Category Archives: nonfiction

Teaching Civics With Children’s Literature: Eleanor-Quiet No More-The Life of Eleanor Roosevelt

Posted on March 26, 2010 by openwidearchive

Illustrator Gary Kelley said it well when he said that this book about Eleanor Roosevelt, “In this age of celebrities and politicians in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, [is] not only refreshing but essential”.  This book about Eleanor … Continue reading →

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Teaching Physical Science with Children’s Literature: Touch It! Materials, Matter and You

Posted on March 23, 2010 by openwidearchive

“Touch it! is a lively and easy-to-understand first science book that explores materials-their color, shape, texture, size, mass, magnetism, and more.” Touch it! Materials, Matter, and You written by Adrienne Mason and illustrated by Claudia Davila covers a lot of … Continue reading →

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Teaching Geography With Children’s Literature: The Santa Fe Trail

Posted on March 22, 2010 by openwidearchive

  Introduction and Summary The Santa Fe Trail by Judy Alter is a book about settlers traveling West in order to find a better life in the United States.  However, much of what is talked about in the book is … Continue reading →

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Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: A River Ran Wild

Posted on March 22, 2010 by openwidearchive

  Introduction and Summary A River Ran Wild, written and illustrated by Lynne Cherry, tells the story of the Nashua river in New England.  Children opening the book will see a map of New England in the 1500’s on one … Continue reading →

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Teaching Process Skills With Children’s Literature: The Science Book of Color

Posted on March 19, 2010 by openwidearchive

Introduction and Summary  “Imagine a world without color.  It would be like living in an old movie. Color makes our world a pleasure to look at.” The Science Book of Color by Neil Ardley  with photography by Pete Gardner is … Continue reading →

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Teaching Process Skills with Children’s Literature: Galileo

Posted on March 17, 2010 by openwidearchive

  The book Galileo by Leonard Everett Fisher chronicles the life of the famous Renaissance scientist.  Background information is presented at the beginning about the theories of Aristotle and Copernicus about the center of the universe.  The author does a … Continue reading →

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Teaching Process Skills with Children’s Literature: The Magic School Bus Gets All Dries Up

Posted on March 16, 2010 by openwidearchive

 The Magic School Bus Gets All Dried Upwritten by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen is a fun and adventurous children’s book about survival in the desert.  The book starts off in Ms. Frizzle’s class, where things are not … Continue reading →

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Teaching Ancient Civilizations with Children’s Literature: You Are In Ancient Greece

Posted on February 8, 2010 by openwidearchive

You Are In Ancient Greece, written by Ivan Minnis, is filled with photographs of ancient buildings and artifacts and excellent information for teaching about Ancient Greece. There is no particular illustrator because all of the images are photographs. The book … Continue reading →

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Teaching Ancient Civilizations with Children’s Literature: Pompeii Lost & Found

Posted on February 8, 2010 by openwidearchive

Pompeii Lost & Found, written by Mary Pope Osborne and illustrated by Bonnie Christensen, tells the story of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius which buried Pompeii.  The story begins right before the eruption; “As everyone went about their daily routines … Continue reading →

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Teaching Earth Science with Children’s Literature: Tornadoes!

Posted on February 6, 2010 by openwidearchive

  Introduction and Summary The book Tornadoes was written by Gail Gibbons and provides information to students about their formation, how they are classified from one another, historical and safety information if one were to occur where they live. “The … Continue reading →

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