Tag Archives: nonfiction

Jumping Spiders

Posted on by

Written by Becca Becker

Pogo Books: All About Arachnids is an eight book series that is written in a format that is appropriate for young readers that are ready for a bit more complexity in sentence structure. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, index, glossary, labeled diagrams and illustrations, headings and bold typed words. “Activities & Tools” presents a simple STEM activity and “To Learn More” notes ways to gain more information. Each book has high interest photos and details habitats, behavior, anatomy and diet of a particular spider. Add this series to your library for those newer readers that are ready for something more.

In Jumping Spiders, readers learn that these spiders live up to their name – they jump (sometimes up to 30 times their body length!). These small (all under one inch) and mighty spiders leap to catch their prey and escape predators. They live everywhere, except Antarctica, and there are over 5000 different species of jumping spiders! Your young readers will even learn that these clever arachnids have been trained to jump on cue. What else will they learn? Highly recommended.

Huntsman Spiders

Posted on by

Written by Jenna Lee Gleisner

Pogo Books: All About Arachnids is an eight book series that is written in a format that is appropriate for young readers that are ready for a bit more complexity in sentence structure. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, index, glossary, labeled diagrams and illustrations, headings and bold typed words. “Activities & Tools” presents a simple STEM activity and “To Learn More” notes ways to gain more information. Each book has high interest photos and details habitats, behavior, anatomy and diet of a particular spider. Add this series to your library for those newer readers that are ready for something more.

In Huntsman Spiders, readers learn about their size (up to the size of a dinner plate!), habitat, diet, reproduction (they don’t eat their mates) and hunting skills. Accompanying photos and illustrations are clear and often labeled. Hand this book to a budding scientist, who wants to know about a spider that doesn’t spin a web and wait for food! Highly recommended.

Garden Spiders

Posted on by

Written by Becca Becker

Pogo Books: All About Arachnids is an eight book series that is written in a format that is appropriate for young readers that are ready for a bit more complexity in sentence structure. Typical nonfiction features include: table of contents, index, glossary, labeled diagrams and illustrations, headings and bold typed words. “Activities & Tools” presents a simple STEM activity and “To Learn More” notes ways to gain more information. Each book has high interest photos and details habitats, behavior, anatomy and diet of a particular spider. Add this series to your library for those newer readers that are ready for something more.

Garden Spiders takes the reader into the world of one of the more common spider species. Readers will learn about their webs, eating habits, reproduction and variety of appearance. Accompanying photos are clear and vibrant and the close-ups are amazing! The STEM activity, making a spider web, uses common materials and is simple to do. Hand this book to your spider fans. They’ll be heading outside to observe their local garden spiders after learning all about them! Highly recommended.

Horned Toad Has a Superpower by Jill Esbaum

Posted on by

Jill Esbaum and Bob Shea are back with a new nonfiction title in their Secret Animal Superpowers series. This time, we’re learning about Horned Toad’s superpower, and it’s another one that’s sure to get the “Eeeeeew!” reaction from kids that made Parrotfish Has a Superpower such a fun read-aloud. In this book, we follow a conversation between the titular horned toad and a burrowing owlet. Through their conversation, we learn a great deal of nonfiction information about both creatures. The illustrations are bright and engaging while also effectively teaching readers about horned toad behavior. There’s enough information for students to use this text for beginner research projects, but it’s engaging enough to keep kids coming back just for the fun of reading it. I highly recommend this book and the entire series.

Countries of the World Series

Posted on by

The Countries of the World series is a perfect addition to any elementary classroom or school library. These Level 2 Blastoff Readers are ideal for first through third graders interested in geography, working on research projects, getting excited about upcoming vacations, or learning more about their families’ countries of origin.

The nonfiction text features in these books are exceptional. The table of contents clearly outlines the sections, with each book including “All About ___,” “Land and Animals,” “Life in ___,” and “___ Facts.” The opening spread features a map alongside information about the country’s continent and capital. From there, high-quality photographs and fact boxes highlight natural landforms, weather, and animals through simple, accessible text. A section on daily life introduces readers to the country’s food, popular sports, and holidays, and many children will especially enjoy learning how to say “hello” in the local language.

Additional nonfiction text features, including graphs, are included in the “Facts” section, and the books conclude with a glossary, resources for further learning, and an index. I highly recommend this series for primary students.

Ancient Civilizations Series

Posted on by

The Ancient Civilizations series features titles like A Day in the Inca Empire and A Day in Ancient Greece and is an excellent resource for helping kids understand what life was like in these ancient civilizations. Each book begins with practical tips for teachers and caregivers to support young readers’ understanding and enjoyment of the text. Though the series is ideal for reading with adult support, the text length and word choice also make it very accessible for independent reading.

