snowflake</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/12/merry-solstice.html" target="_blank">Go on a texture field trip</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2012/02/follow-that-footprint.html" target="_blank">Follow tracks in the snow</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2023/02/explore-outdoors-looking-for-tree-holes.html" target="_blank">Look for tree hole homes</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2021/12/merry-solstice.html" target="_blank">Make a mandala for the birds</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Slide on ice</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tromp through the snow</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sled down a hill</div><div style="text-align: center;">Build a snow fort</div><div style="text-align: center;">Save a snowball in your freezer (for July)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm taking a winter break. See you in mid-January!</div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-13987371697854684462023-12-15T01:30:00.062-05:002023-12-15T01:30:00.154-05:00How to Be an Earth-keeper<div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpsJEmbbytUon2PnvVIf3pZpCGLfRJ-yMPZfn3GzkQ-6qw_RJHnOZmyxfsW0-ryOaMDXh8FgYZbzElmBnHtOAu3aof4ilN1ZR5ylU8EvrIS4ZTHb31OCDlxlQJtvsAzNncuIO219t5D_bqVALabGRmwBEzE00AWIzWMfbdoeYBgNJ9b3z6Gone1-4HP05/s768/Caring%20for%20Earth.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="515" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpsJEmbbytUon2PnvVIf3pZpCGLfRJ-yMPZfn3GzkQ-6qw_RJHnOZmyxfsW0-ryOaMDXh8FgYZbzElmBnHtOAu3aof4ilN1ZR5ylU8EvrIS4ZTHb31OCDlxlQJtvsAzNncuIO219t5D_bqVALabGRmwBEzE00AWIzWMfbdoeYBgNJ9b3z6Gone1-4HP05/s320/Caring%20for%20Earth.jpg" width="215" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Caring for Earth</i></b> (Ultimate Spotlight)</div><div style="text-align: left;">by Sandra Laboucarie and Sarah Reynard; illus. by Julie Mercier<br />12 pages; ages 5 & up<br />Twirl, 2023<br /><br /><b>theme:</b> ecology, nature, environmental protection<br /><br /><i>Nature is all around. We can learn a lot from nature by observing how plants and animals interact in the wild.</i><br /><br />The environment we live in is full of complexity, and this book shows five detailed views of the nature around us. It’s an interactive book with flaps to open, wheels to turn, tabs to pull, and pop-ups. It is also written with a permaculture sensibility, showing how families could create a forest garden as well as develop a fruit and vegetable garden. One spread focuses on a house built with nature in mind, and the book ends with suggestions for how people can create an environment that is good for the earth in their neighborhood and at school<br /><br /><b>What I like about this book</b>: As a gardener, there are things I definitely liked in this book. For example, showing how to create a raised bed using straw bales. There’s a family in our town who started their gardens this way a few years ago, and now they have deliciously rich soil in their beds. I also like the multi-layered pop-up showing a forest garden and the layers of fruit trees, fruiting shrubs, and flowers that could grow with taller trees in your backyard, local park, or schoolyard.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXEWTDoycdwH3aNxdyFXYOtlAiVEOqxS032i5FZ3mrhaBI9riMCUk3_hvV3SkadXOQ3f0k8L6rjliTmZVkdEfbgNDkImmZnQDX2BfyBKgaiDzgRP9WGN4-KhEm6yLySv3RV_zFd-gbooR2ifmP7rJNn1RFXc1yqb3-BgBv3AcK9KZZS5tEC_akBgDamm9/s1500/Caring%20for%20Earth%20inside.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1235" data-original-width="1500" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZXEWTDoycdwH3aNxdyFXYOtlAiVEOqxS032i5FZ3mrhaBI9riMCUk3_hvV3SkadXOQ3f0k8L6rjliTmZVkdEfbgNDkImmZnQDX2BfyBKgaiDzgRP9WGN4-KhEm6yLySv3RV_zFd-gbooR2ifmP7rJNn1RFXc1yqb3-BgBv3AcK9KZZS5tEC_akBgDamm9/s320/Caring%20for%20Earth%20inside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> And I like that, in the "natural house" they included a composting toilet. If nothing else, this book will provide openings for questions and may inspire you to grow a small fruit tree in your yard for the birds!