Much creativity went into this instructional book for early readers. To this Goodreader, David A. Adler writes like a master teacher. Such impressive Much creativity went into this instructional book for early readers. To this Goodreader, David A. Adler writes like a master teacher. Such impressive writing and teaching!
Adler starts with a winning premise. Human astronauts and their Martain friends, all kids, go about their daily routine.
Automatically, what comes up? There are differences between seconds, minutes, and hours.
When you're traveling through space, what does A.M. mean?
How about P.M.?
Digital clocks predominate in the illustrations, but analog clocks aren't discounted.
FIVE STARS of gleeful appreciation from this Goodreads Reviewer! ...more
Introducing physics to children ages 5 to 8. Beautifully done!
Everything you can touch and hold is made up of matter—including you, your dog, and thisIntroducing physics to children ages 5 to 8. Beautifully done!
Everything you can touch and hold is made up of matter—including you, your dog, and this book! Matter is stuff that you can weigh and that takes up space. In short, pretty much everything in the world is made of matter.
* This book helps kids to explore the definition of matter. * What are the different states of matter? * How about things that aren't physical matter . . . but they still matter! Such as sound and light. * This book contains many relatable examples of real-world science connections.
Two two friendly, funny robots, Beep and Boots, are the heroes of this book. It's pretty rich that they check their respective heights to find out if Two two friendly, funny robots, Beep and Boots, are the heroes of this book. It's pretty rich that they check their respective heights to find out if they are tall enough to go on all the rides.
Pretty rich! Last I heard, amusement park rides for humans. Only.
Still, the author -- Sital Gorasia Chapman -- made an effort to bring conflict and suspense to this book about height and length.
The pals won't be able to enjoy all the rides together. Not based on their height, since Boots is not tall enough to go on a lot of the rides.
And that, as it turns out, is not the only problem afflicting the robots as they ride on amusement park rides.
FIVE STARS for an entertaining book that teaches math concepts along the way.
I could have lived without the rhymes, especially because the meter of the various verses was not in a pattern that I found pleasing. Still, I liked the overall tone of this book....more
I'll give this book FIVE STARS, since author Jill Esbaum made a good faith effort to teach something about measuring. Kids might learn something worthI'll give this book FIVE STARS, since author Jill Esbaum made a good faith effort to teach something about measuring. Kids might learn something worthwhile.
If you think it's quite a leap to go from learning how slow is a sloth to "measure the rain forest" -- you'd be right. The publisher's integrity is not great here, is it?
And I used to respect Scolastic as a publisher.
HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW LITTLE THE PUBLISHER CARES ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR BOOK
The Goodreads blurb for this title likely came from that publisher.
Let's count how many of the following sentences, and sentence fragments -- all ostensibly about this title -- have anything whatsoever to do with this particular book.
1. K-2 math concepts include measuring and data. 2. How long are a jaguar’s whiskers or a toucan’s beak? 3. How long does it take a sloth to climb a tree? 4. This book explores measuring elements from length and weight and time, 5. with stunning pictures of the colorful animals of the Amazon. 6. ABOUT THE In Nature Numbers, math is beautiful, recognizable, and all around us! 7. Highly engaging pictures of animals and nature scenes, 8. along with cool chalk illustrations, 9. are used to introduce basic math concepts 10. and encourage kids to see a world of numbers all around them.
I count three. Out of 10!
How thrilling that, by Page 26, readers actually learn how fast a sloth moves. "Measuring the rain forest" will evidently have to wait until some unspecified time....more
Here's another example of series book with very little individuality, let alone soul. Still, it may catch the attention of some young readers, so I'llHere's another example of series book with very little individuality, let alone soul. Still, it may catch the attention of some young readers, so I'll give it FIVE STARS. Personally, I think this book is pathetic.
This book is so bland, so much a part of a series but otherwise a nothing!
