Whoa! UFO!

August 1, 2009
Gr 12-These titles painlessly interweave social studies and science lessons with lighthearted fictional narratives. Small pop-out boxes separate the lesson ideas from the story lines. "The Messiest Room" uses easy text and cartoon watercolor illustrations to chronicle two friends' contest entry using sequencing concepts such as "before," "during," "after," "first," "next," "then," "past," "present," and "future," and includes a plusa plug for organization. "Whoa! UFO!" describes Kara and Billy's sighting of a UFO and how the children use scientific techniques like interviewing and documenting to investigate. In the process, they discuss the path of the Moon, rotation of the Earth, the misnaming of meteors as shooting stars, and the deceptive size of distant objects. The children are illustrated in bright colors and look a little like clay models. In "Who Needs It?", watercolor cartoons and casual text relate two friends' differing approaches to a camping trip and how needs and wants dictate their packing lists. Gus takes a survivor approach, while Mickey is more of a luxury camper. Predictably, the ideal is somewhere between the two. The books conclude with simple, engaging activities and comprehension questions."S. McClendon, Friends School of Atlanta, Decatur, GA"

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