Book Description

Introducing the easiest and most enjoyable way for parents toencourage their children to read!Recently selected among the MostOutstanding Children's Books of 1998 by the Parent Council and one of the 100Best Children's Products of 1998, We Both Read is the firs series of books toinvite parents and children to share the reading of a book by taking turnsreading aloud.Parents read the more sophisticated text on the left-handpages and the children read the right-hand pages, which have been written atone of three early reading levels.Developed with reading educationspecialists, this delightful new series brings parents and children togetherfor a wonderful new reading experience and faster reading development!

About this Book:Explore the mystery and wonder of the tropical rain forest! Travel around the equator to Africa, Asia, and South America discovering theworld's most fascinating plant and animal life.Trees that give us rubberand chocolate, lizards that change color, and a cat that can fish with itstail are just some of the amazingspecies that you'll find in the densefoliage of the rain forest.Captivating photographs, along with compellingtext, make this book an exciting adventure and a great learning experience. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Kindergarten Rainforest Theme
I decided to teach a rainforest theme in Kindergarten, what an awesome book, the kids love the pictures and can't wait to find out about the different animals. I generally read the child's side, (this is set up for adult and child)to the class so I do not lose them and they LOVE IT. I just wish I could find more for this age.

Another great book for the early reader!
I have read several books in this series with my 4 year old daughter. She loves taking turns reading the pages. The books hold her attention much more than other beginning reader books that we have found. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful Rain Forest
I felt that this was a wonderful book. I read this book to a third grade classroom and they all loved the story. They especially loved the illustrations. I loved the way all the animals seemed to blend in with with the plants. I would recommend this book to everyone. This book is a must see for all children and adults. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Hugely informative
If you are interested in gardening, natural history or ecology this book is a 'must read'. The writer, a biologist at the University of Illinois has done a masterful job of explaining just what the earth beneath our feet contains. This book is a close look at what soil is, how it evolved, how it supports life and why it wears out. It also looks at the plants and animals that form the ecosystem of healthy soil and how we can help nurture them.

The first part of the book, 'Working Partnerships', explains that soil consists of minerals broken down from rocks, together with plants and their bacterial, fungal and animal partners. It also explains how soil gets its fertility. This may sound like dull stuff, but the way this writer presents it, it's as fascinating as the unravelling of a mystery.

Part Tow presents members of the soil community - microbes, invertebrates and vertebrates. You'll meet some of the most extraordinary creatures here - mother centipedes guarding and licking their eggs, termites sabotaging tropical agriculture and beetles, lots of beetles. More species of beetle inhabit the earth than any other order of animals.

The final section is titles 'The gift of Good Earth' and the writer very briefly presents the concept of erosion and how humans have contributed to the degradation of the soil. Finally he offers the idea that composting is the act of creating a wildlife refuge for many of the creatures living in the soil in our won backyard. I'd never thought of it in those terms before. The book ends with a decent reading list and list of web sites.

This is a readable and intriguing resource book for the library of any gardener or naturalist. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A must have for the science classroom
As a physical science teacher, I consider this book to be an awesome resource in my classroom. The easy to read text combined with the colorful illustrations makes this book a "must have." Atoms and molecules have never been easier to comprehend.

Fabulous!
My 9-year old is interested in atoms and molecules, but I didn't know enough answer his second level of questions until I spent 20 minutes with this book. Interesting, clear, concise, wonderfully illustrated. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

This Book Is Not True.
This book is about a theory which has never been proven right. The earth never originated in the big bang, (which was a big dud, it never happened) And species have never evolved. By the way a dog has never produced a non-dog. I would strongly advise against this book, it is dangerous and not true and never was true.

FABULOUS book!!
FABULOUS book introducing the evolution of the earth and all its life forms! Perfect for children pre-k through all of the elementary school years (and parents too!). This book mentions Charles Darwin, the Galapagos Islands, survival of the fittest, variation and mutation, extinction, and more. Nice pictures. Highly recommended for homeschoolers.

