Children’s Book Week is celebrated twice a year, one week in May and one week in November. Kids everywhere can join in the fun of Children’s Book Week. The How Do You Book? Challenge asks young readers to explore what they read, how they read, and where they read. For more information about Children’s Book Week, click HERE. This week, I’ll be sharing several books in celebration of Children’s Book Week. Click HERE to see previous Children’s Book Week Posts.
I have high praise for this DO YOU KNOW? series of books. The books are well made and will stand up to lots of reading and turning of the pages which makes them perfect for classroom libraries. The pages are made with heavier paper that is less likely to tear when kids are turning the pages. Lots of small facts fill the pages along with really great illustrations to make the learning appropriate for elementary-aged students and also fun.
DO YOU KNOW? SPACE AND SKY
By: Virginia Loubier
Illustrated by: Robert Barborini, Audrey Brien, Héléne Convert, Christian Guibbaud, Cristian Turdera
Published: October 12, 2021
Publisher: Twirl
Non-Fiction
I wish I had taken this book along a few weeks ago to a first-grade classroom. I was teaching about weather vs climate and this book has some great information related to precipitation and forecasting the weather.
This book covers The Sky, The Solar System, Studying the Universe, and Exploring Space. It also includes a Let’s Review section at the end of every chapter and an index at the end of the book. Each page spread includes a question that your child is likely to ask, like “Why is the sky blue?”, “What is a shooting star?”, and “How do astronauts eat in space or even go to the bathroom?”. With pictures and simple explanations, kids will feel satisfied with having their questions answered.
I had always wondered about old satellites and what happens to them and that was a question answered in the book. Unfortunately, they remain in space and become “space junk”, sometimes even sent farther out to space. Not ideal, but obviously a hard thing to try to dispose of.
Kids interested in space or science will find this book interesting and fun to read.
DO YOU KNOW? EARTH AND NATURE
By: Cécile Benoist
Illustrated by: Robert Barborini, Adéle Combes, Beatrice Costamagna, Camille Tisserand
Published: April 19, 2022
Publisher: Twirl
Non-Fiction
The planet Earth is quite an amazing place and learning about its formation, the varieties of species, and climate-related events that happen is really quite amazing. The chapters What is Earth, Natural Events, Life on Our Planet, and Taking Care of Earth offer kids just enough details and information to answer all their burning questions.
Like in the other titles, each page spread offers a learning topic and then answers a question that many kids would likely ask like “Who names hurricanes?” Maybe you’ve noticed that hurricane names usually go in alphabetical order. June 1 starts hurricane season and the first storm starts with an A name and so on. We just might not hear about all the hurricanes because some are only in a certain area or are very small.
Another great question for kids is “How do animals find their way?” I’m always amazed that birds are able to find their way back to a nesting area each year. Or the flying V pattern that you see as the Canadian Geese make their migrations each year. Birds aren’t the only migrators, elephants also migrate using the sun, stars, and smells to help them. Elephants will also create paths for younger elephants to follow.
The final section offers many ideas for protecting and taking care of our planet. Some of the concepts are large, but other ideas are ones easy to start at home like planting a wildflower garden, composting fruit and vegetable scraps, and then some specific ideas for kids include taking a quick shower, using both sides of the paper, recycling, and turning off the TV and other electronics when you aren’t using them.
Your child may just be motivated to do their part to save the planet and protect it for future generations after reading this book.
DO YOU KNOW? ANIMALS OF LAND, SEA, AND AIR
By: Stéphanie Babin
Illustrated by: Marion Billet, Héléne Convert, Julie Mercier, Emmanuel Ristord
Published: April 19, 2022
Publisher: Twirl
Non-Fiction
Everything your child ever wanted to know about animals can be found in this book. From “How do fish breathe underwater?” to “Where is the chick in the egg you eat?” kids will find answers to all the burning animal questions.
Sections include What is an Animal, Animal Life, Animal Habitats, Observing Animals, and a More to Know section that shares endangered or extinct animals. I loved that the book includes both familiar and not-so-familiar animals like a Surinam toad and a platypus. The animal illustrations are accurate in a cute way that will make kids find even a Cobra adorable…maybe. Every animal picture is labeled so if kids don’t recognize an animal, they will know what it is.
The backyard habitat pages will allow kids to take the book outside and look for insects and animals that live in their backyard including a squirrel, a robin, a beetle, a daddy longlegs, or maybe even a scorpion (none of those here in Iowa).
If your family is considering getting a pet, there are a few pages related to having a pet or living on a farm and taking care of your animals. These can be helpful pages to go over responsibilities with your child before making a decision about a pet.
I was sad to see the six animals listed as extinct due to overhunting or related to a changing habitat. Encourage kids to find ways they can get involved in saving the endangered animals listed even if they live in an area far away from them. Just seeing the ones we couldn’t save could be a motivation for them to make sure the other animals don’t meet the same fate.
To purchase a copy of these books, click the photos below:
Other posts you might like:
Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Adele Combes, animals, Audrey Brien, Beatrice Costamagna, Book Review, Camille Tisserand, Children's Book Week, Children's books, Christian Guibbaud, Cristian Turdera, Do You Know series, Emmanuel Ristord, Héléne Convert, Julie Mercier, Marion Billet, nature, non-fiction, Robert Barborini, series, space, Stephanie Babin