Website Review: The Life of the Blue Whale

THE LIFE OF THE BLUE WHALE is an interactive museum experience featuring the skeleton of a huge whale.

Produced by the Natural History Museum in London, the website explores the history of whales, whaling, and the museum’s exhibits. The website is divided into three sections. The Ocean examines the era of whaling and the science of whales. The Hintze Hall section explores the huge whale skeleton on exhibit at the museum. Finally, the Collection area examines the history of the museum and the whale skeleton.

Librarians will find this interactive website to be an interesting way to explore whales, whaling, and history through the lens of a museum setting.

To visit the website, go to http://www.nhm.ac.uk/bluewhale/.

Website Review: Wonder

WONDER is a website exploring resources associated with the award-winning children’s book.

The website contains sections exploring the books, the movie, the characters, and the author. A teacher section links to educational resources including curriculum materials, and teacher-created materials. Information about the “Choose Kind” campaign are also available. Users can also download the free app containing daily affirmations.

Librarians will find this website to be a useful resource in extending the book and movie experience.

To visit the website, go to https://wonderthebook.com/.

Website Review: Curious Critters Club

CURIOUS CRITTERS CLUB is a set of technology resources focusing on the quest for fictional creatures.

This technology-rich project includes a website, apps, and interactive books. Users participate in a mission to help scientists find new creatures. Participants become members of the Curious Critters Club and explore a world filled with 25 fictional characters. The website is available in both English and French. An app involves users in an augmented reality adventure. Two interactive story apps are also available including CALL OF THE GIANT EAGLE and THE MYSTERY OF THE CADDY.

Librarians will find the website an engaging way to introduce fictional creatures to children. Involve youth in writing about the characters and creating their own. Use the resources to tie storytelling with mythology and cultures from around the world.

To learn more, go to http://curiouscrittersclub.com/en/experience.

Book Review: Beatrice Zinker, Upside Down Thinker

BEATRICE ZINKER, UPSIDE DOWN THINKER by Shelley Johannes is the first book in a new chapter book series exploring friendship and social issues.

Beatrice is a fun-loving child who loves to do everything upside down. However, she’s disappointed when her best friend shows up to school with a new look and a new friend. She must find a way to fix her friendship without losing herself.

Librarians will find this easy-to-read chapter book perfect for readers who enjoy stories of friendship, school, and home. Many children will empathize with a girl who likes to be “upside down” and the book’s frequent, quirky illustrations will keep children reading.

Published by Disney/Hyperion on September 19, 2017. ARC courtesy fo the publisher.

Website Review: A Digital Volcano

A DIGITAL VOLCANO is an interactive website exploring an active volcano in Nicaragua.

Sponsored by General Electric, this immersive online volcanic expedition tells the story of how GE scientists learn about extreme environments and apply the data to real-world projects. Users scroll through a series of interactive screens containing amazing images and video footage. Along the way, users learn about how scientists are using big machines and data to identify issues related to power and our planet. The project explores the first steps in designing predictive systems for the natural world.

Librarians will find this interactive website to be useful in helping students bridge the science curriculum with real-world science projects.

To visit the website, go to https://www.ge.com/digitalvolcano/.

Website Review: Landmarks

LANDMARKS is an interactive exhibition focusing on Canada’s National Parks and Historic Sites.

As part of their 150th anniversary celebration, this website celebrates Canada’s rich land and its history through stories and contemporary artwork. The interactive experience allows users to select a destination based on a night sky visualization. Users are then immersed into a particular location in Canada. As participants wander through the exhibition, they view images and listen to sounds, music, and stories created by Canadians. Many of the areas incorporate historical documents and other resources.

Librarians will find this website to be an interesting way to explore Canada’s natural and historical areas. Ask youth to select an American location and create their own interactive exhibition, story, sound, or piece of music. Build an interdisciplinary project that combines art, music, writing, and social studies.

To visit the website, go to https://landmarks2017.ca/experience/.

Website Review: Engineer for the Week

ENGINEER FOR THE WEEK is a computer science program for high school students to explore the world of engineering.

This week-long extracurricular program provides teens with practice applying computer science skills to engineering projects. The website is divided into the showcase, projects, and support. Materials are provided for both students and educators.

