Who Hid the Stars? How Light Pollution Changes Our World [Review & Giveaway] STEAM for Curious Readers Series [Review & Giveaway]

Be sure to scroll down & enter all
the #giveaways in this Blog Giveaway Hop
"Come What May"

WHO HID THE STARS? How Light Pollution Changes Our World

ISBN: 9780802856517
Eerdmans Young Readers $18.99

My thoughts:  Unless a person has been in a completely deserted, unpopulated, people-empty place on this beautiful Earth of ours, they have no idea the beauty, immensity, and brilliance of the night sky populated by stars. We miss so much in our heavily populated area and even in our own small patches of ground we call our home turf. We light our porch lights, our street lamps, and of course the plethora of brilliance that lights up our cities.

We don't take into account the effect these lights have on our own lives. And we certainly don't consider or even understand the effect artificial light has on the natural world - birds, animals, insects, plants. In Who Hid the Stars? the author explains much of what is happening in the natural world when the light that man has engineered invades that darkness of night. 

Who Hid the Stars? could prove to be a wake up call to the younger generation to pursue how humans can continue lighting the dark night in a way less harmful to the entirety of the natural world, including humanity. As readers delve into these introductory pages they will begin their journey to understanding the effect of light in the darkness on ourselves as well as the rest of the world around us.

The art is stunning as can be seen from one's first glance of the beautiful cover. Throughout the book, the art and layout is educationally instructive with a precise and artful methodology. 

At the back of the book, there is a short glossary as well as tips for reducing the effects of light. I highly recommend this book, and encourage thoughtful families to include it in their libraries and for school and public libraries to include it in their collections.

About the book: A richly illustrated picture book exploring light pollution and its surprising impact on nature and wildlife.

When streetlights outshine the stars, what does that mean for plants, animals, and us? This absorbing nonfiction picture book investigates artificial light and its unexpected impact on our planet. Who Hid the Stars? explores fascinating topics including:

• How artificial light developed throughout history—from fire to LEDs
• How city lights interrupt bird migration patterns
• How streetlights gather insects—and their predators
• How turtles struggle to hatch without darkness
• How plant growth changes in artificial light
• How humans can fight light pollution and stop it from harming nature!

With lush ink, acrylic, and digital illustrations and scientifically sound, yet approachable text, Who Hid the Stars? is a memorable way to explore conservation and biodiversity. This book will ignite children’s curiosity and inspire them to take care of Earth—starting by turning out the lights.

Translated from Italian by Batchelder Award winner Sylvia Notini, Who Hid the Stars? includes a glossary of terms, a further reading list, and a link to the authors’ bibliography. The browsable book is ideal for STEAM units along with Earth Day and World Wildlife Day celebrations.

Part of Eerdmans’ Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers series. The book’s original edition was shortlisted for Italy’s Premio Piccolo Galileo (Little Galileo Award).

GIVEAWAY

Begins May 1

Ends May 15 @ 11:59 p.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only.

WHO HID THE STARS? How Light Polution Changes Our World

⬇️Now, have fun entering these⬇️

This hop is hosted by MamatheFox and Mom Does Reviews. Disclosure: MamatheFox, Mom Does Reviews, and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Chat With Vera's DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's prize copy is provided by and mailed directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes. Winner will be contacted via the email address registered with Gleam.io, and winner will have 48 hours to provided requested information.

My First Pop-Up Endangered Animals - Celebrating "Earth Day" [Review & Giveaway USA/CANADA]

ISBN: 978153622844
$18.99 US ~ Ages 3-7

My thoughts:  Kids love pop-up books and they engender a need to "care for the book" since the pop-ups are fragile. In this sturdy board book, the endangered animals are sparingly illustrated in soft-yet-bold coloration. Young readers will love the element of pop-up illustrations as they give a more thorough sense of the creatures presence. Subtle, but real.

Earth Day picture books that are entertaining and educational (Earth Day is April 22) [Review & Giveaway USA/CANADA]

The Tree and the River by Aaron Becker

ISBN: 9781536223293
Hardcover | $18.99

My thoughts:  A wordless book! An Aaron Becker treasure! Every pictured wordless story by Becker I've had the pleasure of experiencing has been exceptionally astute. Exceptionally detailed.

HELLO, EARTH! Poems to our Planet by Joyce Sidman & illustrated by Miren Asiain Lora from Eerdmans' Publishing

My thoughts:  What a beautiful book that has the writer or reader talking to Earth as though you were on a stroll or sharing a cup of tea together. Speaking of Earth's provision for its inhabitants, it's rich diversity of design, the care that creatures -  specifically man - need to take in living on the Earth, and a small peek into scientific information about Earth. At the end of the book, there are several pages of more educational text into specifics addressed in the book. This is especially nice for expanded learning.

A beautiful and varied book. 