A wonderful introduction to evolution for the young!
I read this book to my third grade son and it has been such a huge help. He has been asking a lot of questions about evolution and I was having a hard time explaining it to him on his level. This book introduces the idea of the wide variety of species living on this planet; theories on how life first formed; and walks the reader through the fossil record of our planet. It does all of this simply and with the format of a child's picture book. The illustrations are beautiful and captivating but remarkable simple. Perfect for 7 to 10 year olds. ... Read more

Book Description

Hardy adventurers ages 6 - 9 dive into a silent watery world where tiny coral animals grow together to form rock gardens of white, pink, and red-orange. In this action-packed undersea circus, jaws snap, tentacles sting, ink gets squirted, and fish suddenly glow while animals that look like plants sway gently and bashful clams hide the lively secrets inside their shells. Surprisingly dry and armed with a few pieces of equipment and their boundless imaginations, children explore this magical realm one small square at a time. "Science education at its best." — Science Books and Films ... Read more

Book Description

From sandy beaches to rocky cliffs, the place where the land meets the sea is an amazing habitat. While exploring at the shore or reading at home, children ages 7 and up will be astonished by the richness and variety of creatures at the water's edge. Beautifully illustrated, with a picture reference and glossary, Seashore is just one volume from the critically acclaimed One Small Square series of hands-on science books, now available in paperback. ... Read more

Book Description

The woods are full of puzzles to be solved, clues to be found. Inspired by this book's hints and fun-filled experiments and activities, and using only simple equipment, young readers unlock the closely guarded secrets of the woods­­from the strange meetings of lazy butterflies, to the miraculous "walking" of a twig, to the riddle of why the leaves turn color and fall. One small square at a time, these "detectives" plunge deeper and deeper into ancient mysteries­­without ever getting lost. Beautifully illustrated, Woods offers a picture field guide, a glossary-index, and a resource list.

Reviews (3)

Extraordinary book
This book takes you into the woods, enchants you and educates you at the same time. I would recommend it to all parents who wish to give their child an appreciation of nature, and to every teacher as a curriculum-enrichment aid. Both text and illustrations are illuminating.

Amazing amount of info and inspiration & [good] price!
What a gem! I was surprised when I discovered this book. The gist of the book is for the child (or adult) to mark off a square space in the woods and begin exploring and learning. This book is a real integration of activities, suggested observations, and fact. The learner is to explore, dig, look, observe and investigate every inch of this square area. While suggesting the learner look for this or that, the author provides factual information about various findings. The book goes into a lot of detail and there are many things that the author thinks may be found. I bet that the learner won't find everything that is mentioned but that is OK, at least the reader can experience it in reading about it in the book if it is missed "in real life".

The book starts off in autumn, assuming the learner begins in the fall and in an area of deciduous trees. A small sampling of what is addressed in this book is why trees lose their leaves, how trees store energy and make energy, examples of camouflage with animals, migration of birds and butterflies, insects, spiders and their webs, lizards and mammals big and small. As the book progresses winter then spring then summer is discussed.

The illustrations are drawn and in color (just like the cover), these are not photographs. There are loads of details in the drawings. At the back is an illustrated guide to creatures grouped by their classification (leaves, mammals, fungi) and an index.

The learner is encouraged to do creative projects such as leaf and trunk rubbings. Also keeping a nature journal or notebook to record the findings is recommended.

I am surprised that so much information and creative ideas packed into this small and very inexpensive book. This is one in a series of "one small square" books and I plan to buy more to use in our homeschooling adventure. Now this is science!

Great details
This book provides a small instant field trip to those students who might not have access to woods. It gives incredible details of what goes on in one small square of woods. For those who have access to wooded areas for exploration...safety tips are included as well as supplies needed for collecting data while exploring. I teach second grade and use all of the Small Square books in my teaching. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Yes, We Will Miss Them!
I read this book for the first time in my English Block in college. I read this book and I was amazed that a sixth grader could compose something so wonderful and informative. It really enlightens students to know that there are authors that are their ages. It is on a level that students can understand. Furthermore (I think)this book can be used beyond the middle schools and into higher education to let others know what's going on in nature. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A well written and enjoyable look at Marine Biologists
This book, although technically a children's book, is fascinating reading for people of all ages.Mr. Collard does a great job at keeping things simple, yet at the same time detailing how these scientists go about their job on Lizard Island.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. ... Read more

Book Description

It’s a sun-scorched world where clouds rarely come and nothing seems to move. That is, until children ages 6 - 9 up look a little closer to find tortoises, toads, and lizards, not to mention the scary rattlesnake and scorpion. Here, plants send their roots deep into the earth to find water, beetles stand on their head and shoot a stinky spray to fight off enemies, and roadrunners whiz by sleepy turtles and nervous desert mice on their way to ... where? Kids need only light clothes and a few simple pieces of equipment to explore the enchantments of cactus country. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Both interesting and informative
I reviewed this book for The Home School Manual =============================

One Small Square One Small Square, Cactus Desert "Whew! It's hot: 115°F (46°C), and the temperature is still climbing. . . . Welcome to cactus country. Home of rattlesnakes and roadrunners, yuccas and chuckwallas. . . . In this desert you will discover animals that never take a drink of water and plants that double as 'apartment houses.' . . ." On turning the page we are told that exploring offers many surprises, but to be prepared in case one of the surprises happens to be a scorpion or another dangerous creature.

