Book Review: Isaac the Alchemist

ISAAC THE ALCHEMIST by Mary Losure takes a fascinating look into the life of Isaac Newton.

This work of narrative nonfiction immerses readers in the life of a boy living in an apothecary’s house. Readers will be particularly intrigued by the connections between magic and science during Isaac’s time period. The book concludes with information about Isaac’s notebooks, science, and additional sources.

Librarians will find this well-written biography to be popular with both children who enjoy narrative nonfiction as well as those simply looking for good report material. The short chapters, discussions of magic and science, and interesting primary source visuals will appeal to reluctant readers. Look for this title on “best of children’s nonfiction” lists for 2017.

Published by Candlewick on February 1, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Technology Review: Midomi

MIDOMI is a music website with an audio search tool, exploration options, and a singing feature.

Users can either do a word search for an artist, song, or album. One of the most interesting aspects of this music tool is the ability to “sing or hum” a tune. Simply sing or hum at least second seconds of a song like “you are my sunshine” and it identifies places on the web where that song is available. The website also contains a section where users can explore a wide variety of music by genre or language. Finally, users can try their skills at singing with the Studio Tool.

Librarians will find that young singers will enjoy the singing and humming options available. Teachers may find it a useful tool for locating specific songs or music in particular genre.

This music search and discovery tool is also available as an app called SoundHound.

To visit the website, go to http://www.midomi.com/.
To download the app, go to http://www.soundhound.com/soundhound.

Book Review: Gary

GARY by Leila Rudge is a picture book that shares the adventure of a pigeon who can’t fly.

As a racing pigeon who can’t fly, Gary spends his days working on his scrapbook. When he’s accidentally left in the city on his own, he must be resourceful and find his way home using his scrapbook as a guide.

Librarians will find this sweet story appeals to young readers. From overcoming disabilities to mapmaking and scrapbooking, teachers will find many classroom connections for this heartwarming story. Involve students in creating their own scrapbooks and adventures for Gary.

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

Published by Candlewick on November 8, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Digital Spotlight: The Influenza Encyclopedia

The INFLUENZA ENCYCLOPEDIA is a collection of over 16,000 historical documents and photographs chronicling the epidemic of 1918.

Contents: Produced by the University of Michigan, this well organized project provides easy access to popular categories including people, places, organizations, and subjects. Users can also explore by 50 U.S. cities and towns or examine the image gallery. A key word search tool is also provided.

Classroom Connections: Teachers will find this resource to be an engaging way to explore the tragic events surrounding the 1918 influenza epidemic. Connect it with works of historical fiction and nonfiction books in the collection.

Featured Digital Objects:
Boston http://www.influenzaarchive.org/cities/city-boston.html
Cincinnati http://www.influenzaarchive.org/cities/city-cincinnati.html
New York City http://www.influenzaarchive.org/cities/city-newyork.html

To visit the collection, http://www.influenzaarchive.org/.

Book Review: Midnight without a Moon

MIDNIGHT WITHOUT A MOON by Linda Williams Jackson is a work of historical fiction exploring the lives of African Americans of the Jim Crow South.

Set in the summer of 1955, Rose Lee and her family experience life in Mississippi and the prospect of moving north. Weaving in real events about a famous trial with fictional stories set in an African American family, the story blends fact and fiction to immerse readers in the time period.

Librarians will find the connection with a real historical event adds interest to this middle grade novel. The sympathetic characters and historical backdrop make it perfect for classroom activities revolving around the Jim Crow era.

Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on January 3, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Digital Spotlight: The Science Collection

THE SCIENCE COLLECTION from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Libraries is a set of digital collections focusing on specific areas of science such as botany, anatomy, and ecology.

Contents: Intended as a resource for the teaching of scientific disciplines the collections include subject-specific resources. Of particular note is the botany collection and veterinary anatomical illustrations.

Classroom Connections: Teachers will find these science resources useful in developing class presentations and as examples in instructional materials. Librarians may wish to partner with teachers to mine the sites for particular collections of interest.

Featured Digital Objects:
Maple Leaf http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/…/Grou…/reference/32.8r.jpg
Mitosis https://goo.gl/EGHJTP
Animal Anatomy https://goo.gl/EW2r4D

To visit the collection, go to https://uwdc.library.wisc.edu/collections/science/.

Book Review: Bob the Railway Dog

BOB THE RAILWAY DOG by Corinne Fenton tells the story of the early days of the Australian railroad.

When a railway worker adopts a homeless dog named Bob, they become fast friends. However, Bob is a wanderer and soon finds himself riding the rails and exploring stations across the country. Based on a real dog, this story immerses readers in nineteenth century Australia.

Librarians will find a large audience among children who enjoy both dogs and trains.

To learn more about the author, got to http://corinnefenton.com/.