Here's a description of this book, likely supplied to Goodreads by the publisher:
Introduces readers to Ivy's day making a craft. Discusses the concept of measuring by showing how Ivy uses her ruler to make her art project. Additional features to aid comprehension include vivid photographs, Extended Learning activities, a phonetic glossary, and sources for further research.
Eventually, on Page 18, you find out that little Ivy made a butterfly.
Following that, some general ideas are supplied about measuring things. What a half-hearted attempt to teach! At least the publisher generously put the author's name on the front cover. As for the back cover, there was nothing whatsoever about this series book....more
This book aids in shape recognition, being written with young learners in mind. Plenty of concrete examples enliven the abstract learning.
In a sense, This book aids in shape recognition, being written with young learners in mind. Plenty of concrete examples enliven the abstract learning.
In a sense, this book is an introduction to basic shapes. For instance, as triangles and squares.
But then author Ruth Musgrave takes these shape concepts to another level, helping children to recognize 3-D versions of these shapes, such as cubes and cones.
THERE'S A PLAYFUL APPROACH, VERY READER FRIENDLY
Goodreaders, I'll quote from Page 7:
It's a water party!
Drops of dew gather on the leaves. They shimmer in the light. Dew is made of water. Dewdrops are shaped like spheres.
A circle is a flat shape.
A sphere is solid like a ball. Look at the dewdrops. Find all the spheres on the leaves.
FIVE STARS to Ruth Musgrave, a prolific author of educational books, a very talented author.
Because I've read other books in this series, I know to expect a math book that is clever, imaginative, and witty. Absolutely first rate.
Once again aBecause I've read other books in this series, I know to expect a math book that is clever, imaginative, and witty. Absolutely first rate.
Once again author Cindy Neuschwander teams up with illustrator Wayne Geehan.
THE CAST OF CHARACTERS THIS TIME
Not only is Sir Cumference the main character but he's accompanied by Lady Di of Ameter. They're visiting their friend the Early of Fracton, planning to attend an annual even called the Fracton Faire.
Unfortunately the festivities are interrupbed when these three clever characters discover that goods are being stolen from the merchants.
To catch the culprits our heroes set a "math trap," making use of their knowledge of numerators and denominators in fractions.
Enlisting pictures of animals may make counting seem friendlier to young math students, but I'm a skeptic. All children need to learn math skills. WhiEnlisting pictures of animals may make counting seem friendlier to young math students, but I'm a skeptic. All children need to learn math skills. While not all children are impressed by exotic animals.
Just one small example may be pertinent. It happened today. To this Goodreader.
I walked into my backyard to bring in the garbage can. It's picked up every Friday.
Along the way, a fox heard me talking to myself and raced across the back edge of the backyard. Running remarkably fast, actually.
Foxes don't bite, and in suburbs like mine they're a sign of a healthy environment. Nonetheless I screamed loudly.
Not at any age, have I ever been a fan of books about foxes. Or hippos. Or most other animals.
I wonder, have animal sentimentalists taken over elementary school education?
RATING THIS BOOK
There's a bright side. This book can help kids learn how to count up to ten. If they need to find inspiration in "Hiding Hippos," who am I to rain on their educational parade? FIVE STARS ...more
Right from the cover, and the words chosen, you can tell this book was written by an excellent author.
Carrie A. Pearson has found an intriguing title,Right from the cover, and the words chosen, you can tell this book was written by an excellent author.
Carrie A. Pearson has found an intriguing title, one with poetry and action and maybe even seven types of ambiguity. ;-) (That last bit is a reference to a book I once loved as an English major in college. You can find a review here on Goodreads of this brilliant book by William Empson.)
The excellent author, Ms. Pearson, teams up with superb illustrator Susan Swan. They transport readers to Redwood National Park in northern California.
There a redwood tree dubbed Hyperion is the tallest known tree on earth.
Imagine! It's more than 600 years old. Size-wise, the tree is about 379 feet tall--and still growing!
