Fourth Grade
OUR MOON: NEW DISCOVERIES ABOUT EARTH’S CLOSEST COMPANION. 2016.
Elaine Scott. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers. 72pp. ISBN-10: 0547483945. STANDARD 2: EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE. Focusing on features of the moon as well as human exploration of the moon, this book effectively blends science and history in an accessible manner for intermediate level students. Photos enhance the informational text of this book.
WHOOSH! LONNIE JOHNSON’S SUPERSOAKING STREAM OF INVENTIONS. 2016. Chris Barton. Illus. Don Tate. Charlesbridge. 32pp. ISBN-10: 1580892973. STANDARD 1: PHYSICAL SCIENCE and STANDARD 4: ENGINEERING. This biography of a NASA engineer who invented one of the most ubiquitous summer toys exemplifies the attribute of perseverance in a captivating and inspiring manner. Fold-out pages and cartoon-style drawings will engage young readers.
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Fifth Grade
SOLVING THE PUZZLE UNDER THE SEA: MARIE THARP MAPS THE OCEAN FLOOR. 2016. Robert Burleigh. Illus. Raúl Colón. Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books. 40pp. ISBN-10: 1481416006. STANDARD 4: ENGINEERING. A method for accurately depicting a model of the ocean floor was elusive until Marie Tharp’s insightful application of technology. This biography chronicles her quest to indirectly measure the surface features of the ocean floor.
ONCE UPON AN ELEPHANT. 2016. Linda Stanek. Illus. Shennen Bersani. Arbordale Publishing. 32 pp. ISBN-10: 1628557389. STANDARD 3: LIFE SCIENCE. The interconnectedness of plant and animal species is portrayed in an exceptionally clear manner in this story. The impact of the actions of one species on the survival of others is a key takeaway. Additional resources are available on the Arbodale Publishing website.
Primary Honorable Mention
LISTEN TO OUR WORLD. 2016. Bill Martin Jr. & Michael Sampson. Illus. Melissa Sweet 40pp. ISBN-10: 1442454729. STANDARD 3: LIFE SCIENCE. This simple book speaks to readers about the importance of listening to the world around you. It includes animals in different habitats and shows the sounds that the various animals make. The end includes facts about the animals pictured in the book.
WILD ONES: OBSERVING CITY CRITTERS. 2016. Carol L. Malnor. Illus. Cathy Morrision. Dawn Publications. 32pp. ISBN-10: 1584695547. STANDARD 3: LIFE SCIENCE. Based in an urban environment, this text focuses on how organisms impact the earth. The text uses the perspective of Scooter (a dog) to show how the various animals impact the area around them.
WHAT CAUSES WEATHER AND SEASONS? 2016. Alejandro Algarra. Illus. Rocio Bonilla Barron’s Educational Series. 36pp. ISBN-10: 1438008929. STANDARD 2: EARTH SCIENCE. A young girl sets out to teach her little brother about the seasons. Throughout the book, we have an introduction to different types of weather, amount of sunlight, and which plants and animals thrive in the various seasons. A parent guide is included at the end of the book.