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>Beyond the Books:</b><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Explore nature right out your front (or back) door</span></i></b>. What kinds of trees and shrubs live around you? What do you notice about them right now? Draw a picture of your favorite tree and save it where you can look at it later. Try drawing a picture of your tree each month and see what changes you notice.<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">What kinds of wildlife shares your neighborhood?</span></i></b> Maybe you see squirrels, birds, insects. Maybe you hear coyotes howling at night …. Get to know some of your wild neighbors.<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Think of three things you can do to make the Earth a better place </span></i></b>for all the plants and animals (including people). Write down one of the things – then go do it.<br /><br />Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at<a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank"> Susanna Leonard Hill's website</a>. <i>Review copies provided by the publishers</i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Book reviews are taking a winter break ~ I'll be back with more book talk in mid-January.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-43131603880591936012023-12-13T01:30:00.063-05:002023-12-13T01:30:00.135-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ in a new place<p> Most of my exploring outdoors happens right outside my back door: in the garden or along roadsides I ramble. Usually within a three-mile radius of my home. My goal is to find something of beauty each day. Then last month I had the opportunity to travel somewhere new...</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ytWfZgYo_TborB954YBcjGPSX2UxbKaNaLVQulg1DAIiuls_rggVmiM8wmWKK-eMmoWIEnBDrdMyHS9STYX-T8VEf27sgpkJEUrcs62Ykhl73RObS_zOBKcvdggqBqXDCQBbdbVp653roikG6ShFEVkWf8XVExIJ94Bux2G-cYHkbJEBy9yXw6ai66J6/s1024/12%20snow%20on%20red%20rocks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ytWfZgYo_TborB954YBcjGPSX2UxbKaNaLVQulg1DAIiuls_rggVmiM8wmWKK-eMmoWIEnBDrdMyHS9STYX-T8VEf27sgpkJEUrcs62Ykhl73RObS_zOBKcvdggqBqXDCQBbdbVp653roikG6ShFEVkWf8XVExIJ94Bux2G-cYHkbJEBy9yXw6ai66J6/w480-h640/12%20snow%20on%20red%20rocks.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I boarded a train and headed out west. On the trip out, it was fall. A couple weeks later, on my return trip, we were treated to a dusting of snow on the red rocked landscape of southern Utah. </p><p>If you have the opportunity to travel this winter, take some time to sit with the landscape. And look for some of the earth's beauty surrounding you.</p><p></p>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-15651294084408371922023-12-08T01:30:00.050-05:002023-12-08T01:30:00.264-05:00Earth Out of Balance<div style="text-align: left;"><b> Themes</b>: climate, environment, immigration<br /><br />A couple years ago I put this book aside to review for an Earth Day post. Then things piled up… after this summer of disasters – wildfires, floods, storms – it’s abundantly clear that our Earth is out of balance.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VU6D5lewYDttKSLxMi5sSauxQmP2e1OLn0Aw7L_YM4ey9_Ol8vR7eq2f7JYtzpFC5usKxh7ZXTC6avfWCdgv2uVcwlJV1Htvh728Si3NyvBw9ouQrGZiTLcHi4Wl7-PDbYYtPUWJ8acDsxOeF-P-QINDAi0lzqAk8B2gZ2NFzg4pR0qqwNp_exSRG7gN/s768/our%20world%20out%20of%20balance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="616" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6VU6D5lewYDttKSLxMi5sSauxQmP2e1OLn0Aw7L_YM4ey9_Ol8vR7eq2f7JYtzpFC5usKxh7ZXTC6avfWCdgv2uVcwlJV1Htvh728Si3NyvBw9ouQrGZiTLcHi4Wl7-PDbYYtPUWJ8acDsxOeF-P-QINDAi0lzqAk8B2gZ2NFzg4pR0qqwNp_exSRG7gN/s320/our%20world%20out%20of%20balance.