Synergy: Giant Panda

Giant Pandas are a black and white bear native to South Central China. They eat bamboo shoots and leaves. Governments and organizations have worked together to ensure this vulnerable species is able to survive in the wild and in captivity.

Read the recently published picture book then learn more at the website.

BEI BEI GOES HOME: A PANDA STORY by Cheryl Bardoe tells the true story of a rare giant panda born at the National Zoo in Washington DC. The fast-paced narrative incorporates full-color photos and side-bar panda facts to engage readers. The picture book concludes with additional information about pandas.

The GIANT PANDA CAM page from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo provides feeds from two video cameras. In addition, still and video images are also available.

To visit the live cams, go to https://s.si.edu/3CBHwwX.

ARC courtesy of Candlewick Entertainment, an imprint of Candlewick Press.

Synergy: Architecture

Architecture is the art, science, and practice of designing and constructing structures such as buildings, bridges, and outdoor spaces.

Read the recently published work of nonfiction for youth then learn more at the website.

ADVENTURES IN ARCHITECTURE FOR KIDS by Vicky Chan is the second book in the new Design Genius Jr. series. The book features 30 design projects for children. Each hands-on activity explores a different aspect of STEAM discovery and learning associated with the architecture theme including general construction, architecture and history, landscape architecture, sustainable architecture, and city planning. Each project provides an overview, materials and tools needed, step-by-step instructions with photographs, and notes.

Architecture at Home is a web-based project from the Center for Architecture featuring two dozen, hands-on architecture activities for children. These short, easy design projects use readily available materials. Each project includes an overview, videos, step-by-step instructions, and a downloadable PDF.

To learn more, go to https://bit.ly/2ZKb0u4.

Use the book and website in a makerspace exploring architecture themes.

ARC courtesy of Rockport Publishers, an imprint of the Quarto Group.

Timely Take-Aways for Life-Long Learning: Popular Science Topics

Timely Take-Aways for Life-Long Learning
Popular Science Topics

New works of popular science nonfiction are examining fascinating scientific themes through entertaining stories. Educators will find these useful in identifying timely examples for their classrooms.

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law
Mary Roach, Sep 2021, W.W. Norton & Company
Themes: science, social science, nature, biology, philosophy, wildlife

FUZZ explores the science of human-wildlife interaction and conflict. Combining the disciplines of human behavior and wildlife biology, Roach shares fascinating and often humorous examples of the challenges of human-nature coexistence.

Take-aways: Roach’s conversational style is always popular with young adults and educators alike. From connections with bears and elephants to monkeys and trees, each chapter shares a short, engaging narrative that helps readers understand the complex relationships between nature and humans.

Blue: In Search of Nature’s Rarest Color
Kai Kupferschmidt, Jul 2021, The Experiment, an imprint of Workman
Themes: science, physics, optics, light, color

BLUE take readers on an adventure around to globe to identify examples of this rare color in minerals, animals, and plants. It also examines the science behind the color blue and its impact on human life.

Take-aways: Occurring less frequently in nature than other colors, blue is a color associated with both science and social science topics.

Pump: A Natural History of the Heart
Bill Schutt, Sep 2021, Algonquin Books, an imprint of Workman
Themes: science, life science, biology, circulation, heart

PUMP shares the evolutionary history of circulation and specifically the heart. Weaving together scientific observations with cultural connections, Schutt examines the history of this organ through amazing stories and examples.

Take-aways: Use examples from PUMP to help youth see how our understanding of the circulatory system has evolved over time.

Weirdness!: What Fake Science and the Paranormal Tell Us About the Nature of Science
Taner Edis, Nov 2021, Pitchstone Publishing, Independent Publishers Group
Themes: science, scientific theory, pseudo-science, paranormal


WEIRDNESS! celebrates the importance of science in a world of fake news, social media, and conspiracy theories. Edis describes the critical role of science, while exploring the bizarre beliefs that have become prevalent in today’s society.

Take-aways: Use Edis’ examples to jumpstart meaningful discussions about the importance of science and need to understand the “weirdness” in our world.

Whether helping educators keep up-to-date in their subject-areas, promoting student reading in the content-areas, or simply encouraging nonfiction leisure reading, teacher librarians need to be aware of the best new titles across the curriculum and how to activate life-long learning. - Annette Lamb

Synergy: Black Seminole People

The Black Seminole people are the descendants of Seminole Indians combined with free Blacks and escaped enslaved people of African lineage. Although Florida had been a refuge for freedom-seeking enslaved people, the Black Seminole people ultimately migrated to Oklahoma, Texas, and Mexico in the mid 1800s.

Read the recently published biography for youth then learn more at the websites.

A MAN CALLED HORSE by Glennette Tilley Turner tells the true story of a man of Seminole and African descent who lead his people from Florida to a new home in the West during the 19th century. This well-researched biography reflects the many roles of John Horse from counselor and army captain to conductor on the Underground Railroad. Told through short, visually-rich chapters, Turner follows John Horse’s quest while also providing the larger context of the challenges facing the Black Seminole people. The book concludes with the lasting legacy, additional information, timeline, author’s note, notes, and bibliography.

Rebellion: John Horse and the Black Seminoles is an online project telling the story of John Horse and the Black Seminoles.

To visit the website, go to http://www.johnhorse.com/.

Florida’s Underground Railroad: The Black Seminoles is an online article from Florida Memory describing how runaway slaves fled south into Florida during the 18th and early 18th centuries. 

To learn more, go to https://bit.ly/3waqPX8.

Black Seminole Indians by Tracé Etienne-Gray is an online article tracing this ethnic group from Florida to their migration to Oklahoma, Mexico, and Texas.

To read the article, go to https://bit.ly/2Yaxowe.

ARC courtesy of Abrams Books for Young Reads, an imprint of ABRAMS.

Synergy: Color Theory

Color theory involves concepts and design guidance connected with color combinations and aesthetics. For instance, a color wheel is a circle containing colored sections showing the relationships among colors such as primary, secondary, and tertiary colors. Color harmony refers to combinations that are aesthetically pleasing together.

Read the three recently published informational picture books for children then learn more at the website.

The NATURE’S WONDERFUL COLORS series written by Jana Sedláčková and Štěpánka Sekaninová is designed for readers interested in how color is reflected the natural world. Illustrated by Magdalena Konečná, each two-page spread features hand-painted watercolor illustrations that are likely to inspire both nature and art lovers. 

COLORS IN NATURE explores a dozen colors and how they are reflected in the natural world. Readers also explore the color wheel and mixing colors.

COLORS OF HABITATS shares the rich colors found in biomes from around the world. Color names and swatches found on each page encourage artists to explore color harmony in nature.

SHAPES AND PATTERNS IN NATURE presents readers with examples of how patterns and shapes are found in plants, animals, and minerals. Whether examining fish scales, flower petals, or fruit cross-sections, the author reveals a fascinating world of forms in nature.

UX PLANET’s website shares four master artists who used nature-inspired color palettes. Use the resources and paintings on this page to inspire young artists to think about applying nature’s colors to their artwork.

To read the article, go to https://bit.ly/3bwUoZu. 

The article 9 AMAZING ARTISTS by Wynita Harmon shares works of art that inspire nature-related art projects for children.

To read the article, go to https://bit.ly/3nNePXI.

ARC courtesy of Albatros Media, an imprint of Ingram Publisher Services.