It’s Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday!
I have been reading and sharing lots of nonfiction with my class lately but none of these titles have been “new to me” books. Today, I am sharing my pile of “next reads” – a pile that is sitting on my shelf and that I plan to get to this week. I am always on the lookout for titles to add to our classroom collection or for must reads to share aloud. I think I have discovered some treasures!
What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You? by Steve Jenkins (published 1997)
I have a collection of Steve Jenkins titles and use them often, every year in my room. Somehow I had missed this one and so when I saw it at the bookstore, it chased me home! These things happen . . .
Whose Nest? by Lynette Evans with illustrations by Guy Troughton (published 2013)
I am a little bit obsessed by nests. Fallen bird’s nests sit in our kitchen windows. I have pieces of an empty wasp nest in my classroom nature collection. We have made clay nests for imaginary birds as part of an art project. So when I found this book at the library in the new nonfiction collection, I knew I had to read it.
Wow! I Didn’t Know That Surprising Facts About Animals by Emma Dods with illustrations by Marc Aspinall (published 2013)
In my classroom, I have a number of fact collectors. If you teach primary children, you probably do too. They follow me around and tell me facts. Nonfiction reading time buzzes with sharing, “Listen to this . . . ” “Did you know. . . ?” This book will happily make its rounds in my classroom so that my fact collectors have some more information to happily store away!
Summoning the Phoenix Poems and Prose about Chinese Musical Instruments by Emily Jiang Illustrations by April Chu (published 2013)
The lovely Crystal Brunelle sent this to me. I plan to read it, share it and then gift it to our school library where it can be enjoyed by all of the children in the school. We have many children who play musical instruments and I know they will be intrigued by the variety of instruments shared in this book. Gorgeous illustrations and poems accompany each description of an instrument.
Gravity by Jason Chin (published 2014)
I am such a fan of Jason Chin’s books and children are always fascinated by them. I was lucky enough to win this title in a give away by the very generous Margie Myers-Culver It arrived in my mailbox at work on a day when I needed an act of kindness. I have been saving it as a treat, smiling at it daily as it sits on the top of my “to read” pile! I know from Margie’s review that I will be delighted and transported (had to fit a gravity reference in there!)
There is nothing like an interesting pile of books just waiting to teach me so many things. How I love nonfiction picture books!
Thanks to Alyson from Kid Lit Frenzy for the inspiration to read and share more nonfiction picture books in 2014! Follow the link to Alyson’s blog to read about more nonfiction titles.
My goal is to read 65 nonfiction picture books for 2014. Progress: 71/65 complete! Hurrah!
There's a Book for That 
You added a couple more books to my pile! I added the Steve Jenkins and the Wow! book. They look great to use! Gravity is fantastic. I love how you can learn so much through accessible text, it doesn’t have to be so technical! And the illustrations are amazing. Happy reading!
I think Chin is pure magic with how he conveys information!
I read your posts and keep both my library search page open along with Amazon so I can request books or put them on the wish list. You have three here that I need to find. I enjoyed gravity and already was looking for Summoning the Phoenix. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Alyson. I so appreciate this opportunity you have created for all of us to share our love of and interest in nonfiction picture books!
LOL, Alyson. That’s how I read Carrie’s posts too! My libraries purchase very little nonfiction for kids, which I find seriously depressing. But I’m betting they will get the Steve Jenkins and Jason Chin titles. And I’ll be checking them out when they do!
This Jenkins title is an older one so it might be there already. I hope that they purchase or have purchased all of Jason Chin’s titles – they are really so fantastic.
I love the title “What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You?” That sounds so fun. Gravity looks amazing. They all look fun really. Love that you shared your to read pile. Great idea. 🙂
Thanks Crystal. I am looking forward to reading all of these titles in the next few days!
Hi Carrie, I can always count on you for great new titles. I am passing the first three on to my partner teacher. These look perfect for her animal unit. Thanks!
So glad to hear Gigi. Thanks!
I really enjoyed that Steve Jenkins title as well. He is truly a wonderful nonfiction author.
He keeps making books that I have to own. Incredible really, all of his brilliant ideas.
Love the idea of summoning the Phoenix, Carrie. Thanks again for all!
It is absolutely a book you would love – with all of the poems, great art and focus on music.
Congrats on that many nonfiction books read! Fabulous… many new books to try out on your list, oh boy!
Thanks! I am excited to be surpassing my goal!
Ao many great books here Carrie! i’ve read lots about Gravity so that one is on my ‘to buy for the school list” But I’m excited about the new Jenkins (everyone loves him) and wish the Whose Nest, book had been around earlier in the year for the student teachers who were doing the bird unit. There’s always next time!
I love Jason Chin’s books! Think every library should have every one! The Whose Nest title is great as it features nests that aren’t just bird nests.
You have so many wonderful titles here, dearest Carrie. I borrowed two of Jason Chin’s nonfiction titles and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into them both – we don’t have Gravity yet though. Love that the acts of kindness you mentioned include receiving a book from blogging friends – that’s always special, isn’t it? Can’t wait to find Summoning the Phoenix – the AFCC’s country of focus next year is China, so it would be interesting to read this book, and hopefully feature it too next year.
Summoning the Phoenix would be a great title for your focus! I am such a huge fan of Jason Chin – his books are so engaging for children. I hope you enjoy them both.
Hi Carrie, thanks so much for featuring Summoning the Phoenix on your list of “next reads”! I love all your recommendations!
Thanks April! Beautiful job on this title. I look forward to getting it into our school library in the fall for all of the children to enjoy.