Books I've Shared Recently

Recently, I presented a session with some of my fellow librarians at our district's literacy conference. In our session, we shared digital tools with teachers, and showed them how their librarian could support them in their literacy instruction.

In the section of our presentation about picture books and research, it was my job to choose some titles to share. My goal was to mostly discuss nonfiction books so that we could demonstrate how to tie in research, but I also shared a few story picture books, too. There were many I could have chosen! But I only had a certain amount of time!

Here are the books I shared:


Burns, Loree G. Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard. Illus. by Ellen Harasimowicz. New York: Square Fish, 2012. Print.

I chose CITIZEN SCIENTISTS because author Loree Griffin Burns shows readers how they can be scientists in their own world. The chapter titles are called Fall Butterflying, Winter Birding, Spring Frogging, and Summer Ladybugging. I listened to Loree Griffin Burns speak at NCTE in 2014, and her work is fascinating and inspiring.

Stewart, Melissa. Feathers: Not Just for Flying. Illus. by Sara H. Brennen. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2014. Print. 

The scrapbook format of FEATHERS NOT JUST FOR FLYING is very appealing, and the drawings of the birds are engaging. Did you know that (for some birds)  feathers act as a sunscreen?  I didn't! I learned it from this book.

Davis, Kathryn Gibbs. Mr. Ferris and His Wheel. Illus. by Gilbert Ford. New York: HMH Books for Young Readers, 2014. Print. 

I've blogged about MR. FERRIS AND HIS WHEEL before. It's the story of George Ferris, a persistent engineer with a dream! This one also includes lots of history about the World's Fair as well as great examples of problem-solving. 

Stead, Philip C. Special Delivery. Illus. by Matthew Cordell. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2015. 

I love the character of Sadie in SPECIAL DELIVERY. She has set a goal to mail her Aunt Josephine an elephant, and she will do whatever it takes to get it there. The cover looks like a stamp (so delightful!), and it's written by Philip Stead. (A SICK DAY FOR AMOS MCGEE is a very special book to me.) Of course, there is a surprise at the end that will make you smile.) 

Johnston, Tony. Sequoia. Illus. by Wendell Minor. New York: Roaring Brook, 2014. Print. 

SEQUOIA tells of the life of a sequoia tree, grand and stately: we read what the tree sees, smells, feels, and hears. Wendell Minor's illustrations are soft and and vivid at the same time. A stunning book!

Burleigh, Robert. Trapped! Illus. by Wendell Minor. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2014. Print. 

I've included another book illustrated by Wendell Minor here. It wasn't on purpose. Okay, maybe it was. This book is based on the true story of a whale trapped in nets off the coast of California in 2005. Burleigh uses powerful verbs, and the story is compelling! A page turner! Can the rescuers free the whale? Read the book to find out. 

Dyckman, Ame. Wolfie the Bunny. Illus. by Zachariah Ohora. New York: Little Brown, 2015. Print. 

I've also blogged about WOLIFE THE BUNNY before, and how successful it was as a read-aloud. This is a delightful book about a family of rabbits that takes in a wolf -- and the bunny sister who doesn't think it's such a good idea. I love the bunny suit! 

Mora, Pat. Water Rolls, Water Rises: El Agua Rueda, El Agua Sube.

In WATER ROLLS, WATER RISES: EL AGUA RUEDA, EL AGUA SUBE, Pat Mora shows us how water moves throughout the world, in lakes, reservoirs, streams, and storms. The English text is on the right, the Spanish is on the right, and Meilo So's illustrations are filled with vibrancy and life. 

It was a pleasure to celebrate these books in our presentation, and I was honored to work with my fellow librarians. My hope is that these teachers will, in turn, recommend these books to other teachers, and, of course, that more young readers will enjoy them. 

Narrative Nonfiction: Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Gibbs Davis

Gibbs, Kathryn Davis. Mr. Ferris and His Wheel. Illus. by Gilbert Ford. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. Print. ISBN 9780547959221.

I'm not sure where I first about MR. FERRIS AND HIS WHEEL. I grabbed a copy of this title as soon as I could and recently was fortunate enough to meet the author when she visited our area.

In this nonfiction picture book, author Kathryn Gibbs Davis recounts the history of the invention of the Ferris Wheel by introducing readers to George Ferris. Already an engineer of bridges and tunnels and an expert in the use of steel, Ferris challenged himself to design a structure that would be chosen for the Chicago World's Fair. A childhood memory of a water wheel influenced his thinking, and he submitted a plan for a design that "would dazzle and move" (Davis, 2014). But the World's Fair judges rejected his proposal. After considering many copies of the previous winner, the Eiffel Tower, the judges finally accepted his idea, but decided not to fund it. Determined, Ferris asked banks to lend him money, but his idea was met with ridicule. Finally, armed with his own savings and money from a few investors, Ferris began building the structure. Despite encountering challenges such as an icy surface and unexpected (deep) quicksand, the wheel was finally built in 1893. Ferris and his wife (along with several other guests) rode the wheel for the first time, and after its first successful spins and rides, the wheel indeed became a star attraction of the World's Fair as intended. After a successful 19-week run and 10,000 rotations, the wheel was shut down. It was eventually renamed the Ferris Wheel and inspired many copies.

With narrative paragraphs on the left page, and nonfiction text on the right, Davis gives readers both a story and a history lesson. Gilbert Ford's blue, pink, and golden illustrations done in digital mixed media with watercolor and ink help young readers comprehend the magnitude of Ferris's accomplishments and lend appeal to the subject.

As a nonfiction work, this book would be appropriate and helpful for units in engineering, design, building, and biographies.

Davis creates a portrayal of Ferris as a thinker, problem-solver, and dreamer who persevered. Today's young readers will no doubt apply the story to their love of Legos, and Davis smartly makes this comparison on one page.

Back matter includes a list of websites, a photo of Ferris, a bibliography, and list of quoted sources.

Awards for MR. FERRIS AND HIS WHEEL include:

2015 Orbis Pictus Honor Book (NCTE)

2015 Bank Street College Center for Children's Literature Cook Prize (STEM) Honor Book