Students work in small groups with tools and resources to create products inspired by real-world problems faced by Facebook engineers. Participants use a systematic approach that involves design, development, testing, and iteration.

Librarians will find this website to be an excellent addition to their STEAM program resources. Consider incorporating the program into an after school club focusing on students interested in computer science and engineering.

To visit the website, go to https://engineerfortheweek.fb.com.

Book Review: The Exact Location of Home

THE EXACT LOCATION OF HOME by Kate Messner is a work of realistic fiction exploring contemporary issues including friendship, family, and homelessness.

Kirby, also known as Zig, is an electronics wiz who begins geocaching with his friends when he gets a GPS. While trying to hide his homelessness from friends and search for his missing father, he must also deal with the daily life of a middle grade life.

Librarians will find that this realistic story explores a plethora of timely social issues including homelessness, single parent families, environmental themes, and school friendships. Use the book as part of a reading group exploring issues of empathy and compassion. The electronics and environmental focus may increase interest among readers who enjoy STEM topics.

Published by Bloomsbury on September 12, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Digital Spotlight: Ph.H. Gosse Collection

The P. H. GOSSE Digital Collection contains color drawings of insects.

Contents: The digital collection contains 49 color drawings of butterflies, caterpillars, moths, beetles, dragonflies, and other insects.

Classroom Connections: Involve students in selecting a drawing to use in a science project. Ask them to label the image and research the insect.

To visit the collection, go to http://diglib.auburn.edu/collections/phgosse/.

Digital Spotlight: The Big Top Show

THE BIG TOP SHOW GOES ON is an oral history project focusing on the culture associated with the circus.

Contents: This oral history project was developed to preserve the voices associated with the tradition of the American “Big Top” circus. The collection contains interviews, video segments, classroom activities and additional resources.

Classroom Connections: Classroom activities aimed at grades four through six are available in the PDF format. Students will enjoy watching the videos associated with the project. The additional resources section contain an excellent set of links to extend the experience.

Featured Digital Objects:
Activities https://library.okstate.edu/…/circus/big-top-classroom-act…/
Popcorn the Circus Comic http://dc.library.okstate.edu/…/collect…/circus/id/212/rec/5
Videos https://library.okstate.edu/oralhis…/…/circus/big-top-videos

To visit the collection, go tohttps://library.okstate.edu/oralhistory/digital/circus/.

Digital Spotlight: National Film Registry

NATIONAL FILM REGISTRY SELECTIONS is a YouTube collection from the Library of Congress.

Contents: The collection contains thirty five films that have been identified by the Library of Congress as “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.”

Classroom Connections: Ask students to watch part of a film and discussion how it reflects the time period when it was produced.

Featured Digital Objects:
Popeye the Sailor https://www.loc.gov/item/mbrs00068306/
St. Louis Blues https://www.loc.gov/item/mbrs00063365/
Memphis Belle https://www.loc.gov/item/mbrs00009301/

To visit the collection, go to https://goo.gl/P8bKkL.

Website Review: Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History

The MET’S HEILBRUNN TIMELINE OF ART HISTORY tells the story of art and global culture using artwork from around the world.

This interactive website pairs essays and works of art with chronologies exploring global culture through art. The essays and works of art sections provide access to dozens of essays by time period, geographical region, or theme. The chronology area allows users to select a time period or geographical region to explore. For each piece of artwork, users can explore information and related topics and resources.

Librarians will find this website to be an interesting way to discuss timelines and other visual representations of information as part of an information literacy lesson. Art teachers will find the website useful in tracing the history of art, while history and social studies teachers can connect art to culture.

To visit the website, go to https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/.

Website Review: A Bear's Eye View of Yellowstone

A BEAR’S EYE VIEW OF YELLOWSTONE is an interactive exploration of the world of bears.

Created by National Geographic, this interactive project uses text, images, audio, video, maps, and infographics to provide insights into the life of bears living in Yellowstone National Park. After exploring one bear’s journey, users can follow other bears including both black bears and grizzly bears.

Librarians will find this website to be an excellent resource for reluctant learners. The mixture of audio, video, and images along with small text segments will draw interest. Use this interactive journey as a springboard to an inquiry-based learning experience focusing on animals.

To visit the website, go to https://www.nationalgeographic.com/…/yellowstone-national-…/.