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><b><i>Our World Out of Balance: Understanding Climate Change and What We Can Do </i></b><br />by Andrea Minoglio; illus. by Laura Fanelli <br />72 pages; ages 8-12<br />Blue Dot Kids Press, 2021<br /><br />The book opens with an explanation of global warming and why we should stop it. So many reasons! Among them: rising sea levels that threaten communities, loss of forested land, urban heat islands, displaced wildlife, and extreme weather events. The book is broken down into 15 chapters, each one explaining a specific environmental problem related to climate chaos. Included in each chapter is a “how you can help” section and one on “how people are helping.” The book ends by focusing on actions readers can take and how they can be part of the solution. One person seems so small when you’re looking at a huge problem. But every small action you and your friends take adds up to make a difference. There’s also a list of community science projects kids and their families can get involved with.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5mecyOcVrfzAfgyfvB3G8Va6JhnBkUl-c9W1U_cytBHTPQc4ODlUhgIsIjKwYDYawFZAEwaFC89dZyBtMeTBJ-kgXdvxulEFw0jyl6LqGOqClCBED9Dbb3PkhG3PNnZwkfKPWkVLRR8ozx8nNwYnEKa7OAkb5aDWU2yviYdBa21rs-hnpe6Z57WU_Ecz/s1009/where%20can%20we%20go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1009" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5mecyOcVrfzAfgyfvB3G8Va6JhnBkUl-c9W1U_cytBHTPQc4ODlUhgIsIjKwYDYawFZAEwaFC89dZyBtMeTBJ-kgXdvxulEFw0jyl6LqGOqClCBED9Dbb3PkhG3PNnZwkfKPWkVLRR8ozx8nNwYnEKa7OAkb5aDWU2yviYdBa21rs-hnpe6Z57WU_Ecz/s320/where%20can%20we%20go.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><b><i>Where Can We Go? A Tale of Four Bears</i></b><br />By Dai Yun; illus. by Igor Oleynikov<br />40 pages; ages 4-8<br />Greystone Books, 2023<br /><br /><i>One orange and purple evening, Papa comes home with only one small fish in his paws. He says, “We are moving tomorrow.”</i><br /><br />Papa isn’t sure where they are going, but it will be a place where seals abound. Except … when they get to a place with food, it’s not seals they end up eating. It’s scraps from the garbage dump. And when they get tired, Papa looks for a place to sleep.<br /><br />Have you ever wondered what would happen if the three bears had invaded Goldilocks’s house? Only, in this story it’s not curiosity that drives them to try out the beds, the chairs, the bowls of food. It’s climate change.<br /><br /><b>What I like about this book:</b> I like how the illustrator brings us right into bear culture. Papa and Mama wear necklaces of bones and Mama has ear piercings. I like how the bears explore the house, find a bed that is “just right,” and later decide they need to find something more suitable for bears. It has a wee feeling of cynicism – perhaps something lost in translation? – but it is a good book for opening a discussion about climate change, refugees, immigration, or even sparking ideas for putting a new spin on an old story.<br /><b><br />Beyond the Books:</b><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Think of three things you can do to make the Earth a better place for trees and animals</span></i></b>. If you live in a drought-stricken area, you might think of ways to cut wasteful use of water. If you’re concerned about melting sea ice (which makes it hard for polar bears to hunt) you might come up with ways you can get from one place to another without using a car.<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Do you know of any animals in your area that are being forced out of their home by climate change</span></i></b> or habitat loss? Where do they go?<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">If you had to leave Right Now, what would you grab to take with you? </span></i></b>If you live in an area where you might have to evacuate due to flooding or fire, you may want to make a “grab-and-go” bag. <a href="https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/preparedbc/build-an-emergency-kit-and-grab-and-go-bag" target="_blank">Here’s some advice</a> from a place that’s seen its share of wild fires.