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Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Non-Fiction Picture Books - Great Reading

Come Visit the Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge hosted by Alyson Beecher at Kidlit Frenzy. It's great to find terrific nonfiction books available! Thanks for hosting, Alyson!








Twenty-two Cents: Muhammad Yunus and the Village Bank
written by Paula Yoo and illustrated by Jamel Akib
            A biography of the “Banker To The Poor” for younger students is welcome, to help explain the serious problems of those who are both poor families in the world, and who are preyed upon by moneylenders. This story shares the path of Muhammad Yunus from childhood to the position of economics professor back in his homeland, Bangladesh. When he began to be more and more interested in the extreme poverty of a nearby town, and the mothers whose families were starving, but still making crafts to try to earn a little money, he began the dream of small loans, which became a worldwide enterprise, the Grameen Banks. It’s an inspiring story, and the pages illustrated by Jamel Akib add to the interest of the story.








Insect Detective – written by Steve Voake and illustrated by Charlotte Voake
           Need a sweet and pretty book that introduces insects to your younger students or children? This is a good choice, and younger readers should be able to read it for themselves. It begins: "Right now, all around you, though sands of insects are doing strange and wonderful things. But you can't always see them right away. Sometimes you have to know where to look."  The story shows some of the places and how to find both small, hiding, and camouflaged insects, how they live and what they are like. Beautiful watercolors grace the pages along with the story and some side facts. There is back matter that offers additional great ideas for discovery, for being an 'insect detective'!

The Camel in the Sun - written by Griffin Ondaatje and illustrated by Linda Wolfsgruber
               Someone recently reviewed this book and I am lucky enough to have quickly found it at my library. Because one of my students is studying Islam, I know she will love the story and the way it came about to the author too. This is an outcome of the author hearing a part of a hadith, according to the author's notes, an accounting of the Prophet's words passed from generation to generation. This is a story of a camel and its cruel owner, the Prophet noticing and caring for the camel, and in that caring, showing the owner what compassion is. I know that the story will bring about interest to children, perhaps especially those who love animals or who don't know much about desert travelers and the toil of camels. The illustrations are beautiful.

Have a good week reading!

14 comments:

  1. I'm intrigued by the insect one! That may be a good fit for our first grade team, I'll be on the lookout for it!

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    1. I think it's just right for the younger students, Michele, the basic info, pretty & tells a few things to help the search in the back matter!

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  2. I think I need to read all of your choices Linda but the one I want to get first is Twenty-two Cents. Thank you for reminding me.

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    1. Yes, I'm glad that I discovered this in the recent posts. It is a good story of this important man, and his good creation.

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  3. I haven't read The Camel in the Sun. It looks wonderful, so it will need to go on my list. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. It is beautiful, Tricia. I hope you enjoy it. I shared it with my student today, who was happy to discover it, too.

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  4. I just read Camel in the Sun - maybe you saw it on my blog. Isn't it a special title?

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    1. Yes, I think I found it from you, Carrie. It is wonderful, & so appropriate for my student! Thanks!

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  5. Camel in the Sun sounds like a gorgeous title! And it's available in our public library! Looking forward to borrowing it this weekend. :)

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    1. As said above, it is a great find, Myra. Hope you enjoy it, too.

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  6. I love Insect Detective. Thanks for the reminder, Linda.

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    1. It is new to me, Teresa, & I'm glad I found it!

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  7. What a collection of beautiful books you have here Linda! I love when I get to learn about new titles!

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    1. Thanks, Gigi, hope you find some that you like!

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