Synergy: Dinosaurs

DINOSAURS are reptiles that lived primarily during the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. Over 1,000 species of these enormous creatures have been identified. Dinosaur fossils have been found around the globe.

Read the recently published nonfiction reference atlases, then learn more at the website:

DINOSAUR ATLAS: A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME TO THE PREHISTORIC WORLD written by Tom Jackson and illustrated by Maggie Li uses simple color illustrations and engaging short text blocks to explore dozens of well-known and lesser known dinosaurs. The atlas begins with background information and concludes with what happened after dinosaurs reigned. Excellent for reading or browsing. 

ARC courtesy of Quarto Publishing Group. 

DINOSAUR ATLAS from National Geographic Kids takes young paleontologists on an adventure through time to explore the Mesozoic world of dinosaurs. Large text, a variety of illustrations, and open-space on each page will attract rather than overwhelm young readers. After an introduction, the readers explore three time periods and dozens of spotlight locations around the globe. The atlas concludes with what happened after extinction, a dictionary, glossary and additional information. Of particular note is the newly interpreted dinosaur information and stunning, full-color illustrations including artwork, photographs, and maps. 

ARC courtesy of National Geographic Kids.

DINOSAURS from the American Museum of Natural History web page features articles, exhibits, collections, and educational materials related to dinosaurs. Of particular interest is the PaleontOlogy section designed for children.

To visit AMNH, go to https://www.amnh.org/dinosaurs.

Synergy: Paleontology

Paleontology is the study of ancient life including dinosaurs and prehistoric plants and animals. Scientists use fossil evidence to learn about how these organisms have evolved over time.

1000 FACTS ABOUT DINOSAURS, FOSSILS and PREHISTORIC LIFE by Patricia Daniels is filled with fascinating information for budding paleontologists. Each two-page spread focuses on a specific theme and provides facts, photographs or illustrations to bring the information to life for young readers.

The American Museum of Natural History Paleontology for Kids website contains games, stories, hands-on activities, and videos for youth interested in science and specifically paleontology.

American Museum of Natural History Paleontology for Kids
https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/paleontology

ARC courtesy of National Geographic Kids.

Book Review: Ultimate Explorer Field Guides

ULTIMATE EXPLORER FIELD GUIDES is a new series from National Geographic Kids. These pocket-sized books are great for beginning naturalists looking for hands-on experiences. Each field guide is chuck-full of fascinating information.

From pelicans to cardinals, BIRDS by Julie Beer features dozens of well-known birds. The bird entry pages including photos, range maps, descriptions, special characteristics, interesting facts, and help with classification. The book concludes with a glossary, resources, a quick ID guide, and an index. Although birds are grouped into color coded families, this feature is easy to miss.

ROCKS & MINERALS by Nancy Honovich examines a wide range of rocks and minerals found around the world. The book begins with an overview of rock hounding tools and the basics of mineral identification. Minerals are then grouped into categories such as silicates and carbonates. After an introduction to rocks and the rock cycle, readers learn about igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. The sections on fossils and dinosaur bones are likely to be popular with young readers. The book ends with a quick ID guide, glossary, resources, and an index.

Librarians as well as young readers will appreciate the durable book covers and compact format. Set up a spring display with a variety of field guides that encourage children to get outside and explore the natural world. Connect with STEM standards and real-world world science activities.

Published by National Geographic Kids on February 9, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Living Fossils

LIVING FOSSILS: CLUES TO THE PAST by Caroline Arnold is a fascinating informational picture book for children.

From dragonflies to horseshoe crabs, living fossils are plants or animals that resemble their ancient relatives. The author weaves together a nonfiction narrative that introduces readers to six examples comparing the world now and then. Inset boxes provide details about adaptations and how these species survived.

The book concludes with a timeline, descriptions, a glossary, and resources.

Librarians will find that fans of fossils, dinosaurs, and science will be drawn to this fascinating work of nonfiction. Andrew Plant’s high-quality illustrations add to the appeal.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.carolinearnoldbooks.com/.

Published by Charlesbridge on February 2, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

App Review: EarthViewer

EARTHVIEWER is a fascinating, interactive app from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute that allows users to explore the science of Earth’s history.

Through timelines and visualizations, students can see the continents grow and shift as they scroll through billions of years of Earth’s history. Users can zoom into their favorite landmark and follow how it changes through time. Layers allow users to view data on atmospheric composition, temperature, biodiversity, day length, and solar luminosity.

Part of the HHMI’s BioInteractive initiative, the app opens with the option to take a short tutorial or jump right into the program. Users pinch out or in to switch between timeline views. The three main timeline views include phanerozoic (540 million years), deep history (4.6 billion years), and modern (100 years). Suggested areas to explore contain place markers such as cities, fossils, impact events, mass extinctions, biological events, and geological events. In-depth options include text and illustrations about topics such as the greenhouse effect and plate tectonics. The teacher resources area includes quick guides, references, and other information.

Librarians will find endless applications for this resource. Students can start with a modern city and track it back through time. Or, follow a famous fossil as it moves through time. Collaborate with the science teacher to build connections with the library’s science collection including books on prehistoric creatures, fossils, plate tectonics, and other curriculum-related topics.

The accompanying website also includes data files, classroom activities, worksheets, video clips, and a downloadable version.

To learn more, go to http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/earthviewer.