Today's read... Shells... and what they hide inside by Helen Scales

We've had some warmer days lately, which has me garden dreaming. Actually, I'm heading out to buy some seeds today and get the first seedlings started. It also has my kids vacation-dreaming, which usually includes water and shell hunting. No, we don't always go to the beach, but they manage to discover shells (and rocks) everywhere.

Today's read heads right down these lines and opens up to the world of shells. It's a board book with...and this always makes me excited...flaps! It promises tons and tons of flaps, which, I'm guessing, means the shells can be opened up. (Yay!)

Anyway, let's take a peek and see what treasures we can find.

SHELLS

...and what they hide inside

by Helen Scales

Illustrated by Sonia Pulido

Phaidon Press

Board Book Nonfiction

16 pages

ages 2 to 4

COMING APRIL 17th!!!

A richly illustrated, informative, and interactive introduction to shells for children aged 2-4 with over 40 interactive flaps In this board book companion to  What a Shell Can Tell , award-winning marine biologist and documentary maker, Helen Scales, introduces children ages 2-4 to the wonders of shells. With over 40 flaps to lift creating interactive opportunities on every page, stunningly lifelike illustrations, children are encouraged to observe, engage with, and understand a range of shells and environments. 

From where shells are found and who lives in them, to what a shell’s look and feel can reveal about its inhabitant and environment. The book expands on a child’s natural instinct for collecting things, nurturing their interest and curiosity in nature by giving them simple observation skills that will help them to explore the connections between objects found in nature and the wider ecosystem, as well as building their vocabulary. With a timely message of environmental stewardship combined with stunning illustrations, this book encourages children to explore and care about the world around them. 

GOODREADS    /    PHAIDON PRESS

MY TIDBITS

Grab those buckets and bags because this one inspires to head outside and discover the world of shells.

This book is like going on a shell hunt with tons of surprises to find. From beaches to gardens, a variety of shells are explained and portrayed. Young readers learn that shells come in many colors and shapes, and can be found in more places than just along the ocean beach. To add to the fun, each shell can be opened (a flap) with more to discover inside. And there are quite a few flaps.

While this is a board book sold for ages 2 to 4, I'd recommend it more for ages 3 to 8. The board book style makes it robust, which works especially great for the flaps. The text is a little heavy for the youngest readers, but the slightly older audience will have no trouble understanding it. The facts aren't heavy, but rather, are more intuned to introduce readers to the variety and purpose of shells. The fun of discovering shells stays front and center throughout the read, and this is especially true with the flaps. Inside aren't just surprises on the illustration side but also hints, tips, and words of encouragement. 

The illustrations project energy, joy and life on every page.  The portrayed individuals are playful and full of smiles. The shells are large and detailed as their environment, habits, and more are shown. While many young readers will connect shells with the beach, this pushes beyond that and shows where they can, sometimes, even be found in the backyard. All of this is done in a gentle flow without heavy facts.

Shells, their variety, and the fun in discovering them come across on every page, making this a great read to inspire shell hunting or simply to get readers to discover more about the world outside. It works well for individual as well as group settings and can be used to inspire a project or used with a group theme.

Today's read... What a Rock Can Reveal by Maya Wei-Haas

Today's read isn't only nonfiction (and young readers love nonfiction) but also hits a topic, which makes my own kids smile. I can't even begin to guess the tons of rocks that have gone through my household thanks to my little hunters over the years. I have a bay window in the dining room, which I've had to clear off boxes full several times and move those precious finds to a 'special' area in the yard. Even now, my youngest (who isn't extremely young, anymore) spends hours and hours rock hunting along a creek at the edge of our property. It's brought a wealth of finds over the years, thanks to the occasional flooding (which causes other issues but is great for her rock collections).

So, I'm excited to see what this book might hold.

WHAT A ROCK CAN REVEAL

Where They Come From and What They Tell Us About Our Planet

by Maya Wei-Haas

Illustrated by Sonia Pulido

Phaidon Press

Picture Book Nonfiction

48 pages

ages 6 to 9

COMING FEBRUARY 28th!!! 

A stunningly illustrated, informative introduction to the wonders of rocks and minerals and what they can tell us about our planet.  Award-winning science writer and geologist, Maya Wei-Haas, introduces young readers to the fascinating world of rocks through the art of observation. Starting with a friendly question-and-answer format, she explores the diversity of rocks and minerals and how a rock’s shape, color, or texture help to tell the stories of how it was formed, where it comes from, and the incredible journeys it has had. 

This hands-on introduction reveals how rocks are time capsules of our planet’s past, recording the thrilling events that once built Earth’s incredible geology. The second in a series of visually stunning, scientifically engaging books that explore the natural world through everyday objects found in nature, this book follows on from the global children’s bestseller, What a Shell Can Tell. The text and vibrant illustrations expand on a child’s natural instinct to collect things, nurturing their interest and curiosity by giving them simple observation skills that will help them to explore the connections between objects found in nature, the wider environment, and Earth’s history.

GOODREADS    /     PHAIDON PRESS

MY TIDBITS

Rocks become anything but boring in a read, which will have young readers looking at the ground a little closer than before.

This book is all about rocks and covers a broad spread of directions in a relatively quick read. Starting with a few common rocks, their names, and what they look like, the book than takes a deeper dive into rock traits and facts. Everything from the composition of granite to rock formation to the use of rocks in households to their presence in space hits these pages. And more. It builds an appreciation for the importance and presence of minerals in nature and life...and even hits some directions readers might not have considered before.

While running through various facts and information, the author keeps the journey from growing dull. The text is pretty concise and does a good job at staying at the intended audience level. While the concentration remains on science, the tone speaks with the reader and gives it a more personal feel. Familiar situations are also built in, when appropriate, to help demonstrate how rocks affect everyone's lives, and it does so in a more relaxed and light approach. The illustrations make sure the information sits and helps to demonstrate what is mentioned in the text, but they also portray familiar scenes, which inspire readers to head outdoors and enjoy the fun. One section awakens the travel-bug as it shows some of the amazing places in the world, which are formed by minerals. 

This is a well-done read about rocks and minerals, which hits a wide variety of topics in an engaging way. Of course, rock fans will enjoy this one, but it reaches beyond that to hit a larger span of interests. While it doesn't make the best read-aloud for group settings, it's great for classrooms and homeschoolers to explore. But even individual readers will enjoy this one.

And here they are...

Maya Wei-Haas is an award-winning science writer with a PhD in Earth Science. She was previously a staff reporter at National Geographic and an Assistant Editor of Science and Innovation at Smithsonian.com. Now she writes for a variety of publications, including The New York Times and Science. This is her first children’s book. 

Sonia Pulido is an artist living in a seaside village close to Barcelona. What a Shell Can Tell, which she published in 2022 with Phaidon, was her first children’s book. Her illustrations have appeared in publications globally, including The New Yorker and The New York Times.