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkyFiUeZq4OS64kUr4giqWe_E70yhBq95Cy_YIVJNiNLvmJP5FgKwmiG8qVOFlr1CAoHjVupttw4-s5f4G7SZyUqJOIC4a_nr5-w31pWmPkuoF6U5twqrQ72tfRe1sb2seZO73cj9D3YD3ZosR_xEU1XD4xTTQkD3GnK-o4KGvwxV4gM2MSVNVliNSwRK/s100/middle%20grade%20monday%20sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKkyFiUeZq4OS64kUr4giqWe_E70yhBq95Cy_YIVJNiNLvmJP5FgKwmiG8qVOFlr1CAoHjVupttw4-s5f4G7SZyUqJOIC4a_nr5-w31pWmPkuoF6U5twqrQ72tfRe1sb2seZO73cj9D3YD3ZosR_xEU1XD4xTTQkD3GnK-o4KGvwxV4gM2MSVNVliNSwRK/s1600/middle%20grade%20monday%20sm.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at <a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank">Susanna Leonard Hill's website</a>. Thanks for dropping by today. On Monday we'll be hanging out at Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with other bloggers. It's over at Greg Pattridge's blog, <a href="https://gpattridge.com/" target="_blank">Always in the Middle</a>, so hop over to see what other people are reading. <i>Review copies provided by the publishers.</i></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-74357881779890605652023-12-06T01:30:00.057-05:002023-12-06T01:30:00.145-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ Leaves are Habitat<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jU4U7J4Nl40l6L4JADiI4usuPqTCke47ltfY4ER8g8OXayUXoKaYZgiU5gS3xs7IcSmyEFq8pXO0vOTlxF2U06Rz1XX_XHoPoCa84TuizyI3NcI7xRwb2ZesAXJMvFJq87jbSun8F2IaT0za_d4Pa9W9iCson3jqgEF-MBIo2abSsdDFcgCWXLzQi01_/s1024/12%20ice%20on%20leaves.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jU4U7J4Nl40l6L4JADiI4usuPqTCke47ltfY4ER8g8OXayUXoKaYZgiU5gS3xs7IcSmyEFq8pXO0vOTlxF2U06Rz1XX_XHoPoCa84TuizyI3NcI7xRwb2ZesAXJMvFJq87jbSun8F2IaT0za_d4Pa9W9iCson3jqgEF-MBIo2abSsdDFcgCWXLzQi01_/w480-h640/12%20ice%20on%20leaves.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>I did not rake my leaves this year. I know! How slothful of me! But here's the thing: fallen leaves create habitat for any number of tiny creatures. Those leaves provide a winter home for butterfly and moth caterpillars and pupae. Even adults! Here's what Justin Wheeler says on the <a href="https://xerces.org/blog/leave-leaves-to-benefit-wildlife" target="_blank">XERCES Society</a> blog:</p><blockquote><p><i>Great spangled fritillary and wooly bear caterpillars tuck themselves
into a pile of leaves for protection from cold weather and predators.
Red-banded hairstreaks lay their eggs on fallen oak leaves, which become
the first food of the caterpillars when they emerge. Luna moths and
swallowtail butterflies disguise their cocoons and chrysalises as dried
leaves, blending in with the “real” leaves. </i></p></blockquote><p>Leaves also provide homes for spiders and snails, worms, beetles, and other tiny critters that provide meals for chipmunks, birds, and amphibians. Sure, amphibians aren't fans of frozen dinners, but they appreciate the plump insects that take flight in spring.<br /></p>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-41946149419550468642023-12-01T01:30:00.056-05:002023-12-01T01:30:00.138-05:00Life on a Very Small Scale<div style="text-align: left;">We are made of cells, and cells are made of smaller parts, and those smaller parts are made of things we can’t even see. Today’s books explore the microcosm of life.<br /><br /><b>theme:</b> life, cells, atoms <br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSCP8r63u5ORVA-WbI0iU7R_j-2wlrNnMNfhFEvov-jnTTTWwHfNbavTQMMV7eNra9lvQLOBKP5JhtSFsYEIF91iu0Fh2WXoEYoqv_RB8omrngxOz7ga8TTlH-b87T2PGnGHXm3SGQdg-JdfhGjlbT-Sujmmis5ScHRbFJP2CQZSeNFBi8mXs589I7V8B/s768/Universe%20in%20you.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSCP8r63u5ORVA-WbI0iU7R_j-2wlrNnMNfhFEvov-jnTTTWwHfNbavTQMMV7eNra9lvQLOBKP5JhtSFsYEIF91iu0Fh2WXoEYoqv_RB8omrngxOz7ga8TTlH-b87T2PGnGHXm3SGQdg-JdfhGjlbT-Sujmmis5ScHRbFJP2CQZSeNFBi8mXs589I7V8B/s320/Universe%20in%20you.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">Happy one-year anniversary to Jason Chin’s book, <b><i>The Universe in You: A Microscopic Journey </i></b>(Neal Porter Books, 2022). This is one of those picture books that I think is a perfect crossover for the 8-12 crowd. As I recall, my biggest desire when I was in fourth grade was to have a microscope so I could see really tiny things.