Celebrate "Earth Day" April 22 with beautiful middle-grade children's books from Candlewick Press [Review & Giveaway]

When "Earth Day" was first pitched to the world in 1970s it was viewed with skepticism and considered "peacenik" or "hippy" politics. Today we recognize that we must be good stewards of this globe suspended in the Universe that we call home - Earth. We must care for the bees, birds, animals, plants, water, air. Conservation and prudence of use are vital. We need to teach the children about bees, about plants and living things on the ground, in the ground, in the air, in the water.

Bruno the Beekeeper: A Honey Primer by Aneta Frantiska Holasová (Author, Illustrator)

My thoughts: At first glance, one might think this a little kiddie book.  While it can most certainly be read to them to teach about bees and the value they are to our World's plant life, it is frankly an older children's book.

Originally published in the Czech Republic in 2013, this English translation by Andrew Lass and first USA printing is a book well worth purchasing and placing in personal, public, and school libraries. The book is educational with information about various bees and flying insects, drawings of bees, their life cycle, and the equipment a beekeeper needs. Then some detail about the seasons of beekeeping and how they follow Earth's seasons.

The book ends with a gingerbread cookie recipe that uses honey as the sweetner. These would be a real treat.

About the book: Follow a beekeeping bear through the seasons—and learn about the life cycle and ecology of bees—in this folksy step-by-step guide to caring for hives and harvesting honey.

With glowing, honey-hued illustrations and friendly text, this homespun year-in-the-life of a busy beekeeper and his bees is a definitive picture book primer—whether for families contemplating a new hobby or for readers just curious to know how bees make honey. Follow Bruno the bear through the seasons, beginning in late summer, as he demonstrates how he keeps his bees healthy and happy, from housing and maintaining the hive to harvesting honey and beeswax. Learn the anatomy and life cycle of bees, the difference between workers and queens, what flowers bees pollinate, and what predators they avoid. Gracefully translated from the original Czech—and paired with charming folk-style art that evokes the rural setting and cozy kitchen of a blended beekeeping family (complete with Grandma’s recipe for homemade honey-gingerbread cookies)—this charming ode to sustainability and fostering nature’s small wonders will delight readers of every stripe.

A World of Plants by Martin Jenkins & illustrated by James Brown  

 

My thoughts:  There is so much more to the world of plants than vases of flowers, trees (how many can you identify?), corn and other veggies. So much about how plants adapt themselves and manage to proliferate season by season.

This book tells us about plants that we eat and the 10 most eaten plants in the World. Information in this large book with well written text suitable for the older elementary and middle school child will provide hours and days of captivating reading and study. Well, actually, adults will find much to enjoy in the information and illustrations.

Early in the book the statement, "We are totally reliant on plants for food and energy" is made. That is because the air we breath is dependent on photogenesis. The soil, the sun, the rain are used by plants to provide shade, clean the air, make food for all living creatures. They do what they are created to do - make Earth a beautiful habitable place to live.

A beautiful, information packed book that is a true winner.

About the book: A conservation biologist and a printmaker team up for a fascinating, visually arresting guide to botanical history, biodiversity, and the rich inner lives of plants. A must-read for budding gardeners!

Covering more than twenty-five subjects, from photosynthesis and permaculture to the hidden world of Victorian plant hunters, this stylish illustrated guide is packed with scientific insight into the critical role plants play in the drama of life on Earth. Did you know that some plants steal while others defend themselves against attack? That the largest cacti can reach sixty-six feet tall and weigh more than a car? That there are meat-eating plants the size of footballs? Readers young and old will marvel at the wondrous diversity and adaptability of plants, from trees and tropical species to those that have evolved to master extreme conditions. A brisk narrative bursting with facts—all carefully organized with maps and charts in richly patterned vintage-style illustrations—make for a vivid guide to all that grows . . . and a beautiful gift book for anyone interested in the environment.

Fungarium: Welcome to the Museum by Ester Gaya & illustrated by Katie Scott

My thoughts:  What a pleasure to have another of the "Welcome to the Museum" books. This series is simply marvelous. Large books, packed with wonderful illustrations and informative text that entertains and educates.

Fungarium: Welcome to the Museum is a wonderful introduction for older elementary and middle school students to fungi. 

Frankly, the book covers an amazing amount of information that, in my opinion, would give superb educational facts for older students in the study of biology. I was really surprised to learn a bit about the complexity of the plant, animal, and fungi world and dependence on each other and especially the intricate association of fungi to the others.

A fine book to grace library shelves of all types.

About the book: Welcome to the Fungarium! Step into the world of fungi and learn all about these strange and fascinating life-forms.

Illustrator Katie Scott returns to the Welcome to the Museum series with exquisite, detailed images of some of the most fascinating living organisms on this planet—fungi. Exploring every sort of fungi, from the kinds we see on supermarket shelves to those like penicillium that have shaped human history, this collection is the definitive introduction to what fungi are and just how vital they are to the world's ecosystem.

GIVEAWAY

Begins April 15

Ends May 12 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open USA/Canada. No P.O.Boxes

Canadian winners must provide phone #

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies to facilitate a reviw. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winners' books/prizes are provided and shipped directly to the winner by pubisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.