The Importance of the Mangrove Tree

Read all about how the mangrove tree made a huge difference  in the lives of the people of Hargigo, a village in the African country of Eritrea. The Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees To Feed Families by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore tell this story in a very attractive format. In  this nonfiction picturebook, the left side tells the story in poetry. Here's a sample :"This is the tree, A mangrove tree."
The right side has explanation in prose.
Example: "The land in Hargigo is dry and dusty. There is very little rain. It was hard for leafy plants to grow..." The book includes illustrations of the scientist who developed the project and of women planting the trees in the mangrove fields.

Nonfiction Monday

This Nonfiction Monday is also Martin Luther King's birthday.  My recommendation is Heart and Soul:
The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson. This book presents a unique view of American History and is reviewed in yesterday's post. Please  feel free to add your comments.

A Unique Journey Through African American History

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, Heart And Soul : the Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson takes the reader through important events in American history. From the Declaration of Independence through the struggle for  Civil Rights, these events are viewed through the eyes of the narrator, a fictional character who gives his views on these events. The author interviewed family  members and this book is the result. This sample talks about the Great Migration, when African Americans moved North for jobs. "My family went by train like most black folks, but some drove, some rode on horseback or on a mule, or even walked." The books is enhanced by illustrations done by Kadir Nelson.

What Is It Like to Drive A Sled Dog?

Imagine that you are in Alaska and that you are  participating in the Iditarod, an annual race for sled
dogs and their handlers. How would you give orders to your lead dog? "Let's go" is the command to start running. "Whoa" is for stop.

 You can find this information in Sled Dog : Powerful Miracle by Stephen Person. This 32 page chapter book begins with the story of Isobel, a sled dog who went blind. Isobel was unhappy because she was no longer allowed to race. So her owners put her back in the dog team and she did very well.

This book then goes on to talk about the different type of sled dogs, such as the Siberian husky.  But the best sled dogs are a mixture of breeds and are called Alaskan huskies.

What Is Grassland?

"Grasslands are large open spaces where most of the plants are grasses." So begins  About Habitats: Grasslands written by Cathryn Sill and illustrated by John Sill. The two page picturebook spread here consists of a one sentence description on the left. The right has a full page illustration. For example,
The companion illustration for the first sentence shows American bison on a shortgrass prairie.

Other grasslands are located in Europe and Africa. Visit them in this book. For more information visit this website listed at the back of the book.

A Chinese American Who Wanted To Fly

Everyone has a dream.  Mine is to swim a mile next summer.  Maggie  Gee wanted to

fly airplanes.  During World War II, she joined a group called Women's Air Force Service Pilot or Wasps for short. Their principal job was to  ferry airplanes from the factory to the field where male pilots would fly them in battle.
This week's curriculum tie-in is Sky High : The True Story of Maggie Gee by Marissa   Moss. This picturebook tells  Maggie's story from her childhood  through her flying adventures, in  the first person. You feel like Maggie herself is talking to you.The  author's note includes more information plus some photographs from Maggie herself.

How to learn about animal migration

Why Do Animals Migrate? by Bobbie Kalman is my curriculum tie-in this week. I'd recommend this to grades 3-5. It is a chapter book;  32 pages in total.
It starts with definitions. Example: "All animals have areas where they live. These areas are called habitats." The book gives the reason for migration: because when seasons change it becomes too difficult to stay in their habitats. So they move to a new habitat for a certain period of time. They migrate.
Teachers, here are two questions to ask of your classes.

Q. Why do Canada geese fly in a V-formation?
A.  Flying in a V-formation keeps them from getting too tired. p.10

Q. Which animal migrates the farthest?
A. The arctic tern. p.12