Synergy: Radium

Radium is a highly radioactive element discovered by Marie and Pierre Curie in 1898. Because of its luminous qualities, it was used in painting watch dials so they would glow in the dark. Unfortunately, many factory workers were harmed by this metal.

Read the recently published young reader's edition, then learn more at the websites:

THE RADIUM GIRLS by Kate Moore is a young reader's edition of the best-seller exploring the true stories of everyday young women who fought for labor regulations, advanced science, and saved lives in the early 20th century. Divided into three sections focusing on knowledge, power, and justice, the book weaves in less-known stories and primary sources. It concludes with a glossary, timeline, photos, and additional resources.

The book's website contains additional information about the individual women featured in the book along with other information.

To learn more, go to http://theradiumgirls.com/.

ARC courtesy of Sourcebooks Explore.

Synergy: Pet Training

Whether training a dog to sit or teaching a cat to roll over, pet training involves teaching an animal to react to specific conditions. Most trainers use reinforcement such as a food treat to increase a behavior or punishment such a squirt of water to eliminate an undesirable behavior.

Read the recently published children's book series, then learn more at the websites:

National Geographic Kid’s TRAINING GUIDES series encourages readers to get to know their pets. FETCH! by Aubre Andrus and Gary Weitzman and POUNCE! by Tracey West and Gary Weitzman help children train their dog or cat.

YouTube pet training videos can supplement the experience. For instance, Zak George's Dog Training Revolution has nearly 3 million subscribers and Cat School has 10 million subscribers.

To learn more go to https://www.youtube.com/c/zakgeorge

For cat training, go to the CAT SCHOOL YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/30qi7W8

ARC courtesy of National Geographic Kids.

Synergy: Feathers

Feathers are appendages that form an outer covering on vertebrates. They provide birds with waterproofing and thermal insulation along with aiding in flight. Feather coloration helps birds communicate and can also provide protection.

Read the recently published picture book for children, then learn more at the website:

LALI’S FEATHER by Farhana Zia tells the charming story of a child who finds a feather and shows her bird friends all its uses. Set in India, this universal story is both inspirational and imaginative.

ALL ABOUT FEATHERS is an interactive learning experience from The Cornell Lab. Users learn about how feathers are built, what feathers do, and the role of feathers through time. Readers even meet a feather scientist.

To learn more, go https://bit.ly/3jeApRN.

ARC courtesy of Peachtree.

Synergy: Amphibians

From frogs and toads to salamanders and caecilians, amphibians are found around the world. However, they require specific moisture and temperature conditions. They are vertebrates who typically start out as larvae living in water, but become air-breathing as adults. They’re often used as ecological indicators and have experienced a dramatic decline around the globe.

Read the recently published nonfiction book for youth, then learn more at the websites:

AMPHIBIAN ACROBATS written by Leslie Bulion provides an engaging combination of poetry with scientific facts. Featuring twenty poems, each two-page layout includes an illustrated poem along with background information about frogs, salamanders, or caecilians. The book concludes with a glossary, notes about each poem’s form, a world map, and an illustration comparing the size of amphibians.

AmphibiaWeb includes over eight thousand amphibian species and provides a searchable database, educational resources, and information about amphibian declines. Involve youth in learning about a creature and writing their own poems.

To learn more, go to https://amphibiaweb.org/.

ARC courtesy of Peachtree.

Synergy: Moviemaking

Also known as filmmaking, moviemaking is the process of making a film for theatrical release. The production process includes development, pre-production, production, post-production, and distribution.

Read the recently published book series, then learn more at the website:

THE MOVIEMAKING MAGIC OF STAR WARS is a nonfiction series focusing on the process of moviemaking. Each book uses interviews, photographs, original artwork, and behind-the-scenes stories to engage readers. In addition, accordion folds and interactive folds add an addition layer of fun. CREATURES + ALIENS and SHIPS & BATTLES are the first two books in this highly illustrated series.

The STAR WARS DATABANK is part of the official movie series website. Users can browse for information by character, creature, droid, location, organization, species, vehicle, weapon, technology, and more.

To learn more, go to https://www.starwars.com/databank

ARC courtesy of Abrams Books for Young Readers.