The authors depict key features of life in these civilizations, but they also thoughtfully include details about the lives of children as well as events and customs kids will find particularly intriguing. These elements help keep young readers engaged throughout. The nonfiction text features at the back of each book are another highlight and make this series an especially valuable addition to a classroom or school library. The simple timeline of key events and colorful map are perfectly suited to younger elementary students’ needs, while the glossary, index, and resources for further learning support research and provide opportunities to teach nonfiction text features.

Baffling Behavior in the Past Series

Posted on by

The Baffling Behavior in the Past series includes the titles Life in Ancient Rome, Life in Ancient Greece, Life in Ancient Egypt, and Life in the Viking Age. This is an incredibly engaging nonfiction collection for young readers. Each book is organized into double-page spreads that focus on specific topics, and this makes the content accessible and inviting. The table of contents allows students to easily locate information, while the layout also supports readers who prefer to flip to a random page and immediately find something interesting.

One of the strengths of the series is its balance of detailed information and kid-friendly appeal. Topics such as beauty routines, pets, gods, and battles are naturally engaging for elementary-aged readers but also provide detailed information about the time period. The authors clearly selected these topics both to provide important background knowledge and to hook kids with fun memorable details.

The visual presentation of this series is another strength. Each spread typically includes four short text sections, which helps prevent young readers from feeling overwhelmed by large blocks of text. Potential new vocabulary words are highlighted in bold and explained in a glossary. The books also feature a strong selection of visuals, with each spread containing at least two high-quality images, and many containing additional smaller images or added graphics. Additional resources at the back of each book, including an index, suggested further reading, and a QR code for extended learning, make this series especially useful for both independent exploration and research. Overall, the Baffling Behavior in the Past series is an excellent choice for mid- to upper-elementary students, combining approachable text, engaging topics, and strong visual support to bring ancient history to life.

Epic: On the Hunt (six book set)

Posted on by

by Roxanne Troup

Accessible books about hunting for kids are rare and when a good series comes along, it’s time to buy! Epic’s On the Hunt series introduces six different animals that are typically hunted, discussing gear, safety, laws and preparation. Each book is visually appealing and well-organized and should be high on your library wish list.

Nonfiction text features are abundant in these books, starting with a clear table of contents and ending with a glossary, index and a page of print and web resources for further exploration. Spare text with bold words pairs nicely with the clean, crisp photos. Headings help with organization. Diagrams and maps are clearly labeled and sidebars impart interesting tidbits of knowledge to enrich the more basic text on the pages. Students will love the information and teachers will appreciate the nonfiction text features so clearly presented.

Books include hunting of the following animals: ducks, deer, elk, pheasant, turkey and wild hog. All these animals are hunted somewhere in North America, giving the series a wider appeal. The range of each animal is presented on maps and a favorite spot is highlighted. Hunters are portrayed as young and old, male and female. One hunter (Pheasant Hunting) is in a wheelchair, which is an encouraging and appropriate inclusion.

This highly engaging series is a definite purchase option, especially in areas where hunting is part of the culture. It is also a useful introduction to those that may not have any experience or prior knowledge, because of its very accessible text and highly visual presentation. Highly recommended.

El Dia de los Muertos

Posted on by

by Lily Austen

Text in Spanish. Translation of: Day of the Dead. It is often difficult to find engaging books for our emergent readers, but El Dia de los Muertos (series Holiday Fun! (Festividades!) will be a favorite with its full page photos and simple text. Readers will discover many of the elements unique to this holiday as they explore the photos and read the brief sentences. There are many important nonfiction elements, including: Table of contents, index, labels and ‘words to know’ list. Repetitive, controlled vocabulary and short sentences will aid in reading success. Photos show diverse subjects and settings. There are sixteen books in the series. Purchase this set to update your holiday collection and attract your newest readers. Recommended.

El Dia de Action de Gracias

Posted on by

by Lily Austen

Text in Spanish. Translation of: Thanksgiving It is often difficult to find engaging books for our emergent readers, but El Diia de Accion de Gracias (series Holiday Fun! (Festividades!) will be a favorite with its full page photos and simple text. Readers will discover many of the elements unique to this holiday as they explore the photos and read the brief sentences. There are many important nonfiction elements, including: Table of contents, index, labels and ‘words to know’ list. Repetitive, controlled vocabulary and short sentences will aid in reading success. Photos show diverse subjects and settings. There are sixteen books in the series. Purchase this set to update your holiday collection and attract your newest readers. Recommended.