#pb10for10 - Encouraging the Skill of Observation

I've spent the last two weeks cleaning my office and weeding my bookshelves. That means I've put my hands on every book and have had some time to think about my offering for the Picture Book 10for10 event.

In February for the Nonfiction 10for10 event, I shared a list of books to inspire future scientists. I'm still thinking about science as I prepare for the upcoming semester and am already selecting the books I will use in those early weeks. This time around I'm focusing on the books I share to teach and encourage the skill of observation.

Sam & Dave Dig a Hole,

written by Mac Barnett and illustrated by Jon Klassen

Seven Blind Mice,

written and illustrated by Ed Young

I Feel a Foot!

written by Maranke Rinck and illustrated by Martijn Van Der Linden

Who Done It?,

written and illustrated by Olivier Tallec

(Definitely check out the companions to this title: Who What Where? and Who Was That?)

Where's the Pair?: a spotting book,

written and illustrated by Britta Tekentrup

(Tekentrup has SO MANY amazing books in this same format. Don't miss The Odd One Out, One Is Not a Pair, Where Did They Go?, and Where's the Baby?)

Unlikely Pairs,

written by Bob Raczka

They All Say a Cat,

written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel

On the Way to the Beach,

written and illustrated by Henry Cole

(Also check out I Took a Walk.)

Can You See What I See? Picture Puzzles to Search and Solve,

written and photographed by Walter Wick

(Wick photographed the I Spy books and eventually developed this series of his own, which contains numerous titles.)

I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles,

with riddles by Jean Marzollo and photographs by Walter Wick

(As you know, there are also many books in this series.)

Looking Closely Inside the Garden,

written and photographed by Frank Serafini

(This is part of a series that also includes books for pond, shore, rainforest, forest, and desert.)

I know this is 11 books, and I suppose I cheated a bit by mentioning other related books, but it's so hard to stop at just 10! You can read the lists others have put together at Picture Book 10 for 10.

#pb10for10 - Books to Begin My Semester

I've been working these last few weeks on preparing my syllabi for fall classes. Here are the books I'll be sharing the first week of the semester with my preservice teachers in my math and science classes.

Science
During the first week we explore the nature of science and the work of scientists.

What is Science?, written by Rebecca Kai Dotlich and illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa

What is a Scientist?, written by Barbara Lehn with photographs by Carol Krauss

Boy, Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs!, written by Kathleen Kudlinski and illustrated by S.D. Schindler

11 Experiments That Failed, written by Jenny Offill and illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Lives of the Scientists: Experiments, Explosions (and What the Neighbors Thought), written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt 

Math

During the first week we discuss how math is used in our daily lives and we jump right in and solve problems. 

Math Curse, written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith

Missing Math: A Number Mystery, written and illustrated by Loreen Leedy

  

Marvelous Math: A Book of Poems, selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins and illustrated by Karen Barbour

 

Edgar Allan Poe's Pie: Math Puzzlers in Classic Poems, written by J. Patrick Lewis and illustrated by Michael Slack

The Grapes of Math, written by Greg Tan and illustrated by Harry Briggs

You can check out the other folks participating at the Picture Book 10 for 10 community.