Synergy: Graph

A GRAPH is a diagram visualizing the relationship between variables on a pair of axes. Examples of charts and graphs include bar graphs, line graphs, area graphs, XY graphs, diagrams, grids, bar charts, and pie charts.

Involve children in collecting data and creating their own charts and graphs.

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

SHOW AND TELL! written by Stuart J. Murphy and illustrated by Teresa Bellon introduces the concepts of infographics, graphs, and charts. This nonfiction picture book brings math alive through interesting text and useful visuals. From counting burps and pets to visualizing amusement park rides, readers will enjoy the real-world examples. ARC courtesy of Charlesbridge, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

CREATE A GRAPH from the National Center for Education Statistics introduces children to graphs and charts and provides tools for creating their own. A graph tutorial is available to assist young learners.

To visit the website, go to https://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/.

Website Review: Video Game Industry

The VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY is an interactive website focusing on the state of the video game industry across the United States.

The Entertainment Software Association developed this interactive map to help users visualize the impact of the video game industry state by state. Students click on a state to explore industry advocates, college programs, and companies. The website also uses an infographic to present information about the video game industry.

Librarians will find this engaging website to be useful in data literacy lessons. Work with math, science, social studies, and communications teachers to build skills in locating and analyzing data found on maps and infographics. Begin with local data, then ask students to make comparisons among regions of the United States. Involve students in authentic informational reading and writing experiences using the video game theme as motivation.

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

App Review: How Many Saturdays?

HOW MANY SATURDAYS? is an amazing data app from Exploratorium that helps young people explore units of time.

Users enter their birthdate and the app shows how much time they’ve lived in hours, minutes, and seconds. It also provides fascinating data based on the time an individual has been alive such as the number of Friday the 13ths, lightning strikes, presidential elections, and hours watching television. For each item, the app provides an image, animation, video, or audio to accompany the data.

Librarians will find this data app to be a fun way to gather information for autobiographical infographics. Ask youth to think about how they would display different types of data.

To download the app, go tohttp://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/apps/how-many-saturdays.

Published by Exploratorium.

App Review: WWF Together

WWF TOGETHER is an informational app exploring wildlife and conservation topics and issues of interest to all ages.

From pandas to monarch butterflies, users choose from over a dozen threatened and endangered animals to explore. Each infographic includes text, photographs, diagrams, and other information about the creature.

Users can also explore information through the use of an interactive world map. Clicking on a location pops up an infographic containing information about an animal living in that area.

Because this app is sponsored by an organization that focuses on conservation, a section of the app features ways users take action.

Finally, the news area provides up-to-date information on wildlife and conservation issues.

Librarians will find that this app is a good way to help users learn to navigation and interpret infographics. The short, easy-to-read articles would be useful for informational reading activities. Connect information literacy skills with science learning for an authentic learning experience.

To download the app, go to https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wwf-together/id581920331.

Book Review: By the Numbers

BY THE NUMBERS: 110.01 COOL INFOGRAPHICS from National Geographic Kids is packed with amazing statistics, facts, and figures.

The book begins with an introduction to infographics and a table of contents providing quick access to specific types of visuals such as word clouds, heat maps, and timelines. Each two-page spread contains an attractive infographic containing facts, graphs, charts, word clouds, maps, photographs, timelines, diagrams, or other types of engaging images. Featuring measurements, trends, statistics, and other kinds of data, this book will bring numbers alive to middle grade readers.

Covering a wide range of subjects, each reader will find topics of interest to explore. Woven throughout the book are interviews with people who work with numbers ever day as part of their jobs.

Librarians will find this book to be a great way to connect infographics with math and information literacy. Create a display containing this book along with others featuring infographics. Provide youth with tools for creating their own infographic projects.

Published by National Geographic Kids on October 13, 2015.

Book Review: Everything series

National Geographic’s EVERYTHING series contains over a dozen books that will jumpstart the exploration of science and history topics.

Topics include Birds of Prey, Insects, Dolphins, Mythology, Sharks, Ancient Egypt, Sports, Soccer, Dinosaurs, World War I, Big Cats, and Robotics. Two new titles include EVERYTHING VIKINGS and EVERYTHING SPACE.

EVERYTHING VIKINGS includes both historical and fantasy representations of Vikings. It begins with a history of key individuals and the Viking life. Next, it explores famous vikings and the Viking Gods. The book ends with Viking games and fun facts. The colorful photographs, diagrams, maps, and graphics will draw in readers of all ages.

EVERYTHING SPACE begins by exploring the space in our neighborhood then branches out to examine the secrets of the universe. Space programs and heroes are featured along with an exploration of facts vs fiction. The book is filled with fascinating diagrams, infographics, photos, charts, and other appealing visuals.

Librarians will find that this entire series will fly off the shelves. Each short, highly visual book is chuck-full of fascinating facts that will ignite the imagination.

EVERYTHING VIKINGS and EVERYTHING SPACE are published by National Geographic Kids on September 8, 2015.

Book Review: Economics Through Infographics

ECONOMICS THROUGH INFOGRAPHICS by Karen Latchana Kenney is the newest book in the SUPER SOCIAL STUDIES INFOGRAPHICS series aimed at upper elementary school youth. Economics is an aspect of the social studies curriculum that can be difficult for youth to understanding. Visual representations are an effective way to convey key concepts related to trade, currency, spending, markets, and business. In this work of nonfiction for youth, the author uses “the money trail” to help readers understand how the cycle of money works. Questioning is woven into the text to stimulate student thinking. Blocks of text introduce key concepts and useful examples. While many of the examples explore topics connected to the every-day world such as iPhones, others are connected to social studies topics like the fur trade. From Australia to Israel, examples are provided from around the world.

The author points out that professional economists use graphic elements to convey their ideas. Illustrator Steven Stankiewicz uses infographics to present the key concepts visually. Bright, attractive colors will immediately attract readers. A wide variety of visuals are incorporated including pictograms, charts, concept maps, flowcharts, timelines, and maps.

Like any book focusing on economics, the book is likely to become dated in a few years. For instance, a section discussing the minimum wage ends with data from 2010, a dated flip phone is used as an example, and the cost of services like movies are likely to change. However, the book should remain current for the life of the book.

The book concludes with an index, further information, and a glossary. Other books in the series focus on culture, geography, government, and history.

To learn more about integrating infographics into the school library, check out two new articles in Teacher Librarian.

Lamb, Annette & Johnson, Larry (April 2014). Infographics Part 1: Invitations to Inquiry. Teacher Librarian, 41(4), 54-58.

Lamb, Annette & Johnson, Larry (June 2014). Infographics Part 2: Practical Ideas for Your Library. Teacher Librarian, 41(5), 64-67. 

NetGalley ARC used for review