Science, Art and Humor for Kids
Enhancing Reading for Children with Enchanting Classroom Subjects
Apr 1, 2008
See Spot run and look, Jane, look aren't the only ways to lure children into the pages of books. Two publishers, Birdcage press of California and Maple Tree Press of Canada, have released non-fiction guaranteed to insire young readers. From the world's most treasured art work to goofy antics and activites revolving around Mother Goose - there are lessons to be learned with a spoonful of fun.
Mother Goose Unplucked by Helaine Becker illustrated by Claudia Davila. Maple Tree Press, 2007. 160 pp. $$12.95 Can, $10.95 US. Kids can uncover their fairy tale personalities, find dragons in space and figure out the truth about the big bad wolf in this activity, puzzle, recipe, comic book. Whoa! Marco Polo claims to have seen dragons pulling chariots in China. A science lesson combines itself with kitchen play when kids make "Three Bears Porridge," and there's a spell to prevent someone from enslaving you to wash their dirty sox.
This isn't a book to read all at one sitting. Most likely, it'll work best if taken in small doses - a chapter on a rainy day, a recipe on Saturday evening, a comic strip while Mom is busy on the phone. One or two of the activites or minute-mysteries were slightly too complicated. For the most part, readers can pick and choose what suits their mood from the myriad of stuff in these pages.
Hello Rousseau
Hello Matisse by Catherine DeDuve from Birdcage Press, 2007. 32 pp. $9.95. The magic of these books and others in the series is that children become acquainted with some of the world's finest and most enduring art without even knowing they're learning something. The books are both more workbooks than story-type books, though there's plenty of good text. Children are exposed to the work of a great artist, while, basically, looking at pretty pictures. Some pages compare the artist's subject, say a zookeeper, with photo images of such a worker, and ask the child to see the differences and similarities.
Some pages offer journaling exercises. Some encourage the young reader to draw, on their own, small snippets of the greater work. The activities can be done on plain paper, so the book is reusable. Not meant as great histoy tomes, either book offers lightweight introductions to the idea that there are some gorgeous works of art available. Too bad they aren't a little larger, with just a bit more of the art.
Science on the Loose by Helaine Becker from Maple Leaf Press. 64 pps, $12.95 Can, $10.95 US.
This author is destined to become an all time favorite, if for no other reason than her sense of humor is sicy and delicious. Science on the Loose is subtitled, Amazing Activities and Science Facts You'll Never Believe. It wouldn't be surprising to find teachers extending read aloud time and parents down on the floor pouring over these pages with their kids. It's fun. Period. Learn about a sulphur-based chemical that smells like dead animals - it's called "Who, me?" Scientists in Taiwan claim to have created pigs that glow in the dark, and Becker explains brain-freeze, the ice cream phenom, at last!
The sicence is awesome, the illustrations a little too primative-cartoony, perhaps, and the paper quality could be better. Nevertheless, big kids will want to try every experiment. Little guys will ask to hear the odd facts over and over. Even teens will sneak this one into the bathroom to give it a read in private.