Published by Candlewick on November 8, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: NYC's Fifth Avenue: Then & Now

NEW YORK CITY’S FIFTH AVENUE: THEN & NOW is an interactive website allowing users to compare 1911 photographs with 2015 Google Street View images.

Created as part of the NYPL Labs project, this website presents users with a street view photo from 1911 along with the Google Street view of the same location. Users can virtually walk up and down Fifth Avenue comparing the cityscapes.

Librarians will find this to be a fascinating way to introduce primary source activities related to “then and now”. Ask students to look for details such as transportation, fashion, street vendors, and more.

To visit the website, go to http://publicdomain.nypl.org/fifth-avenue/.

Book Review: One Last Word

ONE LAST WORD by Nikki Grimes shares dozens of classic poems along with original poems based on the works of master poets of the Harlem Renaissance.

Grimes begins this inspirational poetry book with an overview of the Harlem Renaissance. Divided into three sections, the book then weaves together classic and newly written poems along with artwork created by African American illustrator. The book concludes with poet and artist biographies, along with additional resources.

Librarians will find this work to be an excellent way to introduce the poets of the Harlem Renaissance while making connections with contemporary issues. Collaborate with teachers to combine literature and history learning outcomes for an engaging interdisciplinary unit.

Published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books on January 1, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Digital Spotlight: US West

U.S. WEST: Photographs, Manuscripts, and Imprints from Southern Methodist University Libraries contains thousands of amazing photos depicting the American West from the mid-19th century through the mid-20th century.

Contents: This large digital collection contains a wide range of formats including photographs, postcards, journals, and other materials. Users can search or browse the collection. For quick access, students can browse the highlights including topics such as landscapes, explorations, gems, railways, ferries, and the San Francisco earthquake.

Classroom Connections: Teachers will find many high-quality resources that area appealing to students such as American Indian, cowboy, and cowgirl postcards along with hunting journals, national park photos, and posters.

Featured Digital Objects:
Daughter of the West http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/…/r…/collection/wes/id/153
Hunting journal http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/…/…/collection/wes/id/1087
Indian Dance postcard http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/…/coll…/wes/id/1544/rec/20

To visit the collection, go to http://digitalcollections.smu.edu/all/cul/wes/.

Book Review: Squirrels Leap, Squirrels Sleep

SQUIRRELS LEAP, SQUIRRELS SLEEP by April Pulley Sayre is an informational book focusing on common squirrel species.

Easy-to-read text along with descriptive collages provide accurate information for young readers about the lives of squirrels. In addition to the full-page illustrations, many pages also contain close-up images showing common squirrel activities such as sleeping or wrestling. The book concludes with more detailed information about squirrels and their trees.

Librarians will find this book popular among animal lovers and children who enjoy nature. Use the text to jumpstart a citizen science project. To learn more, go to http://projectsquirrel.org/.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.aprilsayre.com/.
To learn more about the illustrator, go to http://www.stevejenkinsbooks.com/.

Published by Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan by November 1, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Digital Spotlight: Japanese Relocation During World War II

JAPANESE RELOCATION DURING WORLD WAR II from the National Archives features twenty digital objects related to Japanese Internment.

Contents: After providing background information and other resources, the page provides access to specific objects housed at the National Archives. From Executive Orders and reports to photos and posters, this easy-to-use page provides a brief description, identifier, and link to each document.

Classroom Connections: Teachers of all ages will find this page to provide quick access to key documents useful in teaching about Japanese relocation during World War II. These primary resources will bring the event alive for students reading historical fiction about this time period.

Featured Digital Objects:
Executive Order https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=74
Children in Internment Camp https://www.archives.gov/…/japan…/images/children-pledge.gif
High School Students https://www.archives.gov/…/japanese-…/images/high-school.gif

To visit the collection, go tohttps://www.archives.gov/educat…/lessons/japanese-relocation.

Digital Spotlight: Behind the Veil

BEHIND THE VEIL is a digital collection documenting African American Life in the Jim Crow South.

Contents: Housed at the Duke University Libraries, this collection includes 410 recorded oral histories tracing African-American life in the segregated American South through the mid 20th century. Users can locate oral histories by interview state, birth state, interviewee, gender, or occupation. Audio interviews include a transcript.

Classroom Connections: Teachers will find that these interviews provide personal insights into life during the Jim Crow era. Students will be attracted to the audio format. Ask students to listen to an interview and compare it with the experience of others in their small group.

Featured Digital Objects:
Dora Strong Dennis, Domestic Worker http://library.duke.edu/digitalco…/behindtheveil_btvct01115/
Easter Hinton Sanders, Educator http://library.duke.edu/digitalco…/behindtheveil_btvnc03032/
Booker T. Federick, Day Laborer http://library.duke.edu/digitalco…/behindtheveil_btvct03034/

To visit the collection, go tohttp://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/behindtheveil/.