Website Review: Stargaze

STARGAZE is an online project from the Weather Channel exploring dark skies and light pollution around the world.

Users are invited to explore the night sky in dozens of locations around the world. The website also provides information about how to figure out the best time for stargazing using the new moon calendar. Finally, students can learn about the causes and impact of light pollution.

Librarians will find this website to be an excellent introduction to importance of dark skies and the need to prevent light pollution. Collaborate with the science teacher on a unit that focuses on light pollution causes and prevention.

To visit the website, go to http://features.weather.com/stargaze/.

Book Review: Ultimate Space Atlas

ULTIMATE SPACE ATLAS from National Geographic Kids is an activity book filled with infographics, maps, games, and more.

After a table of contents outlining the six major space themes covered by the book, readers are provided with a page detailing how to use the atlas. The visually attractive, brightly illustrated book begins with an introduction to observing the sky. Next, readers explore the inner and outer solar system. Finally, young scientists explore the galaxy and beyond along with information about how space is mapped. The book concludes with additional games, a glossary, and index.

Librarians will find this title popular among children who enjoy space science and activity books. Of particular note are the many maps, star charts, diagrams, and other visual elements. Fans of trivia will enjoy endless hours of entertainment.

Published by National Geographic on June 6, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: Cassini: The Grand Finale

CASSINI: THE GRAND FINALE explores the two decade mission of NASA’s Cassini spacecraft.

This comprehensive website provides data and information about the journey of the Cassini mission to Saturn. Sections of the website include the journey, science, mission, galleries, news, and resources. The journey section is divided into a timelines, the spacecraft, behind the scenes, and the grand finale. The science area explores the discoveries found during the mission. Audio, video, images, and more can be found in the gallery. Use the resources section for teaching materials.

Librarians will find that science teachers and their students will find this website useful in tracing a NASA mission from beginning to end. Involve students in comparing this mission with other NASA endeavors.

To visit the website, go to https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/.

Website Review: Presidential Speeches

PRESIDENTIAL SPEECHES: WHAT MAKES AN EFFECTIVE SPEECH? from the Library of Congress is a teacher resource exploring the people and events that shaped famous speeches from United States history.

This resource includes teaching ideas, photographs of presidents delivering speeches, audio and video of speeches, text of speeches, and other primary sources.

Librarians will find these resources to be useful in both the English and History curriculum. The easy-to-use, entry page would be particularly useful to teachers and students who are sometimes overwhelmed by large digital collections.

To visit the website, go to http://www.loc.gov/…/p…/presentations/presidential-speeches/.

Book Review: Tool of War

TOOL OF WAR by Paolo Bacigalupi is the third book in the popular Ship Breaker series.

Set in a post-apocalyptic era, this novel focuses on a genetically engineered soldier called Tool. Told through the eyes of various new and old characters trying to survive in a worn-torn world, the story explores compelling issues related to humanity, slavery, and moral ambiguity.

Librarians will find this riveting series to be popular with fans of dystopian literature. Teens will be particularly drawn to the timely issues including climate change and bioengineering.

Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Hachette Book Group on October 10, 2017. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: Radio Garden

RADIO GARDEN is a website resource that helps users locate and explore radio stations around the world.

Upon entering the website, users are shown the live streaming radio stations their area. Clicking the green dots on the map shares information about the streaming stations. The History section provides historical information about radio stations and transmissions. The Jingles area shares radio jingles. The Stories section explores stories about experiences with radio. Users can submit their own stations and experiences.

Librarians will find curriculum connections related to communications and social studies. Involve students in listening to radio stations around the globe. Also, connect the website to foreign language classes.

To visit the website, go to http://radio.garden.

Website Review: Airview

AIRVIEW is a tool the provides information about air quality in a specific location.

Users begin by entering a street address or city. A Google Street View will appear in the background with a layer of information presented above the street view. Users can click on a particular type of pollution such as pollen, dust particles, or road wear to learn more about the air pollution type and the rating. Clicking in the upper right corner of the screen presents an overall air quality score.

Librarians will find this to be an interesting tool for teaching about data literacy. Ask students to compare their location with a global city such as Tokyo or Beijing. Or, involve students in learning more about the science of a particular type of air pollution.

Keep in mind that this website is sponsored by the Blueair air filter and purifier company.

To visit the website, go to https://airview.blueair.com/.