Amberly Media Center

Aston, Dianna Hutts. A Seed is Sleepy. (581.4 Ast)

Beautifully illustrated by Sylvia Long, this book looks like a slim, poetic field notebook full of details appropriate for first through third graders learning about seeds.

Kravetz, Jonathan. Learning About Simple Machines with Graphic Organizers. (521.6 Kra)

“A seed is sleepy. It lies there tucked inside its flower, on its cone, or beneath the soil. Snug. Still.” (illustrated with a dried sunflower)

“A seed is secretive. It does not reveal itself too quickly.” (illustrated by a Texas Mountain Laurel seed pod and flower. Additional text describes how seeds are often dormant for a season or two waiting for warm weather)

“A seed is inventive. To find a spot to grow, a seed might leap from its pod, or cling to a child’s shoestring, or tumble throug a bear’s belly. A seed hopes to land where there is plenty of sunlight, soil, and water.”

Pimm, Nancy Roe. The Heart of the Beast : Eight Great Gorilla Stories. (599.884 Pim)

Eight stories of famous gorrillas — from Koko, the gorilla who learned sign language, to Snowflake, the albino gorilla. The author recounts the basic story then provides a brief chapter with the “Gorilla Facts: The Rest of the Story. ” Black and white photos are modest but helpful.

  Rockwell, Anne. Who Lives in an Alligator Hole? (597.98 Roc)

A picture book with simple narrative that focuses on the habitat of the Everglades and the impact of man.

Kravetz, Jonathan. Learning About Energy with Graphic Organizers. (333.79 Kra)

Fiedler, Julie. Learning About Force and Motion with Graphic Organizers. (531 Fie)

Fiedler, Julie. Learning About Heat and Temperature with Graphic Organizers. (538 Fie)

Kravetz, Jonathan. Learning About Plant Growth with Graphic Organizers. (571.8 Kra)

Fiedler, Julie. Learning About Food Chains and Food Webs with Graphic Organizers. (577.16 Fie)

A great series of introductions to science using concise text which defines key words in context, illustrates the concept with appropriate color photos, and uses a rich variety of data tables, flow charts, and other graphic organizers.

Mattern, Joanne. Igneous Rocks and the Rock Cycle. (552 Mat)

Mattern, Joanne. Sedimentary Rocks and the Rock Cycle. (552 Mat)

Mattern, Joanne. Metamorphic Rocks and the Rock Cycle. (552 Mat)

Mattern, Joanne. Weathering and Erosion and the Rock Cycle. (551.3 Mat)

Mattern, Joanne. Minerals and the Rock Cycle. (549 Mat)

Mattern, Joanne. Sand, Silt, and Mud and the Rock Cycle. (551.3 Mat)

Concise text and clear, colorful graphics and photos explain each of the major types of rocks and formations. Content skills are identified on “tabs” at the tops and sides of the page. Layout is surprisingly appealing given the large number of elements on each page.