<br /><br /><i>The Calliope Hummingbird is the smallest bird in the United States. </i><br /><br />It measures 8 centimeters (just over 3 inches) from beak tip to tail. “Small enough to fit in your hand,” writes Jason Chin. The Western Pygmy Blue butterfly is smaller than a penny, the smallest bee is 2 millimeters long (that’s the height of two pennies stacked together). And even that isn’t as small as…. A hair, a skin cell, a strand of DNA. This book takes us on a tour of very small things.<br /><br /><b>What I like about this book:</b> What a great way to explore cells and molecules and atoms and elementary particles without needing to own your own microscope, electron-scanning microscope, and particle accelerator. I like how Jason gets to the building blocks of life, the universe, and everything page by page. And he does it using beautiful language that pulls you along, and some comparisons that make you want to turn the page. Plus there is smaller text that explains stuff, like showing how big a millimeter is, and explaining why dead cells are important. In the end those particles and atoms and molecules are arranged into cells that form you … “a singular person who can think and feel and discover the universe within.” <br /><br />Back matter includes a spread on the building blocks of matter, with more information about elementary particles (quarks and nutrinos and gluons and more!), atoms, and elements. Another spread focuses on the building blocks of life: cells, genes, single-celled life, and more. This is a great companion to his earlier book, <i>Your Place in the Universe</i>. [<i>review copy provided by the publisher</i>]</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jjdunf7BIi76SFdSR14y7HBzVPKRC_Jy-Ou567FN3g-GMSpke8y8CdZtSbeyMRTSM6jcU8o_gU_XXSFj2TEQUAl5u1tOdKq4OvqIxvTWCG7yHK_0IEdxE0woP1vlhVEHheOD767GrkLr6Wqa4sD48PVz8waTWXf1plJznLtOT0bCFw885_zRyHYGAu9t/s514/Cell%20owner%20handbook%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="514" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1jjdunf7BIi76SFdSR14y7HBzVPKRC_Jy-Ou567FN3g-GMSpke8y8CdZtSbeyMRTSM6jcU8o_gU_XXSFj2TEQUAl5u1tOdKq4OvqIxvTWCG7yHK_0IEdxE0woP1vlhVEHheOD767GrkLr6Wqa4sD48PVz8waTWXf1plJznLtOT0bCFw885_zRyHYGAu9t/s320/Cell%20owner%20handbook%201.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you’re looking for a book for slightly younger kids, and one that focuses on cells, here’s one. I checked it out of the library before the pandemic, and am finally getting around to sharing it!<br /> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Cells: An Owner's Handbook</i></b><br />by Carolyn Fisher <br />48 pages; ages 3 - 8 <br />Beach Lane Books, 2019<br /><br /><i>Hi! I’m Ellie. No, not the dog. Follow the arrow. I’m a cell!</i><br /><br />Ellie is a skin cell who lives on the “derriere of a Boston terrier”. You can’t see her because she is very, very, very small – but she has all the working parts of an animal cell: nucleus, ribosomes, mitochondria – the works. Cells make up all sorts of living things: plants, whales, people. Yes, you are the owner of 37 trillion cells (give or take a few). And this handy guide book will help you take care of them so that they last you a lifetime.<br /><br /><b>What I like about this book:</b> I love the breezy, sassy attitude of Ellie the cell. She is a fun guide to the world of the microscopically small. She shows unicellular (one-celled) organisms, multicellular (many-celled) organisms, and things that don’t have cells at all. I love how she makes complex ideas easier to comprehend (blood cells make blood; bone cells make bone) and how the food we eat and exercise we do are essential to our cells’ health. Ellie takes a cell-fie, explains the small print in the lifetime guarantee, and even tells jokes. Back matter includes blueprints for cells (and jokes).