Creature Features: 25 Animals Explain Why They Look The Way They Do by Steve Jenkins & Robin Page

The title and subtitle of this book are the prefect summary for this book.

Thoughts: It's no secret that I love Steve Jenkins and Robin Page. All of their nonfiction books for children are informative and engaging. The cut paper collage illustrations are always fabulous. Creature Features is no different. I shared this book with first and second graders during one of my elementary outreach storytimes. They loved it. Apparently, I do a great impression of a chubby cheeked hamster. The kids were rolling. The mix of animals is nice. I was familiar with some of the animals. Others not so much. I would love to use Steve Jenkins and Robin Page's books as the inspiration for an illustration program where kids would create similar art.

Themes: Animals, Elementary Outreach

(Houghton Mifflin, 2014)

Wild About Bears by Jeannie Brett

Jeannie Brett's Wild About Bears is an in-depth look at the world's eight bear species. 

Thoughts: A fabulous book! Like Bears! Bears! Bears! by Bob Barner, but Wild About Bears is for older children. Excellent information and factoids about all the different bear species. I used this book for elementary outreach last fall and the kids loved it. Most of them could only name three or four bear species before I shared this book with them.

Themes: Bears, Elementary Outreach

(Charlesbridge, 2014)

Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart

Illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen.

You may think feathers are just for flying. You couldn't be more wrong. Author Melissa Stewart explores sixteen different ways that birds use feathers.

Thoughts: Fascinating! I was familiar with some of the ways birds use their feathers (flying, attracting, and sliding), but the others were a total surprise. Stewart's text is engaging and easy for readers to relate to. Using similes is a great way to engage readers. Brannen's watercolor installations are exquisite. I like the layout--very like a nature journal. I look forward to using this book for elementary outreach later this year.

Themes: Birds, Elementary Outreach

(Charlesbridge, 2014)

Mama Built a Little Nest by Jennifer Ward

Illustrated by Steve Jenkins.

Find out how several different species of birds build their nests.

What I thought: An interesting book that looks at one aspect of a bird's life--nesting. The extra facts on each page make Mama Built a Little Nest great for sharing with older children while the actual story is short enough to read to preschoolers at storytime. As always, I love Steve Jenkins' collage illustrations.

Themes: Birds, Animal Homes, Elementary Outreach

(Beach Lane Books, 2014)

Summer Reading Hiatus

Apologies for the long gap in posts. Our Summer Reading Program began and ate up all my free time. It's winding down now and I hope to be back to posting programs and book reviews soon.

Here's a recap of my summer. I kept the programs simple this year: storytime for ages 0-6, an event for ages 7-12, free movies, twice monthly teen events, and a few pajama storytimes. I'm also hosting a couple of special events in August (Peep Science and Kit: An American Girl Party). I'm still crunching numbers, but it looks like attendance generally increased or remained stable. I'll take it!

I hope to resume regular posts not later than September. Until then, I hope all my fellow librarians and readers have a wonderful rest of the summer.