Animal planet strange, unusual, gross and cool animals

by Charles Ghigna

age range: 7 years old and up

Animal Planet
Time Inc. Books

Have you ever seen a vampire squid? Did you know that the proboscis monkeys are born with blue faces? Would you like to take a close look at a water dragon's eye? This book contains a huge amount of interesting things to read and learn about a wide range of animals. It is diveded in four parts, Strange, Unusual, Gross and Cool, although many animals are all these things at the same time! And the pictures are wonderful and abundant.

I found this book surprisingly absorbing. It is all a curious kid would enjoy. The facts are punctual and concrete. The text accessible for the age range. To make the content more clear some animals are joined according to one feature, like "Venomous Creatures" or "Newly Discovered Cratures", while some other are portrayed individually for a deeper view, as in chapter such as "Thorny Dragon" or "Blue-footed booby". And again, the photography is amazing. A strange, unusual, gross and cool addition for the non fiction shelf!

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Whose poop is that?

by Darrin Lunde

illustrated by Kelsey Oseid

age: 4 to 7 years old

Charlesbridge

Although it might sound like an accusation, the title is actually a scientific inquiry. Using seven different animals as example, the author shows how many things we can learn from observing and studying (in the case of scientists) poop. In poop we can find bits of bones, feathers, fur, and twigs. Poop also has different appearance, shape, color depending on the animal and its diet. Sometimes something that looks like poop could be vomit, since this is another way animals waste undigested food. A list of facts at the end of the books adds some more interesting information like the importance of poop for the environment, and how it is used to build a nest, mark territory, or spread seeds. 

This topic is very interesting for kids. We all know kids love "gross stuff". The information is presented in a funny and concise way. The pictures illustrate well the differences between the different "samples" without being gross, and without distracting the attention from the nutritional and digestive facts being discussed. And the animals are cute. I really think this non fiction picture book will be a win.

By the way... I never thought I would write a review with the word "poop" so many times in it... 

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bathroom Science

70 Fun and Wacky Science Experiments

by Christine Taylor-Butler

age range: 8 years old and up

Portable Press

From the blurb: "Create exploding toilet volcanoes, oozing sink slime, and bubbling bathtub cauldrons…all in the name of science! Each step-by-step experiment uses household and other easy-to-find materials so the young scientist’s lab can be equipped quickly, inexpensively, and—for those who might worry—safely. Bathroom Science highlights the materials, the method, and the scientific “why” behind every experiment. It's spiral bound to stay open while young scientists-in-training measure and mix. And, best of all, Bathroom Science makes science as simple (and occasionally explosive) as going to the bathroom".

This book is amazing. What could be better than have a lab in the bathroom? The experiments are easy to follow, and the "why it happens" is explained in an uncomplicated manner. Many Physics and Chemistry concepts are covered in the activities, but always in an easy and entertaining way. The book is actually very funny and includes puns like "It's snot much trouble. Why would you want to make artificial snots? Who nose why?". The experiment have different level of difficulty, but you can easily see which ones need adult supervision, since those are in red in the table of contents. I guess that now all I have to do is take the plunge and try some experiments with my kids. 

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ocean animals from head to tail

by Stacey Roderick

illustrated by Kwanchai Moriya

age range: up to 7 years old

Kids Can Press

Each of the eight ocean animals portrayed in this book are presented first just showing an interesting part of its body, and the reader is asked to say which animal is it. Only then the whole animal is introduced, and information about it, specially the purpose of its body part, is given. That's how you get to know the hammerhead shark, colossal squid, blue whale, eel, sailfish, sea turtle, sea anemone and seahorse, from head to tail.
The text is very accessible, and the facts interesting. The reader learns how all those "weird" looking eyes, tails, tentacles, etc., are of great use for hiding, swimming, hunting, or scaring predators. The collage like illustrations are very appropriate for the age range.
Very interesting non fiction picture book which includes animals, science and art.
There is a previous book in the series, Dinosaurs from head to tail, that I plan to read soon, and I really hope to see more books in this series in the future.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Inside your Insides

A guide to the microbes that call you home.

by Claire Eamer

illustrated by Marie-Eve Tremblay

age range: 7 years old and up

Kids Can Press

Interesting and entertaining non-fiction picture book about the microbes that live in our body. With a text easy to understand, this books explains what are microbes and microbiomes, microbes that are good for us, and other that make us sick, antibiotics and antibacterial soaps, etc. The illustrations are funny, and there are also many jokes along the book microbe related. Very interesting option to explore science and our bodies.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Monster Science

Could monsters survive (and thrive!) in the real world?

by Helaine Becker

illustrated by Phil McAndrew

age range: 8 and up

Kids Can Press

This book was fantastic! Each chapter is dedicated to a different well known monster: Frankenstein, Vampire, Bigfoot, Zombie, Werewolf and Sea Monster, and for each of them the science, and also historic and cultural backgrounds, are analyzed in order to try to figure out if their existence could be possible. 

As an example, in Frankenstein's chapter (which is also my favorite) the reader will find the story of when Mary Shelly wrote the first draft of the novel, the Enlightenment as the background, what is electricity and if it really can wake the dead, neurons, organ transplantation, genetic engineering, monsters as lonely creatures, mad scientists, body snatchers, and more.

