Zombie Makers

Zombie Makers – True Stories of Nature’s Undead      By Rebecca L. Johnson    

Millbrook Press     2013

Once again, I can not emphasize enough the sheer number of fantastic science books that are written by women. This fact is often overlooked, yet it is well worth pointing out to students in order to counter gender stereotypes.

From the back cover:

“Are there …things… that can take over the bodies and brains of innocent creatures?

Turn them into senseless slaves?

Force them to create new zombies so the zombie makers can spead?

Absolutely.

And they are closer than you think.”

As you may well have surmised, the author has a flair for dramatic presentation.

She combines this talent with stories that are truly fascinating.

The first chapter is about a fungus that feeds on houseflies’ internal organs and tissues while keeping it alive. It then takes control of the fly’s body, and once it has produced enough spores, it manuvers the fly into the optimum position to release the spores. It then it destroys the rest of the fly’s organs and releases its spores in order to infect more flies.

Another chapter discusses a parasitic protozoa that spends part of its lifecycle in cats, and another part in rats. When it infects a rat, it alters the rat’s brain in order to make it lose its fear of cats. It also makes the rat attracted to the scent of cats.

The examples are always interesting, and they are replete with fascinating photos. My favorite shows a fungus stalk growing out of a dead carpenter ant’s head.

All too often, we see attractive books on that present the “gee whiz” factor well, but stop short on explaining the underlying science. These are potential missed opportunities to convert students’ passing interest in a subject into a lifelong relationship with science.

Fortunately, the author of this book follows the description of each zombie maker with an investigation of the science that is involved.

Highly recommended!

Butterflies

Eggs, Legs, Wings: A Butterfly Life Cycle      By Shannon Knudsen      Capstone Press   2011

Once again, I am pleasantly surprised by Capstone. They are getting better.  I used to dismiss Capstone product on a wholesale basis as not worth investigating in comparison to other available materials. Now, mind you, I still feel that they offer no shortage of uninspired, pro-forma, paint by numbers product.

However, I now keep an eye peeled for standout books from this publisher.

Books that detail the butterfly lifecycle are always in demand. The concept is addressed in the standards, and you can always count on classrooms raising caterpillars into butterflies.

This book uses an engaging graphic novel format that has elements of infographics. It is engagingly drawn, and the panels and text capture the inherent drama of the process. The text and the pictures are very well integrated, and though the format is extremely accessible, a very good amount of information is presented.

The presentation is almost cinematic, and it is constantly engaging.

Strange to say, maybe it is the expression lines or the wiggle lines, but the way the caterpillar is drawn, one can emphathize with it as it faces the challenges when growing. Kudos to the artist in this regard.

The book is perfect for 2^nd graders

How Groundhog's Garden Grew

By Lynne Cherry
2003

A great picture book about groundhog growing a garden and the help he gets from his animal friends. This books provides engaging and accurate information on how a garden grows from seed to harvesting and eating. A great read-aloud for grades k-5.

Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

By Lois Ehlert
(1991)

I like this book because it lends itself to the idea of making a science notebook, or journal. The illustrations are colorful, bold collages of cut paper and real leaves/seeds--lots of texture.
The story is about a child who plants a sugar maple tree, and how the tree grows and changes throughout the seasons.

A Seed is Sleepy

by Dianna Hutts Aston
Illustrated by Sylvia Long
2007

This book is gorgeously illustrated and beautifully written; it is full of all kinds of seed and plant facts, but in a poetic style.

Bright Beetle

By Rick Chrustowski, 2000

Follow the life of one ladybug as she journeys from the egg to adulthood.

On a warm, sunny day at the end of summer, a ladybug lays her yellow eggs on a leaf. Soon, each egg hatches into a tiny larva with a huge appetite for aphids. Despite the dangers of ants and praying mantises, the larvae grow big enough to create hard pupae around themselves. When they break through the pupae, they are ladybugs at last.

In simple, poetic text and vibrant illustrations, this nonfiction picture book explores the life-cycle of the most beloved beetle.
  (Summary from Goodreads)