Ruth (Berman) Strother is a veteran author and editor who has developed countless books for children in the areas of natural science, pet care, and biography, among others. Spanning the continent, Ruth was born in New York, grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is now trying to warm up in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, daughter, and two Labs.
As a classroom teacher, I was impressed with many aspects of this
book. It's perfect for research reports because of its beautiful
photographs and interesting morsels of information. The graphic
design of the contents page, on which the page numbers are in
bubbles, is interesting and inviting. The map and diagram are
perfect for this nonfiction text. The glossary, with challenging
vocabulary words and easy-to-understand definitions, was an
excellent and crucial addition to this text. And I liked that the
text boxes were highlighted with a different font and print color.
The book is great for a classroom read-aloud. The colorful
photographs, entertaining information, and print size allow the
book to be used in small- and large-group settings. The text is
interactive, asking readers questions throughout. My favorite part
of the book was a photograph series depicting an open clam on one
page and a bear digging diligently for a clam on the next. Because
most students have never seen an open clam, it was a great idea to
show it before showing a bear digging for one as a treat. A
lightning bolt at the top of a page warns that a new idea will be
discussed. In summary, the book has many excellent possibilities.
It's an easy read for a child, a great read-aloud for teachers to
supplement a unit of study, an entertaining book to read
independently, and/or a useful book for a research report for an
early childhood reader.
--NSTA-- "Website"
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