We are all part of the Circle of Life

 I'm doing something new this year: adding a Monday blog post. It will be a place to talk about writing, share inspiration, and even feature some guest authors and illustrators. Drop by Monday and join me. And now, back to our regularly scheduled book review.

 

Fox: A Circle of Life Story 

by Isabel Thomas; illus. by Daniel Egnéus

48 pages; ages 5-7

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2021

theme: life, nature, death

The ground is frozen. The branches are bare. Dead leaves crunch underfoot. But look closely….

… and you will find life stirring in the shadows. A squirrel maybe? A bird? In this book, it’s a fox hunting supper for her cubs. Over time we see the young foxes grow, play, begin to hunt on their own. They are part of the circle of life.

We also watch mama fox, killed in an accident, in her own journey in the circle of life. Leaves cover her. Birds and beetles get to work, laying eggs “where they know brand-new life can grow.” Over time, particles that were once part of fox find a new place in the world.

What I like about this book: I like how Isabel Thomas embraces a huge question: what happens when an animal dies? By focusing on a single animal, fox, she shows the cycle of life: birth, growth, death, and how the decomposition of the fox provides for new life. I like the language. As mama fox hunts a rabbit, we see her ears stiffen, and then she leaps! As the cubs grow, they somersault and tumble, leap at insects, chase each other. And there is Back Matter! That’s where curious kids (and parents seeking ways to help answer tough questions) can find out more about the building blocks of life, decomposition, and how death is a natural part of the cycle of life. “Death,” writes Isabel, “is the end of one life, but it is also the beginning of many more.” 

Beyond the Books:

What sort of rituals do people use to mark our life cycle? How does your family celebrate birth? How do you honor growth and aging? Do you have special observances for remembering people who have died?

Observe the life cycle of a plant. Watch how a plant grows through the season. Trees flower, grow leaves, then lose their leaves in the fall. What happens to those leaves over winter? Eventually they decay, providing nutrients to the soil.  

Pay attention to scavengers in nature. Next time you come across a dead bug – or a worm or frog – take a moment to look around. Are there ants or beetles (or even birds) carrying off parts for a meal? Note the location and time, and check back later. Is the bug or frog still there? How long does it take the “clean-up” crew to remove it? 

Today we're joining Perfect Picture Book Friday, an event where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's website. Review copy provided by the publisher.

Something's Rotten!

Something Rotten, A Fresh Look at Roadkill
by Heather L. Montgomery; illus. by Kevin O'Malley
176 pages; ages 9-11
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2018

This week and next I'm highlighting the scary and gross in science. After all - it's Halloween season! A perfect time to read about what scientists are learning from roadkill.

Author, Heather Montgomery warns that her book is not for squeamish souls; this book is full of parasites, intestines, and bloody bodies. It's not for reckless readers either, because it's filled with things you shouldn't do unless (and until) you are an "authorized, bona fide, certified expert." And it's definitely not for the tenderhearted because it's full of death and tragedy.

But it is one of the most entertaining - and informative - books about roadkill that I've read.

Every book has a starting point. For Heather it was a squashed snake. With tire tracks. A rattlesnake. She started asking questions that led her to David Laurencio, the archivist of the DOR (Dead on Road) collection at the Auburn University Museum of Natural History. Every specimen bears a toe tag with an identification number that references a file. A file filled with notes about where the animal was found, when, how it was killed, its gender, and DNA information.

Turns out, scientists can learn a lot from dead animals. By mapping where animals are killed, they get a better idea of where the animals live. Are they migrating as climate change affects their traditional range? Analysis of stomach contents reveals what the animals are eating. This is important information for conservation scientists.

Throughout her book, Heather introduces us to many scientists - a snake scientist, a scientist studying genetics of coyotes and wolves, a roadkill ecologist - as well as people who salvage roadkill for the meat. Some folks use roadkill to feed animals, others grind it up for burger and slap it on the grill.

What I like most about this book: that there are things we can do to decrease death-by-car. As Heather notes: if we can wage huge campaigns to save sea animals from plastic straws, we can take positive action to reduce animal deaths on our highways. One thing everyone can do - starting now - stop throwing food out your window. It's like baiting the road.

Things I love about this book: Footnotes! At the bottom of most pages are extra notes that, in other books, would have been text boxes and sidebars. This is fun. Back Matter! There are lists of books, videos, other resources. There are directions for how to do your own bugsplat windshield bug count. There is a list of citizen science projects, like this one.

Today we're joining other book bloggers over at STEM Friday, where you can discover other cool STEM books. Review ARC from the publisher.

A Book FULL of Fright

A copy of this arrived in the mail just in time for me to post a Halloween review!

Frightlopedia: An encyclopedia of Everything Scary, Creepy, and Spine-Chilling, from Arachnids to Zombies
by Julie Winterbottom; illus. by Stephano Tambellini
224 pages; ages 8 & up
Workman Publishing, 2016

There's so much in this book - from history to mystery to fantasy - but there's a whole lot of stuff about "scary critters" too.

In fact, the very first entry is all about arachnids. Spiders. With eight hairy legs. What makes spiders so creepy? Maybe it's their eyes - they have eight of 'em - or how fast they dart about. Or the fact that they make sticky webs that cling to your arms.... The author introduces a few spiders, including Black widows, and even provides instructions for a Halloween prank.

Tucked among ghost stories, witches, vampires, and haunted houses are lots of short chapters about creepy crawly critters: slithery snakes, killer bees, Komodo dragons, rats, sharks, stonefish, and vampire bats. There's even a chapter about how to be an "evil scientist"...

There's a "fright meter" at the beginning of each chapter - a trigger warning to let you know just how scary the stuff on the pages will be. There are lots of hands-on activities, and facts you may not have known. A fun read for the season.

Review copy provided by the publisher.

Perfect Pick for Halloween: That's Deadly!

That's Deadly: Fatal Facts that will Test Your Fear Factor
by Crispin Boyer
176 pages; ages 8-12
National Geographic Children's Books, 2015

How can you resist a nonfiction book that opens with "Abandon hope, all ye who open this book"? Especially when it's followed by, "Certain death awaits!"

Author Crispin Boyer brings us to the topic of death immediately by introducing us to our guide, none other than the scythe-wielding guy himself: Timothy. But before tossing us into deadly situations, this personable grim-reaper takes a moment to tell us how to use the book. Sorta like the intros you find in field guides.

So you'll find the usual warnings (this stuff is deadly - don't do it at home), a handy list of "terminal terminology", and a Kill-o-Meter that rates the degree of deadliness from risky to run for your life.

The book is conveniently divided into chapters on the ways you may meet your end: plagues, things that bite, extreme sports, natural disasters.... too many to list, but you get the idea. Pages are filled with photos (it is, after all, National Geographic!) and there are enough sidebars and text boxes to fill a journalist's heart with joy. Not only does Timothy include important stuff like official rules for dueling, but he sprinkles "fatal facts" throughout the chapters. Plus he answers the ultimate question: pirates or ninjas?

Tim the Grim Reaper also interviews folks, like Stephanie Davis who enjoys wingsuit skydiving. And for those of you thinking about future careers, he lists America's most dangerous job. Then there's killer toys, killer cars, and an entire killer continent. There is, of course, a killer "final exam" at the end, and a few Last Words uttered by famous people.

Caution: Read at your own risk!

 Today's review is part of the STEM Friday roundup. Drop by STEM Friday blog for more science books and resources. Review copy from the publisher.