Right from the start there's a problem with the title of this book. IMO.
Every form of professional writing requires an ANGLE, a point of view. TechnicRight from the start there's a problem with the title of this book. IMO.
Every form of professional writing requires an ANGLE, a point of view. Technically, it makes a complete sentence to state that "We celebrate Arbor Day in Spring," but that's a platitude. Neither a title nor an ANGLE that will make for an interesting book.
One of the chapters has a better title: "We Need Trees."
That's just one alternative that would bring a spark of life to this unimaginative slog of a book for early readers. Were I the editor, I would delete every bit of text-and-photo up to Page 13, and then expand this copy to fill up the book.
So many publishers and authors rely on photos to make a book interesting. Sadly, that may drive these promising young readers to never develop a love of READING.
Instead they may wind up like too many adults I know, barely able to communicate with other adults. Sharing the photos on their phones, and that passes for a conversation.
Books like this one contribute to a post-literate society.
I prefer to live in a society where reading is an essential skills. Just TWO STARS, then, is all I'll give this sad, half-hearted attempt at a book!...more
God is in the details. At least, God is in the details provided that the details are TRUE.
Blueberries grow oIt's true, blueberries do grow on a bush.
God is in the details. At least, God is in the details provided that the details are TRUE.
Blueberries grow on a bush, and this book gives us a show-and-tell.
WHAT AN AMAZING WORLD THIS IS!
"Clusters of blueberries grow on the bushes. The berries ripen at different times.
Blueberries are picked in spring, summer, and fall."
Not only is that true, Goodreaders. I know because I've picked some.
Picking berries can be an excellent way to develop hand-to-mouth coordination.
FIVE STARS for a juicy book.
I will note, however, the questionable front cover. The cover shows pretty foliage that is not a blueberry bush. Little trios of ripe blueberries are Photoshopped in. Unconvincingly.
Why go to such lengths to visually lie to young readers?...more
I'm pleased to report that the illustrations of Farmer Llama are better in this book, compared to the one I've just reviewed, "Plows."
Once again, authI'm pleased to report that the illustrations of Farmer Llama are better in this book, compared to the one I've just reviewed, "Plows."
Once again, author Kirsty Holmes knows her subject and communicates clearly, even when taking care to use simple language.
The big memorable detail of this book involves what spreaders are designed to spread: Poop.
Or, as Kirsty puts it more elegantly:
"Spreaders add a special type of fertilizer to the soil. It's called manure! Manure is made up of natural material, such as poop and pee. It comes from animals."
Education for all! It's a busy day at Happy Valley Farm and, evidently, that includes plenty of excretions.
FIVE STARS for an educational book that is also, definitely, entertaining....more
Personally, I'd like this book far better if it weren't so aggressively interactive.
According to the blurb provided here at Goodreads, perhaps coming Personally, I'd like this book far better if it weren't so aggressively interactive.
According to the blurb provided here at Goodreads, perhaps coming from the publisher -- that's my wild guess -- lookee here:
"It's a busy day at Happy Valley Farm and the farmer llama needs your help! Take a tour of the farm as you learn all about planters. Be sure to pay attention so you can pass your farmhands quiz and earn your llama-diploma. Cheerful illustrations and farm-tastic puns make learning about farmer llama's farm machines llots of fun!"
Well, well, well. Doesn't this book have llots of cute? :(
Readers are informed, among other things, that "Tractors of the future could be much bigger and pull huge plows."
And this is supposed to be good news? Oboy!
Altogether, I think author Kirsty Holmes does a fine job of cramming this easy reader with useful information. On that basis I'll give this book FIVE STARS.
The llama character looks very unconvincing to me, but I could cringe my way through the illustrations. So can you, Goodreaders, if you read this otherwise excellent book....more
![[(Shark Swimathon )] [Author: Lynne Cravath] [Nov-2001]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1697866514l/142232856._SX50_.jpg)
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