Non-fiction Wednesday

Thanks to Kid Lit Frenzy for keeping me informed about all the great non-fiction books out there!

On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky

This wonderful picture book is so much more than an introduction to the life of a most famous scientist! Jennifer Berne does such an outstanding job introducing complex scientific concepts and makes them accessible to both young readers and adults. Throughout the book, Jennifer points out the importance of imagination and play, and taking time to wonder about the world.

As soon as I bought and read my copy of this book I decided to give it away as a gift to a fellow teacher. She teaches science to 7th and 8th graders. I knew she would appreciate the message of the book - science is not about memorizing facts, it's about wondering and questioning. But now I have to purchase another copy for myself!

Dirt by Steve Tomecek and illustrated by Nancy Woodman

This book is part of the National Geographic Jump Into Science series.  It is a great introduction to soil. It describes the different types of soil, what lives in soil and the importance of dirt.  The illustrations are great and help the reader better understand the text.  There are simple diagrams and labels.  I love that there is a little mole that is used as the main character throughout the book.  Who knew a mole could be so cute!

This series is perfect for the second grade class library.  If you use guided reading levels it is listed as a Level L.  I want the whole collection for my class library!!