Archive for October 16, 2019

Silent Swoop: An Owl, and Egg, and a Warm Shirt Pocket

Written by Michelle Houts
Illustrated by Deb Hoeffner

Based on a true story, this is a wonderful outline for caring human beings. A great horned owl chooses to lay her two eggs beneath the conveyor belt at a coal mine yard. Rather than destroy the eggs, the miners call a local bird sanctuary. Walter, the man from the sanctuary, simply puts the eggs in his shirt pocket and takes them to the incubator at the shelter. One hatches! Careful to treat Coal, the owlet, like a bird rather than like an oddly shaped human, Walter helps raise the chick. Coal takes on the job of educating children and seniors. Soon, the miners find another egg. This one hatches too.

Beautifully and realistically illustrated, this is a wonderful place to start learning about owls and about wildlife rescue in general. The activities and information at the end make the next steps for learning easy to find.

  • Silent SwoopTitle: Silent Swoop: An Owl, and Egg, and a Warm Shirt Pocket
  • Author: Michelle Houts
  • Illustrator: Deb Hoeffner
  • Publisher: Dawn Publications, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Paperback, 32 pages
  • Grade Level: 1 to 2
  • Genre: Animals, Nature, Wildlife Rescue
  • ISBN: 978-1-58469-647-6
  • Extras: Explore More for Kids, Explore More for Teachers and Parents

Give Me Back My Bones!

Written by Kim Norman
Illustrated by Bob Kolar

Part skeletal primer, part pirate adventure, this is a fun way to learn about the bones in the human body. A long-dead pirate finds his bones scattered when a huge wave hits him. He spends the rest of the story looking for individual bones and reconstructing himself. First his head, then his nose and jaw, then his shoulders and ribs. Written in rhyming form and lyrical language. The author uses the scientific names for the bones, adding to the learning experience. The illustrations show an underwater quest with everything from jellyfish to giant clams to sharks helping in the search.

At last! I’ve got my lost bones,
no longer skull-and-crossed bones,
my milky ocean-tossed bones …
avast! I need …
a ship!

The dust jacket is a poster summarizing all the bones discussed. The end papers also reflect the summary of bones. Perfect for a health unit in school. Also perfect for Halloween.

  • Give Me Back My BonesTitle: Give Me Back My Bones!
  • Author: Kim Norman
  • Illustrator: Bob Kolar
  • Publisher: Candlewick Press, 2019
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Hardcover, 40 pages
  • Grade Level: PreK to 3
  • Genre: Physiology
  • ISBN: 978-0-7636-8841-7