Review: Deadly Scorpion Sting! by Kevin Blake

DEADLY SCORPION STING!

Envenomators

by Kevin Blake

Bearport Publishing

Picture Book Non-Fiction

ages 8 to 12

Deep in the jungles of Thailand, Gareth Pike awoke one sunny morning in 2007. As he was getting dressed, he reached down to grab a pair of shorts off his floor. Suddenly, Gareth felt a horrible stinging pain in his thumb. Then he spotted a deadly black scorpion scurrying away. "I was in dreadful pain," said Gareth. Would he survive his encounter with a venomous scorpion? Learn all about venomous scorpions in this engrossing new narrative nonfiction book for young readers. It's packed with exciting wildlife encounters, cutting-edge science, and loads of info about venom and its deadly effects.

MY TIDBITS

Friends of creepy crawlies and more dangerous creatures will not only get a thrill but learn all sorts of things about the world of scorpions.

The theme of this book is very clear—deadly scorpions. The first page already introduces a wild environment in the jungles of Thailand and a man who lost his life thanks to a tiny black scorpion. The ominous tone is set...and it's clear why this book isn't recommend for younger readers. But this isn't a 'horror' story. Rather, facts are everything, and while the danger of the venom is clear, the scientific end stays front and center. A few real-life stories from victims, who've been stung by scorpions give the book a creepy setting which is sure to intrigue readers, but at the same time, the scorpions are explained, investigated and presented not only from a biological stand-point but also from a chemical one. Readers learn that the venom might be dangerous, but it also offers hopes for the future in medicinal areas.

Various species of scorpions are presented with bright, clear photos which present them in the natural habitat. The anatomy is briefly explained, habits, anti-venom and the truth about scorpion stings. While the main information is presented in paragraph form, other interesting tidbits are scattered in bubbles throughout the page, making it fun to flip through. At the end of the book, there's a glossary, a small chart of the three scorpions to really look out for, an index, places where more information can be found, and a website address to also learn more.

It's a short, bright book which especially reluctant readers will appreciate. The information is well laid-out, making it interesting and enjoyable to flip through time and again.

Welcome to the world of venomous animals! Discover a lizard that can take down a huge water buffalo, a small spiny frog that can kill a human, a tiny black scorpion that can sicken a person to the point of death, and much more. In this engrossing narrative nonfiction series for young readers, learn about which venomous animals are the most deadly to humans, the effects of venom, and how scientists are using venom to create lifesaving drugs. Packed with exciting wildlife encounters, cutting-edge science, and loads of info about venom and its deadly effects, this exciting new series will captivate young readers.

There are six titles in this series:

You can find more at: https://bearportpublishing.com/shop/show/12376

Deadly Scorpion Sting!

Deadly Frogs!

Deadly Lizard Bite!

Deadly Snake Bite!

Deadly Spider Bite!

Deadly Venomous Mammals!

Review: Historic and Lively - What Am I? by Joyce Markovics

HISTORIC AND LIVELY

WHAT AM I?

American Place Puzzlers

by Joyce Markovics

Bearport Publishing

Picture Book / Non-Fiction

ages 3 and up

What has a main street and hundreds of historic buildings? If you guessed Colonial Williamsburg, you're right! This book introduces early readers to a mystery American place by describing its features, one by one, using short simple sentences and eye-popping full-color photos. At the end of the book, the secret place is revealed across a colorful, two-page spread. Young children will love showing off their beginning reading skills as they learn about amazing American places--one clue at a time! Fast facts and maps at the end of the book provide key information about the place. Rich, colorful photos and a clever design are sure to grab and excite emergent readers.

MY TIDBITS

With lively, real life photographs, this book describes Colonial Williamsburg while offering kids interesting tidbits along the way.

This book tries to help listeners/readers puzzle together an historic site in the United States by giving hints and clues so they can 'puzzle' it together. It's a cute idea, encouraging kids to think while trying to piece together the information offered in the pages step-by-step. Each illustration/photograph follows this scheme with its puzzle-appearance on the page, where a couple pieces are missing to give it that real game feel.

