Home by Isabelle Simler, Translated by Vineet Lal - Series: Spectacular STEAM for Curious Readers (SSCR) [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN: 9780802856203
Eerdmans Young Readers Books
Hardcover $18.99 USA
Purchase Here

My thoughts:  Beautifully detailed illustrations delight the senses and educate the mind to the highly varied dwellings of creatures all over our vast world. From birds to moths, from sea dwellers to tiny ants, the homes of creatures fascinates in this unique book. The presentation is complete with beautifully descriptive language detailing the uniqueness of each home or dwelling.

The strength and beauty, intricacies and uniqueness, use and charm of these homes goes beyond what humans think of as homes - walls, windows, and doorways for protection and defense, but places of beauty creatively and intricately designed and built.

Back pages of additional information about the featured creatures and a glossary are provided as well as resources for those interested.

NOTE: Other books by Isabelle Simler that I've reviewed on Chat With Vera.... click here

About the book:  A spectacular tour through the dwellings of twenty-seven different animals, from a hermit crab’s secondhand shell to a beaver’s lakeside dam to a comet moth’s silk cocoon.

Acclaimed creator Isabelle Simler presents a poetic journey through amazing animal homes across the world. In Europe, alpine marmots stay safe in underground refuges. In southeast Asia, Sumatran orangutans doze off in treetop bedrooms. In Mexico and the southwestern US, elf owls nest in holes in saguaro cacti. On every continent but Antarctica, honeybees mold wax into palaces for their queens. No matter where you travel, some creature is making an extraordinary place to call home. 

With connections to life cycles, camouflage, and other biological concepts, Home is a spellbinding showcase of the wonders of the natural world. Enchanting poetry, fascinating back matter, and intricately detailed art invite young readers to be amazed by the creativity and diversity of our animal neighbors. Secret word: dwell

GIVEAWAY

Begins July 24

Ends August 18 @ 12:00 Midnight

Open to USA addresses only.

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DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Eerdmans Young Readers Books, to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copy is provided and mailed directly to the winner by publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

The Forbidden Island (Explorer Academy book 7) from National Geographic Kids - STEAM reading for Grades 3-7 [Giveaway Nov. 14-27]

 

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A heart-pounding final showdown changes the life of Cruz Coronado forever in the seventh and final book in this thrilling fact-based fiction series.

Amid assignments that take the Explorer Academy recruits from the iceberg-filled waters of Antarctica to the bone-dry deserts of Argentina, Cruz Coronado is scrambling to complete the last piece of the cipher. With Nebula agents and the elusive explorer spy still out there, his opportunity to recover his mother’s world-changing formula is slipping away. But as Cruz has learned from his time aboard Orion, true explorers must never give up.

Even after completing dozens of high-risk missions and traveling to all seven continents, Cruz could never prepare himself for one ultimate surprise.

Explorer Academy features: Gripping fact-based fiction plot that inspires curiosity with new technology and innovations; amazing inventions and gadgets; a cast of diverse, relatable characters; secret clues, codes, and ciphers to track down within the text; vibrant illustrations; elements of STEAM; National Geographic explorer profiles in the "Truth Behind" section.

Check out the Explorer Academy website featuring videos, comic shorts, games, profiles of real-life National Geographic Explorers, chapter excerpts and more. 
 

Praise:

"Sure to appeal to kids who love code cracking and mysteries with cutting-edge technology."  
—Booklist

"A perfect blend of adventure with real science and technology!"
—New York Times #1 best-selling author Rick Riordan

"A fun, exciting, and action-packed ride that kids will love."
—J.J. Abrams, director and screenwriter of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Lost, Alias

"Inspires the next generation of curious kids to go out into our world and discover something unexpected.”
—James Cameron, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and acclaimed film-maker

 

About the Author

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

TRUDI TRUEIT has written more than 100 books for young readers, both fiction and nonfiction. Her love of writing began in fourth grade, when she wrote, directed, and starred in her first play. She went on to be a TV news reporter and weather forecaster, but she knew her calling was in writing. Trueit is a gifted storyteller for middle-grade audiences, and her fiction novels include The Sister Solution, Stealing Popular, and the Secrets of a Lab Rat series. Her expertise in kids nonfiction encompasses books on history, weather, wildlife, and earth science. She is the author of all the narratives in the Explorer Academy series, beginning with Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret. Trueit was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, and lives in Everett, Washington.

 

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GIVEAWAY

• Three (3) winners will receive the COMPLETE 7-book Explorer Academy series and an Explorer Academy map, showing all the places around the world that Cruz and his classmates visit over the course of the series!
• US/Canada only
• Ends 11/27 at 11:59pm ET
• Enter via the Rafflecopter below

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DISCLOSURE: I received a compliment copy of book #7. Post is supplied by publicist who is responsible for hosting the giveaway and providing the winners' prizes. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes nor selection of winning entries.

National Geographic Kids has 3 super STEM & STEAM titles for those precocious kids [Review/Giveaway]

ISBN: 9781426328671
Hardcover $18.99
Published January 2018
National Geographic Kids

Astronaut-Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact 

My thoughts:  Two vast areas waiting for exploration that are vastly different yet somewhat similar are Earth's ocean depths and the Universe's vast expanses. In Astronaut Aquanaut: How Space Science and Sea Science Interact the young reader and student is introduced to these areas of science with information and pictures of discoveries and anticipated ways to pioneer scientific discoveries these two vast areas contain.