<br /><b><br />Beyond the Books:</b><br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Look at some things around your house using a microscope </span></i></b>(if you have one) or a magnifying lens. Here’s a short list of fun stuff to look at: Velcro, sand, yarn, leaf, tree bark, onion skin, insect wings, moldy bread, a feather, fabric, stamp, snowflakes, and rocks.<br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Draw a picture of what you see when you look at something under a magnifying lens</span></i></b> or microscope. <br /><br /><b><i><span style="color: #38761d;">Write a story about what the world would be like for you if you were the size of</span></i></b> a sunflower seed or a grain of sand. <br /><br />If you want to get a microscope for your kids, Popular Science magazine has <a href="https://www.popsci.com/reviews/best-microscopes-for-kids/" target="_blank">a review here</a>. There are even some portable scopes to carry on walks.<br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt5TQfb_Iae2Fh3yBxvc51OehkYL7IRup2KDgTPSIyvjFSqPXlre7QTt_k2HLbU3K7onuT0hkhA8nvehJawtipaj9te9RfrQWah3S9Yn43N0HqjFR7hjRS-r3kgdz_-rrej6e8or7ZVd15x1lCr-TM7H7bC0RYx3iSfTybr3bLBhiL1KZt6jMkoZcwaaC/s100/middle%20grade%20monday%20sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="100" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtt5TQfb_Iae2Fh3yBxvc51OehkYL7IRup2KDgTPSIyvjFSqPXlre7QTt_k2HLbU3K7onuT0hkhA8nvehJawtipaj9te9RfrQWah3S9Yn43N0HqjFR7hjRS-r3kgdz_-rrej6e8or7ZVd15x1lCr-TM7H7bC0RYx3iSfTybr3bLBhiL1KZt6jMkoZcwaaC/s1600/middle%20grade%20monday%20sm.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today we’re joining Perfect Picture Book Friday. It’s a wonderful gathering where bloggers share great picture books at<a href="https://susannahill.com/blog/" target="_blank"> Susanna Leonard Hill's website</a>. Publishers. Thanks for dropping by today. On Monday we'll be hanging out at Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with other bloggers. It's over at Greg Pattridge's blog, <a href="https://gpattridge.com/" target="_blank">Always in the Middle</a>, so hop over to see what other people are reading.<br /><br /><br /></div>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5217971397545764396.post-87787339648160200342023-11-29T01:30:00.033-05:002023-11-29T01:30:00.143-05:00Explore Outdoors ~ Winter Berries <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcN61JBV6iGl4Pclb91Vr9cVhlIMUxiahnr6Z5QT84zQ7uM0DG0u8cWcGdYKPEaZ17NTZF4O5Y-uT5079P2CN9hbziQ5LSnKYDXvSU0R9mKsA0fq8o0ofOdbjtKcBtsLM-KTSXfnRDF-Z0DAtMs31iFCmdV898YM-qRENdNQZ_GQqa7m8VlB6hj5_ZpzbV/s1024/11%20partridge%20berry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcN61JBV6iGl4Pclb91Vr9cVhlIMUxiahnr6Z5QT84zQ7uM0DG0u8cWcGdYKPEaZ17NTZF4O5Y-uT5079P2CN9hbziQ5LSnKYDXvSU0R9mKsA0fq8o0ofOdbjtKcBtsLM-KTSXfnRDF-Z0DAtMs31iFCmdV898YM-qRENdNQZ_GQqa7m8VlB6hj5_ZpzbV/w480-h640/11%20partridge%20berry.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p></p><p>I know I've posted pics of partridge berries in the past. But still, when I find them poking out from between fallen leaves (fall) or melting snow (spring) I'm always surprised by their splash of color. The leaves are thick, and you can feel the veins. The berries are interesting because they are formed by the fusion of two flowers. I've heard they make good trail snacks or you can toss them into a salad. But I usually only see a handful of berries, so I leave them for the chipmunks and turkeys.</p><p>These native plants grow low-to-the-ground, so they make good ground cover. Since I usually find them in wooded areas I'm thinking they might do well in a shaded part of my yard - and now I'm wondering if I could plant those berries and get some seedlings? You can find out <a href="https://vnps.org/partridge-berry-is-bright-all-year/" target="_blank">more about partridge berries here</a>.</p><p><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What kind of berries provide a splash of color in your neighborhood this week?</span></span><br /></p>Sue Heavenrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00550259613381458435noreply@blogger.com0