‘Frostfire’
- Elly MacKay
- Tundra Books
- 2024, 44 pages
- ISBN: 9780735266988
- ages 3+
Two sisters — Miriam and Celeste — go on an adventure in a snowy garden that has been transformed into a winter kingdom. The older sister, Miriam, tells her younger sister, Celeste, about snow dragons. After all, Miriam is “an expert on dragons.” After answering Celeste’s questions and informing her about dragons, Miriam builds a snow fort for protection. And while she is building the fort, Celeste meets a snow dragon who is “very gentle.”
“Frostfire” is a beautifully illustrated book about exploring and imagination and an ideal book to read in the fall and winter.
‘Broom for Two’
- Jennifer Maruno, illustrated by Scot Ritchie
- Pajama Press
- 2024, 32 pages
- ISBN: 9781772783209
- ages 3+
Little Witch is about to take her first flying lesson. Unfortunately, she keeps leaving her broom in places that she shouldn’t and the broom is not in good condition to fly properly. As a result Little Witch fails her flying lesson.
One night Little Witch hears a cry for help during a storm and discovers that Ramshackle Rat was injured when his house was struck by lightning. Little Witch takes the little animal home with her and discovers that with Ramshackle Rat on the back of her broom her broom flies great. When Little Witch returns to Flying School to take her test again, it is with Ramshackle Rat on the back of her broom. And with her small friend behind her, Little Witch passes “with flying colours!”
“Broom for Two” is a nice picture book about friendship and helping others — and a good story for Halloween!
‘A Kid’s Guide to the Night Sky’
- John A. Read, constellation art by Ford Rasmussen
- Sourcebooks
- 2024, 104 pages
- ISBN: 9781728292281
- Ages 8+
There have been a lot of celestial events this year — meteor showers, total solar eclipse, auroras and a comet. “A Kid’s Guide to the Night Sky” is a great way to start and build on your curiosity about the night sky. Contained within the book: background knowledge of our solar system (i.e., moon, planets), astronomical events, history behind constellations, maps of the night sky during each season, and star-gazing skills and tricks. The book primarily highlights astronomical events that occur in the Northern Hemisphere. For enthusiastic scientists, there is a glossary of space vocabulary, further reading material, and a how-to on setting up binoculars and a telescope in the appendix of the book. Most of the activities in the book can be done without a telescope, but it does suggest some optional accessories (i.e., binoculars, camera) to better look at the night sky.
This book is a great and captivating resource for younger and less experienced astrologists. The pictures and diagrams in the book captivate and further describe astronomical bodies and events in our sky. With all of the annual and once-in-a-lifetime events that happen each year, there is no better time to learn about space than now. I will be keeping this book on my bedside table to view as many solar events as I can.
— “A Kid’s Guide to the Night Sky” is reviewed by Gleannan Perrett
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