The contrasts of living under the water or in outer space in a habitat created for that area and the requirements to do so are very interesting and well presented. The need for special equipment and how it was discovered and created plus how it is also incorporated into other uses is explained.

An interesting and educational book for young readers that will excite and challenge them about the possibilities of man's exploration of these two vast areas. A superb addition to libraries at home, school, or public.

About the book: The forward of this book — cowritten by the environmental pioneer and Aquanuat, Fabien Cousteau, and the first American woman to have walked in space, Astronaut Kathryn Sullivan — perfectly sets the stage to examine how space science and sea science interact as award winning author Jennifer Swanson takes readers on a journey from the edges of the solar system to the deepest trenches in the sea.  Space and the ocean — you don't think they go together? Well think again!  Both deep-sea and space explorers have to worry about pressure, temperature, climate, and most importantly, how to survive in a remote and hostile environment. Readers learn just what it takes to explore these extremes — and discover the surprising similarities between them.  With a strong tie into STEM topics — such as making connections, making comparisons, and recognizing patterns across content areas — readers will discover the amazing science and incredible innovations that allow humans (and sometimes only machines) to survive in these harsh environments.

ISBN:9781426327988
$12.99 Paperback Ages 8-12
Published January 2018
National Geographic Kids

Dr. E’s Super Stellar Solar System - New Series Alert!  

My thoughts: Having been a "young adult" when the USA landed a man on the moon for that "giant step for mankind," I am totally amazed to pick up a book like Dr. E's Super Stellar Solar System and see just how big that giant step has become. It is simply amazing to see a mass of information presented in a method that is both easy to understand, engaging to the reader - young and old"er", and educational.

 The pictures both drawn in a fun and exciting "comic book" manner and photographs are amazing. The extent of information covered reaching from under one's own feet to the farthermost reach of the solar system is fantastic.

I can highly recommend this book for personal, school, and public libraries. Science class book shelves will need this book placed there as well. A good choice to have available for expanding minds that explore and investigate.

About the book: The first in the new Science Superheroes series, this stellar book introduces kids to the solar system's wildest, most astronomical geology with comic book flair.  Readers follow Dr. E,  a planetary geologist, and her lovable robot sidekick, Rover, as they undergo exciting missions and encounter and explore spectacular storms, icy worlds, water on Mars, and giant impact craters.  Dr. E's conversational and funny explanations of the solar system and planetary geology will pull kids in like gravity. The pairing of fun, graphic novel stories with science facts makes big concepts accessible and interesting to boys and girls of all levels, from STEM science fans to reluctant readers alike.  A unique, hybrid graphic novel and science book featuring an adventure-seeking dynamic duo, each chapter begins with 2 pages of the story of Dr. E’s adventures and 6 pages of images and graphics illustrating the wonders of the solar system.  Topics covered include space exploration; robots, rovers and other awesome technology; planets, dwarf planets and moons; plate tectonics and space volcanoes; what space teaches us about Earth; and biographies of renowned scientists.The real-life author of this book, Dr. Ehlmann (Dr. E)  is a Rhodes Scholar, a 2013 National Geographic Emerging Explorer and member of the NASA Mars Curiosity Rover team.

ISBN: 9781426328633
Paperback $16.99 Ages 10+
National Geographic Kids

Try This! Extreme: 50 Fun & Safe Experiments for the Mad Scientist in You by Karen Romano Young 

My thoughts: Having raised my own family and seen the desire and the academic need to experiment and explore, I definitely see a real need for this expansive book that takes the young scientist into the realm of scientific discovery. Who knows where a simple "kitchen experiment" will lead in the life of a child? Will they become a bio technician, discover a vaccine that will save a village, create new products that generations of consumers will enjoy? The task for the parent is to put tools into the hands of the young so their minds can explore and expand.

Try This! Extreme: 50 Fun and Safe Experiments for the Mad Scientist in You can surely provide just such a tool. Replete with fabulous photographs of experiments in process. Simple experiments such as standing in doorway and pressing arms against doorjamb and how it produces "magic arms" and the understanding of this phenomena to understanding how the signal of a remote control can pass through materials or be blocked by other materials.

 I recommend this book for families with young children and for school and public libraries.

About the book: Science facts and basic principles are explained as a first step to launching these creative (and safe) science projects — from experiments that mimic ultraviolet reindeer vision, to morphing marshmallows, to making "blubber gloves." Dynamic photos and art clearly highlight each step so kids can conduct all 50 of the experiments with confidence and accuracy. Projects involve kid-friendly subjects like force and motion and temperature and freezing points, and most experiments are based on materials easily found at home (and how you can even include Fido or Fluffy in on the fun). Bonus projects throughout encourage curious kids to dig deeper and specific tips, pointers and experiments for science fair success are also included.

• A 2018 AAAS Subaru Children’s Science Book Prize Finalist
• Junior Library Guild selection
• "….readers will find a lot of unique, engaging, instructive, fun, and really cool activities. ….Filled with STEM and NGSS alignments and science fair ideas, this is great support for budding mad scientists…” - Booklist

SUPER GIVEAWAY

1 Copy of Each Book in this Review/Spotlight to 1 Winner

Begins March 6

Ends March 28 @ 12:01 EDT

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of each book from MMPublicity on behalf of National Geographic Kids to facilitate this review and bookspotlight. Opinions expressed are solely my own and are freely given. Winner's copies will be provided and shipped directly to the winner by publicist or publisher.