Informational Books

Frogs
Bishop, N. (2008). Frogs. New York: Scholastic.

Frogs is an information book about all kinds of frogs including the Goliath frog, the largest frog, the dart frog, a very poisonous frog, and the glass frog whose skin is transparent. Nic Bishop includes information about the life cycle of frogs, their parenting styles, different frog calls, and how they adapt to the environment that they live in. The striking photographs taken of frogs in their natural habitat are clear, vivid, and full of life and color. Pictures depicting frogs in motion are also included to help the reader see how frogs jump, eat, and even how they are consumed by predators. The photographs allow the reader to see the frogs up close as if they were looking at the frog in real life.

Genre: Information
Type of Book: Picture book
Interest level: K-3 Reading level: 3.7
Awards: Bluebonnet award nominee, 2009
Notable Children’s books, 2009

What to do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove her Father Teddy Crazy
Kerley, B. (2008). What to do about Alice? How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules, charmed the world, and drove her father Teddy crazy. (E. Fotheringham, Illus.). New York: Scholastic Press.
What to Do About Alice? is the biography of Alice Roosevelt, who was Theodore Roosevelt’s daughter. Alice wasn’t the typical young girl, Teddy said she was “running a riot”, but Alice called it “eating up the world”. As a child she roamed the streets of Washington, joined an all boys club, taught herself astronomy, geology, Greek grammar, and read Twain, Dickens, Darwin, and the Bible. As an adult she was a goodwill ambassador that everyone loved. However, she continued to run a riot by dancing into the early morning hours, betting on horse races, and jumping into swimming pools fully clothed. Despite being unorthodox she married a congressman and become one of her father’s most trusted advisors. The text is accompanied with digital illustrations that are fun and whimsical, resembling Alice’s personality.

Genre: Information
Type of Book: Picture book
Interest level: K-3 Reading level: 4.8
Awards: Bluebonnet award nominee, 2009
Sibert Honor book, 2009
Notable Children’s book, 2009

The Tarantula Scientist
Montgomery, S. (2004). The tarantula scientist. (N. Bishop, Illus.). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop follow Sam Marshall, an arachnologist, to a rainforest in French Guiana, to chronicle his research work with tarantulas. Bishop's photographs taken during their journey through the rainforest accompany the text that includes interesting information about many different species of spiders such as mating habits, habitats, and how they spin webs. The text and pictures are descriptive enough that even those afraid of spiders will find this book fascinating. The book also includes information about the students that Sam Marshall works with, as well as the research that they are conducting.

Genre: Information
Type of Book: Picture book
Interest level: 3-6 Reading level: 5.8
Awards: Sibert Honor book, 2005
Children’s Notable books, 2005

To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel
Siegel, S. C. (2006). To dance: A ballerina’s graphic novel. (M. Siegel, Illus.). New York: Richard Jackson Book.

The author tells her story growing up as a ballerina. Her story begins when a doctor tells her mother that her flat feet can not be fixed, however, her mother enrolls her in ballet classes anyways. Her family moves to New York where she takes classes with The New York City Ballet and performs at the Lincoln Center. When she is seventeen she hurts herself and a year later she starts college. Shortly after college she returns to ballet, and now she manages and directs ballet training at the American Ballet Theatre. The graphic novel format is perfect to retell her story because it allows for many things to happen at the same time, which resembles the events of her life. The watercolor illustrations add to the text and allow students who may have difficulty reading follow the story.

Genre: Information book
Type of Book: Graphic Novel
Interest level: 3-6 Reading level: 3.8
Awards: Children’s Notable books, 2007
Sibert Honor book, 2007