The words, "small square," emphasize the idea that careful observation, even in a small space, yields a wealth of interesting information. And the book itself is square (9" X 9"). You are shown life under the ground as well as above it. Notes in the illustrations point out interesting facts, and each chapter of two or more pages deals with a general topic like protection from the heat, dangers in the night, or how certain plants and animals take quick advantage of a rare rainfall. One chapter near the end explains that some deserts (including Antarctica) are cold. Names are given for all the plants and creatures shown. Studying this book is, in some ways, even better than visiting the desert itself. The book offers good science and would even make a great gift.

One of a series of Small Square books by Donald M. Silver. This one is illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne. For readers 7 to 12 (as if adults wouldn't have fun learning all these things, too). Hardcover, 48 pp. Was $14.95. 1995, from another publisher. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Here is the African Savanna
In the style of "The House That Jack Built", this book employs delightful repetitions and stunning illustrations to give children a picture of the animals who inhabit the African savanna. I read this book on a regular basis to children of all ages (and lots of adults), and they all enjoy it. In fact, I have worn out my initial copy, and have had to order another!

Amazing pictures and text!
This is a wonderful example of a circular story with excellent repeated lines and incredible pictures. It shows the connections of the various animals and plants of the Savanna.

A must for teachers and parents! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Teaching children to respect the Earth
Linda Schwarz, along with her illustrator Beverly Armstrong, has written an activity book for children on how to care for the earth. In simple format, she defines the basic terms and ideas used in environmental study. She then offers a number of activities for understanding these concepts. For example, she describes acid rain, then gives instructions for a project to measure the amount of acid in your own rainfall. This is a useful idea book for children's rainy day or school projects from about third grade on. In fact, this would be a handy reference book any of us could use for quick definitions and helpful illustrations. It could help us better make our points in conversations and community discussions about environmental problems and what we can do about them. (Originally reviewed in The Auroran)

Great Source for Teachers!
This is a wonderful book for teachers to have for elementary age children when having a unit on Earth Day or celebrating Earth Day. Mainly it allows many different ways that children can help save the Earth. There are several sections of the book: Energy, resources, and recycling; Air, Land, & Water; Plant & Animal Habitat; and More Ways to Make Every Day Earth Day. Each of these sections provides simple facts and information while providing ways for children to help out or be actively involved in each particular topic. At the end of the book, there is a section called Where to Write & Glossary which provides a page on how to request for information and also provides many different resources/organizations that children can write to to obtain more information. I would definitely recommend this book for teachers to use for Earth Day units but also for children to read from if they are interested in helping save the Earth. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Best!
This kit has a real Ren & Stimpy feel to it. I mean, a kit full of bird barf? While not as rewarding as watching the owl caugh up the actual pellet in the wild, this education book is likely to open doors to the world of birding in ways no youngster, teacher, or parent ever expected. Truth be told, kids find body functions funny, and barfing is one of the favs.

And by the way, my thanks to whoever took the pic of the Great Horned Owl on the front cover.

FUN AND ENTERTAINING!!
My 8 year old son was so excited to get this book. Naturally, he loves anything gross and Owl Puke combined that natural affinity for the 'yuck' factor with an entertaining (and educational) read. (Great title, too). I highly recommend this book to parents everywhere and look forward to seeing what's next from Hammerslough!

great
I love this book!! My son couldn't wait to open it and he learned so many good things from the skeleton. Definetly a great book for youngsters!

Useless. Missing the point.
This is horrible. Why buy a book that shows you how to find skeletons in owl puke when the joy of watching the actual owl puke has been completely forgotten?

Sure, it may be marketing savvy to name the book "Owl Puke" and to label the box containing owl puke "Owl Puke," but to not witness a real life owl puking seems perverse in my opinion. Call me old-fashioned.

But the song "Hot Shot City" is particularly good. ... Read more