Aquatic Adventures: Biome Explorers
(Nomad Press, August 2022)
Ahoy biome explorers! Grab a swimsuit and a life jacket for a voyage to study the largest of all of Earth’s biomes – water.
In Aquatic Adventures, readers will embark on a voyage down the mighty Mississippi River to the delta, to the Caribbean, and out to open ocean. Muck around on the riverbanks, wade into the ocean, and snorkel around a coral reef to discover the huge variety of plants and animals that live in both freshwater and saltwater. We’ll also discover how human activity affects the water biome and how to help. And the voyage isn’t over back at the dock – vivid illustrations, fast facts, a poem, and a hands-on activity encourage readers to keep exploring and to take part in protecting our water from climate change and pollution. Click here for a classroom guide.
REVIEW from Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD); rating 5/5: “This book is a wonderful resource for teaching young readers about varied types of waterways, how they can be cared for, and how they can be enjoyed.”
Destination Desert: Biome Explorers
(Nomad Press, August 2022)
Good day fellow explorers! Pack a sun hat, sunscreen, and a full water bottle because the desert biome is dry, dry, dry!
In Destination Desert, we trek to four different types of deserts around the world – a hot and dry desert, a semi-arid desert, a coastal desert, and a cold desert. In each place, we will investigate the adaptations plants and animals such as cacti, shrubs, camels, ibex, and lizards have made to survive in these dry places! We’ll also learn how each desert is similar and different as well as the impact of human activity on deserts. All explorers are also invited to learn more about the desert biome through the informative illustrations, fast facts, a poem, and a hands-on activity. Classroom guide available here.
REVIEW from Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD); rating 5/5: “This book is part of a series introducing readers to the various biomes. In its pages, the authors strive to help readers understand how deserts are necessary for life and must be maintained.”
Footsteps in the Forest: Biome Explorers
(Nomad Press, August 2022)
Greetings biome explorers! Gear up to tour the forest biome with trees large and small, and creatures short and tall.
In Footsteps in the Forest, biome explorers will take a stroll on a rain forest canopy walkway, sit quietly to observe temperate forest wildlife, and bundle up to visit a boreal forest. We will discover leafcutter ants, toucans, squirrels, opossums, ferns, mosses, snowshoe hares, and much more on our tour of the world’s forests. There are more than 3 trillion trees on Planet Earth, so we’ve got lots of exploring to do! We’ll also learn about the role humans play in keeping the forest biome healthy, and why that’s critical to the global environment. The journey also includes fast facts, a poem, a glossary, and a hands-on activity. Need a classroom guide? Click here.
REVIEW from Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD); rating 5/5: “Forests make up over one-third of the land on our planet. After reading this book, one of many in this readable series of the different types of biomes, it is hoped readers will take steps to help save the forests, a crucial part of our ecosystem.”
Grassland Globetrotting: Biome Explorers
(Nomad Press, August 2022)
Hello biome explorers! This journey takes us to the grasslands – wide open spaces of grasses, grazing animals, and frequent wildfires.
In Grassland Globetrotting, adventurous readers journey to temperate grasslands and tropical savannas. We’ll be on the lookout for bison and prairie dogs, and wildebeests and giraffes. We’ll also discover the hardy plants that survive on the grasslands and learn why fire is an important part of grassland sustainability. After our travels to grasslands near and far, there’s a hand-on activity to do, a poem to read, and other fast facts to revisit. Check out the classroom guide here.
REVIEW from Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD); rating 5/5: “The author and illustrator have created a book with appeal for a younger audience but with content that should be taken to heart by a wider audience. Grasslands are a beautiful part of our work, and we must do all we can to preserve them.”
Tour the Tundra: Biome Explorers
(Nomad Press, August 2022)
Grab a coat because the vast, treeless, mostly frozen tundra biome is chilly!
In Tour the Tundra, biome explorers will visit the Arctic, the Antarctic, and alpine tundras. In these beautiful, remote places, we will observe migrating animals, waddle like a penguin, and witness wildflowers in bloom in the mountains above tree line. The tour also includes a discussion of the impact of human activity on this fragile biome and we’ll learn how to help the plants and animals of the tundra thrive in the face of climate change. Once we’re home, explorers can enjoy a tundra poem, focus on additional fast facts, and do a hands-on activity. Take a look at the classroom guide here.
REVIEW from Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD); rating 5/5: ” As with other books in this series, this is an eye-opening look at a part of our world many people probably know little about. After finishing it, readers are likely to realize how important these regions are to all of us.”
The Earth: One of a Kind Planet
(Nomad Press, March 2021)
Earth is our home, but how much do we really know about this planet? Quite a lot!
In The Earth: One-of-a-Kind Planet, the narrator, who just happens to be the Universe, explains where Earth is located in the solar system, how Earth was created, how life evolved on Earth, and more. Universe uses a friendly, relatable tone to engage young readers and explain complex science content in ways kids can understand and relate to. And the alien commentators are hilarious for both kids and adults! Read a review here and get a handy classroom guide here.
