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Staff Picks: Children's Non-Fiction

Wheels of Change: How Women Rode the Bicycle to Freedom (With a Few Flat Tires Along the Way)
By Sue Macy
Reviewed by cspear on Tuesday, February 7, 2012

 

 

 

What in the world do "boneshakers", bicycles and bloomers have to do with helping
women in their pursuit of greater freedom?

Read all about it in this historical accounting of the development of bicycles and how they encouraged changes in society.


In the final pages you will find a timeline compairing women's and bicycle history.

Drawing From Memory
By Allen Say
Reviewed by cspear on Saturday, December 10, 2011

I enjoyed this autobiography very much. Mr. Say wrote and richly illustrated about his young life growing up in Japan. First he learned to read which included comic books. From there it was either draw or become a super hero.

So he drew.

What Am I? Michigan
By Anne Margaret Lewis
Reviewed by cspear on Tuesday, August 16, 2011

This fun book lists many of the things that help make the State of Michigan such a great place. Every other page has a lift flap with a question on them for little ones to have a guessing game. The illustrations by Tom Mills are bright and engaging. Enjoy.

Rescue Vehicles
By Daniel Gilpin
Reviewed by mrudd on Thursday, April 14, 2011

In large, full color  two page spreads, ten rescue vehicles are explored in full detail. The main text covers history and outlines the primary role and services of the vehicle. The main illustration shows internal and external views. An equipment list and specifications are given in detail and “Interesting Features” are explored with detailed illustrations.

When Fish Got Feet, Sharks Got Teeth, and Bugs Began to Swarm
By Hannah Bonner
Reviewed by cspear on Thursday, December 23, 2010

This book is about the Silurian and Devonian periods in earth's prehistory. As the title suggests the subject is about when life first left the sea. It's in comic book form and lots of fun. What better way to learn things. For ages 9-12.

Freedom Riders
By Ann Bausum
Reviewed by mrudd on Tuesday, December 21, 2010

This wonderful book presents a very personal history of two men who participated in the Freedom Rides during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. John Lewis and Jim Zwerg came from entirely different backgrounds, but became friends other during the Freedom Rides.

Puffins
By Susan E. Quinlan
Reviewed by cspear on Wednesday, November 17, 2010

PUFFINS!   

Beautiful beaks (mostly). Excellent at catching fish. Did you know that they fly in the air and underwater? Read all about these fascinating birds.

101 Greatest Tanks
By Robert Jackson, Editor
Reviewed by mrudd on Saturday, October 30, 2010

Tanks, all  tanks. This book will delight anyone interested in the history of tanks. Each page presents a tank with dense information. Listed in the opening box are country of origin, crew, weight, dimensions, range, armor, armament, powerplant, and performance. Several paragraphs of information detail each tank.

Lake Boats
By Greg McDonnell
Reviewed by cspear on Saturday, October 9, 2010

To quote Water Rat from the Wind In the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, "there is NOTHING--absolute nothing--half so much worth doing as simpy messing about in boats".

BIG boats. Really, really big boats that ply the sweet water seas of the Great Lakes. A most excellent big book with great pictures.

Big Book of Tractors
By Heather Alexander
Reviewed by cspear on Sunday, September 12, 2010

Maize & Blue, Green & White how about all things Green & Yellow as in John Deere?

Yes folks, a big book all about tractors. John Deere of course.

Great pictures, interesting history.

More great pictures and lots of explanations of the workings of tractors.

My, are these tractors shiny!

What do I drive?   Kubota