I love this time of year, new notebooks and pencils, new teachers and classrooms, and best of all... new books! We had a lot of fun picking some new additions to our store library, and I'm pretty darn excited about it. I mean, if I walked into my classroom and saw these books instead of traditional textbooks, I would be a pretty happy ex-summer camper.
Go ahead, color in and outside the lines of botany, make your own books, conduct home chemistry experiments and just for kicks, act out your favorite play. There is something for everyone here, and all in accessible, relatable formats that can be adjusted to fit different age groups. Okay, maybe some of the chemistry experiments are a bit advanced, but you get the idea. So take a look, explore, create and most of all... have fun! I know we did.
Autumn Reading list:
The Art Book for Children: Art knows no age limit. The Art Book for Children is a great introduction to the world of art. Featuring 30 acclaimed artists, each featured on a double-page spread along with one of their more prominent pieces. Designed for both parent and child to enjoy together, the book encourages kids to look closely at the featured works and use their imagination to understand why artists choose to create the pieces they do and in the ways that they did. All the big names are represented, from Van Gogh, Matisse, Rembrandt, Turner and Velázquez to more challenging, recent artists including Cindy Sherman and Donald Judd.
The Elements: A visual Explanation of Every Known Atom in the Universe: To say we love The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe would be a gross understatement. This gorgeous book is just as cool as the subject matter, well almost (seriously what's cooler than The Periodic Table of the Elements?). Visual learners will have a field day with the well represented history and uses of each element. While the truly scientific at heart will appreciate the concise language, clear descriptions, and logical layout and explanation of each element of the periodic table. And for the completely unscientifically inclined, this book is just plain cool. Our world is an amazing and wonder-filled place, and this book does a great job explaining all the different components that come together to make it that way.
The Botany Coloring Book: From fungi, to algae, to stamens, and the general importance of plants to humans, the study of botany brings to light amazing connections between us, and our natural world. Filled with everything you need to know about plants, their parts, how they reproduce, and what makes each kind unique makes this book a great leaning tool for anybody, young or old. And the best part... it's a coloring book!
Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments: he real science buffs out there, this book is a treat. This one-of-a-kind guide explains how to set up and use a home chemistry lab, with step-by-step instructions for conducting experiments in basic chemistry. With plenty of full-color illustrations and photos, the Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments offers introductory level sessions suitable for a middle school or first-year high school chemistry laboratory course.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Words, glorious words! The Fifth Edition of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language is a wonderful resource about words for people who seek to know more and find fresh perspectives. This edition was exhaustively researched and thoroughly revised, containing 10,000 new words and senses, over 4,000 dazzling new full-color images, and authoritative, up-to-date guidance on usage from the celebrated American Heritage Usage Panel. Word meanings are made easier to understand with thousands of new quotations from classic and contemporary writers. Etymologies explaining word origins and development have been newly created or revised to reflect the very latest scholarship. In all this classic dictionary is reliable, enlightening, and visually stunning, giving you the opportunity to make your mark in the best possible way.
The Secrets of Mental Math: Whether you are a math wiz, or struggle to do basic arrhythmic in your head, this is book is wizard! And by wizard we me genius! Thoughtfully explained math principals combine with easy to learn calculation techniques to produce competence and confidence in mental math. Learn to quickly multiply and divide triple digits, compute with fractions, and determine squares, cubes, and roots without blinking an eye. Amaze your friends and yourself with the skills and math tricks the Secrets of Mental Math will teach you.
Plays Children Love: A favorite of students, teachers, parents, and dramatists for decades, this lovely collection of twenty Plays Children Love will keep little ones entertained for hours. Among the favorites collected here: Charlotte's Web, The Wizard of Oz, Treasure Island, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems: From Native American stories to Robert frost and Emily Dickinson, The Oxford Illustrated Book of American Children's Poems spans two centuries of American children's poetry, accompanied by beautiful illustrations from the time periods the poems were written. Immediately recognizable names, including Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg, and T. S. Eliot are joined by talented contemporary poets like Gwendolyn Brooks, Sandra Cisneros, Janet S. Wong, and others. A wonderful poetry primer for all ages.
Leap Write In!: Invite your jittery mind into quiet slips of timed or untimed writing experiments that are designed to encourage the more timid at heart to forge new adventures and entice your shy-self to make friends with the world around you. Filled with a bounty of prompts to select from, youngsters will be inspired to explore all the wacky, confusing, brave, soul-stirring wonderings and wanderings of who we are, and what we can be.
Handmade Books for Everyday Adventures: Handmade books are the perfect way to take note of those things that ignite your creativity and inspire adventures. These twenty simple projects are meant to be used while out and about—from a canvas-covered camping songbook to a waterproof book perfect for the beach, these books are designed with adventure in mind. Traditional Japanese bookbinding techniques meet contemporary style in this unique collection of projects; the clear step-by-step instructions and beautiful photos make this the perfect book for beginners and experienced binders alike.
The Pocket Scavenger: Calling all scavenger hunters! Get ready for one amazing hunt through the pages of The Pocket Scavenger. Author Keri Smith will have you collecting a spectrum of random items: something that is miniature, a stain that is green, something from the year you were born, a used envelope, and so much more. Once your quarry is at hand you can create a funny character, make it into a building, add polka dots or stripes, scribble on top, fold, turn, you name it. Get ready for an epic adventure, and think outside the box!
Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost: Introduce the magic of Robert Frost to the little ones in your life. This collation of 25 poems introduce Robert Frost to young people. This lovely compilation of 25 poems are arranged by the seasons and accompanied by lovely watercolor illustrations that capture the feel of the New England landscape without infringing on the poetry's meaning. The collection also includes a biographical essay and, at the bottom of each page, the books editor provides a brief note on some of the possible ways to read the lines.
Here's to a fun and wonder-filled school year!
~Jordan
* Last time in books and stories: Chemistry