The text is very simple and short, making it appropriate for even youngest listeners. There's only one piece of information on each two page spread and the photograph fits to it perfectly. While the idea is grabbing and the book does a great job an introducing an interesting historic site to listeners/readers (and will even leave them curious to go visit it themselves), the one offered in this book, Colonial Williamsburg, is so unknown that the chances younger listeners have even heard of it are slim. This leaves a hint of frustration at the end since listeners have no way of solving the puzzle and might feel a bit cheated. It does, however, offer a great addition to those who are learning about the area or who have heard of the place before.

At the end, there's a Fast Facts section with more detailed tidbits about Colonial Williamsburg, a map of where it is in the United States, and an index as well as a website address where kids can learn more. The information is well-rounded, will inform listeners in a fun way and awaken their interest to visit the site.

Young children will love showing off their beginning reading skills as they learn about amazing American places--one clue at a time! This new series introduces emergent readers to iconic American places through a fun guessing game. Each 24-page book features controlled text with age-appropriate vocabulary and simple sentence construction. Vibrant photos and a clever design are sure to grab and excite young readers!

There are 8 titles in this series, all of which can be viewed here at Bearport Publishing.

Review: Coconut by Jackie Lee

COCONUT

See It Grow

by Jackie Lee

Bearport Publishing

Picture Book Non-Fiction

24 pages

ages 4 and up

A coconut that you buy at the store can be used to make lots of tasty foods. It is big, brown, and hairy. How did it get that way? Beginning readers will discover how a coconut seed turns into a coconut palm that bears lots of new coconuts in clear, simple steps in this basic introduction to plant development.

MY TIDBITS

Coconuts are fun to look at in the store and even better to eat, and this book take a peek at exactly how they grow.

Coconuts aren't a fruit kids necessarily see every day, nor do they look anything like most fruits. After a quick description of the coconut, this book dives into the entire growing process from seed to sprout to tree, and highlights a few interesting tidbits along the way.

My daughter wanted to get her hands on this one. Coconuts are fascinating, and the descriptions in these pages bring the growing process down into a clear way beginner readers (or younger listeners) will understand. The text is simple, very much so, and sticks to only two sentences per a page spread. The vocabulary is basic and direct, making sure the younger readers can learn without becoming frustrated with the words. This covers the basics of the growth of a coconut, following from the seed, the layers inside, what the sprout looks like, the trees and the flowering.

The bright photographs don't only give a real impression of the coconuts, the environment and the trees, but do a great job in making the sprouting process clear.

There's an extra page of more advanced Coconut Facts at the end, a glossary, index and even the website address where kids can learn a little more. But by no means is this an advanced book. The layout is thought for the younger age groups and keeps everything at this level. Readers will have a good understanding of coconuts after this book and will want to try one. . .so beware.

How does a little acorn turn into a giant oak tree? How does a small seed turn into a big, orange pumpkin? Beginning readers will learn in simple steps and through fascinating, informative photos how plants grow from seeds to seedlings to larger plants that produce flowers and fruit. Children will also discover what plants need to grow. With just the right amount of detail, this series is a perfect introduction to plant development. Each 24-page book features controlled text with age-appropriate vocabulary and simple, clear sentences. A fresh, colorful design and eye-catching photos closely align with the descriptive text. These beautiful, informative books are sure to surprise and delight young readers.

There are six titles in this series: Apple, Sunflower, Cranberry, Coconut, Pumpkin, and Oak Tree

You can  find out more directly at Bearport Publishers here!

Review: Dik-Dik by Marilyn Brigham

DIK-DIK

Even Weirder and Cuter

by Marilyn Brigham

Bearport Publishing

Picture Book Non-Fiction

ages 4 to 8

24 pages

What's that animal with giant eyes and a long, bendy snout? It's a dik-dik! Beginning readers will learn all about these strange yet wonderful creatures in this delightful title. They will also learn basic information about dik-diks, including how these tiny antelopes protect themselves, find mates, and mark their territory. Each 24-page book features controlled text with age-appropriate vocabulary and simple sentence construction. The lively text, colorful design, and eye-catching photos are sure to capture the interest of emergent readers. Dik-Dik is part of Bearport's Even Weirder and Cuter series.

MY TIDBITS

The sweet face on the cover with it's big, curious eyes already draw attention and lure in to learn more about a less known animal, the Dik-dik.

