Friday, January 25, 2008

Creatures That Glow









Batten The Winking, Blinking Sea: All About
Bioluminescence

J 572.4358 Batten
Explains bioluminescence in ocean life, giving

examples of sea creatures that glow, such as
ostracods, Bermuda fire worms, and flashlight fish.
Grade 3-5














Collard In The Deep Sea
J 572.4358 Collard
Focuses on Edith Widder’s experiments

with bioluminescence. Age 9-12





Silverstein Nature’s Living Lights
J 572.4378 Silverst
Describes bioluminescent insects, plants, and sea
animals and the uses these creatures make of
their self-generated lights, such as communication,
finding food, and attracting mates. Age 9-12

















Sitarski Cold Light: Creatures, Discoveries
And Inventions That Glow

J 535.35 Sitarski
This book shows the science behind objects and creatures

that make light without making heat. Cold lights were
discovered in 1602 when a shoemaker in Bologna, Italy
thought he found a philosopher’s stone that could make gold.
Instead, he found a stone that absorbed sunlight and gave
back light in the dark (fluorescence). Read this book to find
out the secrets behind fire beetles and glowing mushrooms.
Age 9-12


Friday, January 18, 2008

Too Cool In History













Arnold Stone Age Farmers Beside The Sea
J 936.1132 Arnold
Describes the Stone Age settlement preserved in

the sand dunes on one of Scotland's Orkney Islands,
telling how it was discovered and what it reveals
about life in prehistoric times. Approximately grades 5-8
Interesting section is on the Neolithic burial places in the
Orkneys. From the Tomb of the Eagles, scientists can
determine that these early people often suffered from
arthritis; the women had depressed foreheads that
suggests that they carried loads or babies on their
backs and used a head band for support. The average
age of death was between age 15 and 30.
Very interesting!













Deary The Wicked History Of The World
J 909 Deary
This is a gross and gruesome look at history through
World War II. At the end of the book is a pull out of
vicious villains…including the lesser known Ubba the
Viking and Basil Bulgaroctonus. There is a good
section of “Rotten Rulers” which features “cut throat”
rulers without an ounce of human compassion.
And….find how how toilets made Rome great.
Gruesome, gross fun facts!




Dunrea Skara Brae:
The Story Of A Prehistoric Village
J 936.1132 Dunrea
Describes the Stone age settlement preserved

almost intact in the sand dunes of one of the
Orkney Islands, how it came to be discovered
in the mid-nineteenth century, and what it
reveals about the life and culture of this
prehistoric community. Although this book is
for age 9-12 approximately, I found this easier
and faster to read than Caroline Arnold’s book
on the same subject.















Murphy Children Of Alcatraz:
Growing Up On The Rock
J 979.461 Murphy
Before 1854 the Rock area was inhabited

by the Pit River tribe who called it
Diamond Island because they believed
a diamond was buried inside the island
which would bring harmony to the world.
Later in history Alcatraz became a prison
holding such criminals as Al Capone.
Read this book and find our who swam from the
Rock to San Francisco in 43 minutes. This is the
story of the children of lighthouse keepers, soldiers,
and prison authorities.


Friday, January 11, 2008

Tap Dancing Picture Books

Put on your dancing shoes, get some rhythm in your step...
It's time to read some tap dancing stories....














Brisson Tap-Dance Fever
E Brisson
Annabelle Applegate will not stop tap-dancing no

matter what the frustrated citizens of Fiddlers
Creek do to make her quit.
















DePaola Oliver Button Is A Sissy
E DePaola
His classmates' taunts don't stop Oliver

Button from doing what he likes best.





















Dillon Rap A Tap Tap: Here’s Bojangles
Think Of That

E Dillon
In illustrations and rhyme describes the dancing of Bill
"Bojangles" Robinson, one of the most famous tap-
dancers of all time.





Paraskevas Marvin The Tap-Dancing Horse
E Paraskev
Marvin, a tap-dancing horse in a small traveling

carnival, finds success and fame on Broadway but
misses his friends from the old life.



Stevenson Flying Feet: A Mud Flat Story

E Stevenson
Stanley and the the other animals of Mud Flat take

dance lessons from some touring tap dancers and
prepare for a big show.