The Moon: Small-but-Mighty Neighbor
The moon is one of the smaller celestial objects in the universe, but it has some very important jobs. Without it, Earth would be a very different place!
Narrated by the character of the Universe, The Moon, offers up clear scientific explanations designed to gets kids excited about astronomy, covering topics such as the moon’s phases, eclipses, and humans’ long history of watching the moon. A hands-on project, fun facts, and a poem offer more opportunities for learning and language connections, while two alien commentators make the whole package delightful and hilarious. Perfect as a read aloud or for beginner readers, with a glossary to support language development; classroom guide available here.
The Stars: A Gazillion Suns
The Universe is full of hundreds of billions of twinkling stars that humans have used to tell stories, navigate, and make wishes for centuries.
But what is a star made of? How long will its light last? In The Stars: A Gazillion Suns, the character of the Universe takes us on a journey among the stars and explains how they are born, what makes them twinkle, how many there are, and even how they will come to an end. Through a hands-on science activity, fun facts, a poem, and a glossary, kids are invited to explore a world previously out of reach. Perfect as a read aloud or for beginner readers. There’s also a free classroom guide.
THOUGHTS from Pennsylvania School Librarians Association: :This is a great introduction to space and the constellations for a young reader. The addition of the two extraterrestrial commentators is a great choice by the author, and the illustrations add to the charm of the whole book. Highly recommended for an elementary collection.” Read the full review here.
The Sun: Shining Star of the Solar System
There are trillions of stars in the universe, but one is particularly important to people on planet Earth—our sun.
What’s the sun good for, anyway? Find out as the Universe explains just what makes the sun so important to planet Earth in The Sun: Shining Star of the Solar System. In this nonfiction picture book, children ages 5 to 8 learn how the sun creates the days, seasons, and years we experience on Earth and even affects our weather and water. Funny aliens provide a running commentary on the Universe’s clear explanations of complex science topics and a hands-on activity provides an extra layer of learning. Plus, a poem at the beginning offers a language-based introduction to science details. A great choice as both a read aloud and for early readers. Read the review of The Sun from the Bookworm for Kids here and Dorine White’s review from The Write Path here. And for more ideas about exploring content-related topics with students, take a look at the classroom guide.
Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations
(Nomad Press, August 2020)
Not all birds build nests with sticks and have good manners. Some birds build nests with their own saliva, while another bird uses its vomit as a defense! Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations will introduce you to those odd adaptations and many others. Layered text and back matter provide more information to encourage further discovery of other odd bird adaptations. Classroom guide available here.
VERDICT from School Library Journal: “A cool science title for younger readers to learn about bird adaptation. Educators can use this text in the classroom; many STEAM lessons could be inspired by these funky adaptations.”
Sunscreen, Frogsicles, and Other Amazing Amphibian Adaptations
(Nomad Press, August 2020)
Amphibians spend part of their time on land and part in the water. So how do sunscreen and mucus help them survive? Find out how one frog gets its sunscreen to protect itself through the dry season and how another uses its own mucus to create a cocoon in Sunscreen, Frogsicles, and Other Amazing Amphibian Adaptations. Layered text and back matter provide additional information. Click here for a classroom guide.
Stink Fights, Earwax and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations
(Nomad Press, August 2020)
All mammals have unique adaptations that help them survive in their environment. But have you ever considered how stink fights and earwax help?In Stink Fights, Earwax and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations, learn how lemurs settle arguments and how earwax increases a whale’s sense of hearing, along with a host of other deliciously strange-but-true tales! Includes layered text, back matter, an activity and a classroom guide. Also check out this guest blog post on Patricia Newman’s LitLinks blog for ideas to integrate STEM and language arts curricula.
VERDICT from School Library Journal: “Enjoyable, light reading for browsers and fans of animal nonfiction. A good addition to classroom libraries.”
Water-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile Adaptations
(Nomad Press, August 2020)
A lizard that runs on water? A snake that slithers sideways? In Water-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile Adaptations, you’ll learn how and why green basilisk lizards run on water and that sidewinders snakes have a very good reason for moving the way they do. You’ll also discover other strange-but true remarkable reptile adaptations. Layered text and back matter provide further information and detail. Click here for a classroom guide.
Antifreeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish Adaptations
(Nomad Press, August 2020)
Fish have gills and fins that help them survive in the water. But they also have other adaptations, like proteins in the blood that keep Antarctic fish from freezing, and a fancy leaf costume that provides excellent camouflage. In Anti-Freeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish Adaptations, you’ll be awed by all of the fabulous adaptations of fish. Layered text and back matter provide more information and invite further exploration. And, check out the classroom guide!
VERDICT from School Library Journal: “An inviting addition to the children’s nonfiction section. Everyone needs more cool fact books, and this title is a part of a science-centered series.”
The Fort
(Page Street Kids, April 2020)
The boy uses the fort in the woods as his royal castle. The girl uses it as her pirate ship. When they cross paths one day at the fort there’s a spirited battle of wills until creativity and compromise lead them to re-imagine it as something they can use together. Click here for lesson plans, an activity guide, and a coloring page.
Read Daddy Mojo’s review of THE FORT here.