This lesser known type of antelope lives in Africa, and it is quite an interesting creature. With bright, bold photographs, this book takes a quick dive into the Dik-dik's environment, tells about its habitat and leaves the reader a little more knowledgeable than before. . .perhaps, with a new favorite animal.

Short, sweet and to the point—that's how this book runs. Each page offers basic information about the dik-diks: what they eat, how big they are, habits, predators and many other tidbits about their daily lives. While the main details are offered in easy to read and large printed text, little bits of extra information are added in bubbles here and there. This makes the book a little more fun to discover and keeps it from getting dry or boring. The amount of information is not over-powering, but would hold the attention of even young listeners and might be a bit slim for slightly older readers. The text itself is great for those kids who are feeling a little more comfortable with reading on their own.

The main treat in these pages are the photographs. The cute dik-diks are shown in their natural habitat on every page. It's a joy simply to glance through the pictures. At the end, there's a glossary to help out with a few lesser known terms and a quick view of three other less known but interesting types of antelope.

Curious kids and animal lovers will enjoy this one and discover an animal many have never heard about before.

There's no shortage of bizarre and unusual animals on Earth. This series features a new group of remarkable creatures that readers definitely won't find in their backyards! The colorful assortment includes scaly pangolins, slimy matamatas, and eerie aye-ayes. Each 24-page book features controlled text with age-appropriate vocabulary and simple sentence construction. Eye-catching photos closely align with clear, descriptive text. These delightful, informative books will quickly become children's favorites.

There are 8 titles in this series, including Dik-Dik:

Aye-Aye

Coconut Crab

Highland Cattle

Matamata

Orchid Mantis

Pangolin

Velvet Ant

You can find out more at Bearport Publishing!

Review: How Animals Build from Lonely Planet

HOW ANIMALS BUILD

by Moira Butterfield

Illustrated by Tim Hutchinson

Lonely Planet

Picture Book Non-Fiction

24 pages

ages 4 and up

The North & Latin American edition of this title is available here.

Lonely Planet Kids’ How Animals Build is a beautifully illustrated lift-the-flap hardback that explores the incredible world of animal architects. Children can open flaps and unfold spreads to discover amazing animal homes up high, underground, on land, and under the sea. From spider webs and rabbit warrens, to bird nests and ant colonies, and even coral reefs and beaver lodges, we reveal the secrets to these extraordinary structures and how they’re built.

Do bees need cement mixers to build hives? Do beavers use cranes to construct dams? No, of course not! Like many animals, they’re building geniuses who don’t need building site tools to create incredible work. Welcome to nature’s very own, super-clever world of construction.

Created in consultation with Michael Leach, wildlife author, speaker, photographer, and filmographer. Michael is the author of over 20 books on subjects ranging fromm big cats and owls to great apes and bears.

Themed topics include:

 Apartment Block with Branches

• Dig, Diggers, Dig!
• Number 1 Bunny Street
• A Winning Design
• It’s Buzzing in Here!
• Nest Neighborhoods
• This Way to Waterworld
• Extreme Builders
• Mouse House Here

MY TIDBITS

Every page of this one is packed full of interesting information and guarantees to suck in information hungry, animal loving kids for hours.

Every animal needs a home, and the variety is almost as vast as the imagination. While some animals keep it simple, others are genuine architects with a touch of genius. From birds, to mice, and even underwater creatures, this book covers a vast array of examples from the animal kingdom and is sure to hold a surprise or two.

The second this book is open, it's clear that the reader is in for a treat. Not only are animals from every corner of the globe, even lesser known ones, mentioned in these pages, but each home is presented through colorful illustrations with many secret doors, which lead to even more interesting tidbits. Not only is it exciting to see what animals and homes are up next, but the various possibilities to open up some homes to large scale, while peeking in the holes of other corners and crannies, makes it a delight to visit again and again.

With all of its fun, this isn't a book for the youngest readers but more suiting ages six and up. The text, while whimsically placed and holding a vocabulary great for the age group, is something for a larger attention span. This isn't a book a reader can devour in one sitting. At least, not while absorbing all of the information. There's simply too much for that. This is the kind of book readers will visit time and again to discover new information or notice things they skimmed past before. And the information is interesting—even for adults. There are enough less known facts to guarantee that something new is to be found for almost every reader.

This is a book of pure discovery and the sheer enjoyment of finding more, and is sure to draw kids back into the pages again and again.