Website Review: Performing Arts

PERFORMING ARTS from Google Cultural Institute provides 360 degree views of the world’s greatest performers on stage.

The Performing Arts element of Google’s Cultural Institute provides access to a series of performances on stages around the globe. Each short performance can be viewed from different camera angles. Performances can explore the areas of music, opera, theater, dance, and performance art.

Librarians will find these interactive experiences provide an amazing introduction to different types of performing arts. Ask students to watch one in each category and compare the different forms of art.

To visit the website, go to https://performingarts.withgoogle.com/en_us.

Book Review: The Radiant Child

THE RADIANT CHILD by Javaka Steptoe is an award-winning picture book telling the story of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

Winner of the 2017 Caldecott Medal for children’s illustrator, this biography shares the true story of a boy who dreamt of becoming an artist. The book concludes with a biographical sketch, information about the artist’s work, and a note from the author/illustrator.

Like artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, Steptoe used a variety of found materials to create the artwork for this fascinating work.

Librarians will find this picture book to be an effective tool for teaching about biographies along with an inspirational resource for young artists.

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

Published by Little Brown, an imprint of Hachette. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Digital Spotlight: Reading: Harvard Views

READING: HARVARD VIEWS OF READERS, READERSHIP, and READING HISTORY is an online source for exploring the intellectual, cultural, and political history of reading.

Contents: Sharing historical holdings of the Harvard Libraries, this unique collection includes annotated books by authors like John Keats and Herman Melville. Library records show what people like Emerson, Longfellow, and Thoreau were reading. Sections include learning to read, reading collectively, reading on one’s own, and collection highlights.

Classroom Connections: Librarians will find this collection of professional interest. However, it would also be useful to teens and teachers in the area of history and English.

Featured Digital Objects:
Missions to Native North Americans http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/readi…/highlights/highlight3.html
Charging Records of Thoreau http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/readi…/highlights/highlight8.html
Commonplace Book: John Hancock http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/readi…/highlights/highlight9.html

To visit the collection, go to http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/reading/.

Digital Spotlight: Witness to the Early American Experience

WITNESS TO THE EARLY AMERICAN EXPERIENCE is a digital collection documenting eyewitnesses to the American Revolution in the New York City area.

Contents: This large collection contains works from the New York Historical Society, New York University, and other organizations. Users can go directly to the archives and conduct a search or explore the featured document. The learning resources section provides modules that explore religion, education, music, work, and health and medicine.

Classroom Connections: This collection would be useful for connecting primary sources to the study of the American Revolution. Use the tour for a quick look at the history of New York City and lots of fascinating examples.

Featured Digital Objects:
Paper and Printing in Colonial America http://maass.nyu.edu/tour/tour06.shtml
Mapping the Revolution http://maass.nyu.edu/tour/tour07.shtml

To visit the collection, go to http://maass.nyu.edu/.

Website Review: Ice & Sky

ICE & SKY is an interactive website telling the story of climate change through history.

Told in six parts, this engaging website contains text, video, audio, animation, and documents to explore climate and environmental issues. Users can create their own website on climate change using the materials from the project.

In addition to the interactive program, the website features educational booklets, videos, and other resources that can be downloaded for classroom use.

Librarians will find connections to life and earth science, history, geography, economics, and more.

To visit the website, go to http://education.iceandsky.com/.

Book Review: The Tutors

THE TUTORS: KINGS, QUEENS, SCRIBES, and FERRETS! by Marcia Williams is a highly illustrated informational book about life in Tutor times.

Williams brings the 15th century alive for children through a series one and two page comic spreads that explore the people, places, and events surrounding the Tudor times. Each page is chuck-full of interesting facts and entertaining stories.

Librarians will find this book to be a useful tool in the history curriculum. It will be of particular interest to children who enjoy the use of borders for added information and those who are attracted to comic-book style approaches. Use this book to jumpstart a deeper investigation of people like Queen Elizabeth I, Henry VII, and Christopher Columbus.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.marciawilliams.co.uk/.

Published by Candlewick on October 11, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Technology Review: Matoola

MATOOLA is a search tool that locates podcasts across the web.

This easy-to-use website allows users to do a word search to find podcast programs on a wide range of topics from science and social studies to sports and health issues. Results includes the name and date of the podcast, a description, and a control bar to play the podcast. This control bar displays direct links to where the keyword is located in the podcast, the program length, volume controls, and a play button.

Search results can be narrowed by time such as just the past week, month, or year. They can also be sorted by relevance or currency.

Librarians will find this resource a valuable tool in student research and curriculum development. For instance a search for history displays dozens of fascinating podcasts that could be woven into class activities. Young researchers will find this tool to be a effective way to locate information for projects. For instance, a search for autism brings up dozens of recent podcasts on the topic.

To conduct a search, go to http://www.matoola.com.