Middle School Monday: Nonfiction on the Horizon

Every once in a while I scroll through the available titles in Netgalley and Edelweiss. This time I found a bounty of upcoming nonfiction. Here are some of the most tempting:

Spy on History: Mary Bowser and the Civil War Spy Ring by Enigma Alberti

“The true story of Mary Bowser, a former slave-turned-spy who delivered key intelligence secrets during the Civil War. Readers uncover secrets using codes hidden in the book and spycraft materials included.”

This might be good to pair with Laurie Halse Anderson’s Chains.

Oh, Ick! 117 Science Experiments Guaranteed to Gross You Out! by Joy Masoff

“From the bestselling author of Oh, Yuck! and Oh, Yikes!, with over 1.25 million copies in print, here is an A-Z compendium of hands-on grossness.

Featuring 117 interactive experiments and ick-tivities, Oh, Ick! delves into the science behind everything disgusting.

Stage an Ooze Olympics to demonstrate viscosity and the nature of slime. Observe how fungi grow by making a Mold Zoo. Embark on an Insect Safari to get to know the creepy crawlies around your home. And learn what causes that embarrassing acne on your face by baking a Pimple Cake to pop—and eat. Eww!”

Coming November 1 from Workman Publishing Company. I was a big fan of Oh, Yuck! Can’t wait for this new addition to the series.

Kid Artists by David Stabler

“The series that began with Kid Presidents and Kid Athletes has a new volume that chronicles the childhoods of 16 celebrated artists—everyone from Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh to Mary Cassat, Frida Kahlo, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and even Dr. Seuss! Readers will learn:

· Georgia O’Keeffe was so enthralled by nature that she once ate dirt just to see what it tasted like.

· Jackson Pollock lost the top of his right index finger in a childhood accident (and the severed tip was eaten by a rooster!).

· Andy Warhol’s favorite childhood lunch was—what else?—a bowl of Campbell’s tomato soup.

Every scribble, sketch, and sticky situation comes to life in these kid-friendly and relatable stories, all with Doogie Horner’s trademark full-color illustrations. Kid Artists is a delight for budding artists and eager readers alike.”

Coming August 9 from Quirk Books. I love this series as well.

Monster Science: Could Monsters Survive (and Thrive!) in the Real World? by Helaine Becker

““What if the terrifying creatures of your nightmares were indeed prowling the big, wide world beyond your blankie?” begins the intriguing premise of this book. “Could they really exist? And if so, how?” In a completely original approach to exploring science, award-winning author Helaine Becker places six different kinds of monsters — Frankenstein, vampires, bigfoot, zombies, werewolves and sea monsters — under her microscope to expose the proven scientific principles behind the legends. For example, the chapter on Frankenstein delves into how electricity and organ transplants work in the human body, and whether they could really bring someone back to life — all presented in short, readable sections. There’s also historical background on each monster, as well as trivia and jokes in sidebars, and fun quizzes at the end of every chapter for readers to test their knowledge. Becker uses the never-ending appetite for all things monster to engage the imaginations of children and get them excited about science. The just-ghoulish-and-icky-enough illustrations by Phil McAndrew are pitch-perfect, drenched with child-friendly humor. This is a book with tremendous cross-curricular applications in life, earth and physical sciences, as well as in literature (myths and legends), history and literacy skills. With its playful spirit, this is also a book children will happily pick up and devour on their own.”

Coming September 6 from Kids Can Press – this looks like a real winner. I can’t imagine that it won’t fly off the shelves. A good addition to your science collection.

Filed under: Middle School Monday