Going through all the six chapters you will read about an incredibly amount of topics such as blood diseases, scientific revolution, metamorphosis, hypnosis, species classification, evolution, plagues,  hybrids, Sonar, Tsunamis, and an endless etc.

The text is accessible for the age range, and the book is thoroughly illustrated with funny pictures, not scary at all. Most of the kids are interested, or at least curious, about monsters, and Monster Science is a great option to stimulate their interest in science.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Outdoor math

by Emma AdBåge

age range: 3 to 6

Outdoor math it's a funny guide to "play math" outside taking advantage of what the different seasons offer us. The activities are diverse: worm measuring, cloud counting, tic tac toe, make shapes with a rope, estimate number of pine cones in a pile, place little "backyard treasures" in a grid with coordinates, bowling with bottles, one-minute challenges and more. What about making a snowman on a wagon, bring it inside the house, and see how long it takes for it to melt? That has to be a lot of fun! At least for kids. Not sure about their parents...

Most of the tasks call for counting, estimating, measuring, using a watch or stopwatch, and can be done without any special equipment or too much planning.

I'm a big fan of outdoor activities, screen-free entertainment, and science fun, and this book has all of it. I have a little issue with the writing since it is too simplistic to be a guide for grown ups (parents, teachers, etc.), but it's not easy enough for children in the age range it is addressed. It's not a big deal. In the overall it's a good book.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pink is for Blobfish

Discovering the world's perfectly pink animals.

by Jesse Keating

illustrated by David DeGrand

age range: 6 to 9 years old

Do you think pink is only for princesses? Then you should take a look to this book! In it you will find seventeen fascinating animals such as tarantulas, river dolphins, armadillos, rat moles and uakaris; animals from 0.5 inch to 14 feet long; animals from every continent; animals who live in rivers, rain forests, ponds, swamps and underwater; all of them pink.

Many interesting facts are explained in a funny way. The books has pictures and cartoons, and also a glossary and a map at the end.

Amusing science is always welcome. Highly recommended!

Mesmerized

by Mara Rockliff

illustrated by Iacopo Bruno

Age range: 6 years old and up

When in 1776 Benjamin Franklin visited Paris, he found the city absolutely berserk about Dr. Mesmer, who claimed to have discovered a powerful force. He also claimed to be able to use this force to make people "feel" things that weren't there, or taste water like vinegar or strawberries, etc. Some people was sure they have been cured by Dr. Mesmer's force.

Ben Franklin volunteered to be mesmerized too, but nothing happened to him. That's when he hypothesized about the force being in the patients' mind, and not in Dr. Mesmer's hand. He used the scientific method to test his idea, and asked Dr. Mesmer to apply his "force" to blinded patients. Needless to say that nothing happened. The test supported his hypothesis. Dr. Mesmer's force didn't exist.  

The book explains in an engaging and clear way not only this story about Ben Franklin and Dr. Mesmer, but also what being mesmerized is, and how we still use this principle in placebos. This story includes history, science and the illustrations are amazing. Strongly recommended!

Feathers not just for flying

by Melissa Stewart

Illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen

Age range: 5 to 10 years old

Feathers is designed like a scrapbook, and it counts with wonderful illustrations. The text is concrete and easy of understand. Its goal is to show all the different uses feathers have for different birds. Each use of a feather is compared with common objects well known by kids and that have this same use for us: feathers are warm as a blanket, protect the skin like sunscreen, soak water like a sponge, or attract attention like jewellery. These are only a few of the "jobs" feathers have. You will be surprised!

A rock is lively

by Dianna Hutts Aston

illustrations by: Sylvia Long

If your kid is interested in science this series is a great option. The text is easy to understand for kids 8 years old and up. The pictures are really nice and colorful. The layout is smart and neat. And the topics are varied and interesting.

A rock is lively contains a great amount of information about rocks as big as an asteroid, and as tiny as a grain of sand. Rocks can be so different and have so many different uses. Man uses and has always used rocks as tools, weapons, for construction, art, and more. Animals use rocks too. All of this can be discovered in this book. Highly recommended.

We also read and enjoyed A nest is noisy some time ago.

The case of the vanishing little brown bats.

A scientific mystery

by Sandra Markle.

A few years ago researchers started noticing that an important amount of little brown bats, among other bats, were dying during their hibernation period in winter. Since then many groups of researchers from different organizations have been working together to discover the reason for this disappearance, and to find a solution to this big problem. 

Markle exposes in this book the different leads the scientist followed at the beginning, and how they found the right path to finally find "the killer". The author not only explains the importance of bats for humans, the symptoms of the sick bats, etc., but she also shows in an engaging way how scientists work to solve a problem. Without naming it, Markle is showing the kids how the scientific method works.

The book also includes a glossary, a list of books and websites to know more, tips to go "bat friendly", and how to find the groups in your area that are working to save the little brown bats.

I'm really glad I crossed path with this author and this series. Great scientific non-fiction option for kids 8-12 years old.

Other titles in this series: The case of the vanishing golden frogs (2011) and The case of the vanishing honeybees (2013)