It's Friday—the first Friday of summer vacation for me!
Joy. Joy. Joy.
This time of year means planning trips, watching nature change day by day, and feeling alive.
We've had a long winter this year in Wisconsin, and I know that this summer is going to be lived to the fullest. We already began with a trip to the zoo, where the crazy peacocks blocked our way, and the giraffes licked every crumb of cracker we had (don't worry: the zookeepers supplied the special crackers).
We'll also be re-visiting the caves, and taking a road trip across the Eastern half of our country. During that trip, our family will visit a number of historical museums to learn about our political and geological past (and let Mom & Dad do some much-needed primary research.)
Anyway, our family's LOVE of nature and history is behind this week's Perfect Picture Book selection. I'm thrilled to announce that the author/illustrator of this book is illustrating my forthcoming book as well. A dream! His skill to blend such precise realism with imaginative and even whimsical characters and scenarios is unparalleled.
Today's Perfect Picture Book is:
ISLAND: A STORY OF THE GALÁPAGOS by Jason Chin
Title: Island: A Story of the Galápagos
Author & Illustrator: Jason Chin
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (A Neal Porter Book), 2012
Category: Picture Book
Genre: Nonfiction
Topics: Science, Nature, Evolution, Geology
Ages: 6+
ISBN: 9781596437166
First Page:
I. BIRTH
Six Million Years Ago
The sun is rising over a lonely group of islands more than six hundred miles away from the nearest continent. The air is still and the sea is calm, but beneath the water something is stirring.
Why I chose this book:
- The cover is beautiful
- The story's scarce text is written just perfectly to engage young children in the science of how land forms and erodes, as well as how species migrate and evolve
- The illustrations tell as much of the story as the text
- The facts are so seamlessly woven into the story
- The final spread is breathtaking!
- The back matter makes this book suitable for much older children as well—meaning it'll stay on the main bookshelf at home for years as it will be re-read many times.
- Did I mention that Jason is illustrating one of my books? A thrilling thought!
Resources:
The book itself contains four pages of back matter. However, there is no shortage of interactive website for kids about the Galapagos to enhance their understanding of the islands' history.
Kids Discover
The Galapagos Conservancy
National Geographic Education
Thank you for visiting! And make sure to visit Susanna Hill's Blog for more Perfect Picture Book titles!