Fairy Science

“Fairy Science”

Fairies are supposed to believe in magic. 

Esther believes in science. When a tree in Pixieville stops growing, no one knows why. 

So Esther uses science to discover a solution. She begins by asking, “Why is the tree wilting?” Next she does research, forms a hypothesis, and experiments. She studies her results and makes a conclusion.

While Ester flies toward the sky to solve the tree’s problem, Ms. Pelly Petal casts magic. Who will save the tree? Read to find out.

In this book, readers ponder whether magic is science or science is magic while learning about the scientific method. Readers can perform the sun-bean experiment included in the back of the book.

This book promotes creative components of originality and individuality.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK:  I like this book because the author connects science and magic for readers to draw their own conclusions. It was clever to use a fairy who believes in science instead of magic as the main character to further emphasize the theme.

TITLE: Fairy Science

AUTHOR: Ashley Spires

ILLUSTRATOR: Ashley Spires

PUBLISHER: Crown Books for Young Readers, 2019

AGE GROUP: 5-7

TOPIC(S): magic, scientific method, fairies, being true to one’s self

CREATIVE COMPONENTS: original, individuality

LEARNING EXTENSIONS:

1) Use the steps of the scientific method to conduct an experiment that could provide an answer to something you wonder about.

2) Create a fairy garden in your backyard.

EXTENDING CONNECTIONS:

To learn more about author/illustrator Ashley Spires, visit:

https://www.owlkids.com/talking-about-fairy-science-with-ashley-spires/

https://www.ashleyspires.com

Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington

“Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington”

In this biography picture book, illustrator Amanda Hall’s pictures capture imaginations while author Michelle Markel’s storytelling capture Lenora Carrington’s fascinating life.

Ever since she was a little girl, Lenora only wanted to draw. She sketched birds, horses, make-believe planets, and magical worlds. 

Despite her parents’ wishes for her to be a well-bred English girl and get married, Lenora only wanted one thing – to become an artist. When she moved to London to study painting, she discovered surrealism. This was the kind of art she had to create. After moving to France, she escaped World War II by moving to Mexico where she lived the rest of her life, painting, sculpting, and writing.

This book promotes creative components of a creative person, imagination, taking risks, and inspiration.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK:  I like this book because I enjoying learning about a creative person and their creative process. I like to see connections between their childhood and their creative talents. Additionally, the beautiful colorful illustrations spark my imagination to create.

TITLE: Out of This World: The Surreal Art of Leonora Carrington

AUTHOR: Michelle Markel

ILLUSTRATOR:Amanda Hall

PUBLISHER: Balzer + Bray, 2019

AGE GROUP: 7-9

TOPIC(S): biography of artist Leonora Carrington, finding your passion

CREATIVE COMPONENTS: creative person, imagination, inspiration, taking risks

LEARNING EXTENSIONS:

1) Surrealism art combines things that do not usually go together, for example, a cell phone and a cow. Try your hand at surrealism art by picking two things that do not go together and combine them to create a new image.

2) Watch this YouTube video to learn more about surrealism.

3) Check out an art book from the library. Which art forms capture your imagination?

EXTENDING CONNECTIONS:

To learn more about author Michelle Markel, visit:

http://www.michellemarkel.com/bio.html

To learn more about illustrator Amanda Hall, visit:

https://www.amandahall-illustration.com/about-info/

Moldilocks and the Three Scares: A Zombie Tale

“Moldilocks and the Three Scares: A Zombie Tale”

Intro: “In a huge haunted house – with room enough for four, there lived three Scares: Papa Scare, Mama Scare, and Baby Scare.”

Papa brews up a batch of Alpha-Bat soup. Mama works in her lab. And Baby sweeps bats from the tower. 

Moldilocks sleepwalks through the cemetery, following the wafting scent of soup to the haunted house. While the soup cools, the Scares take a walk.

Moldilocks sits in their chairs, slurps their soup, and sleeps in their beds to find just the right one.

Upon returning home, the Scares discover someone has been in their home. What will happen when they discover Moldilocks? Read the story to learn the heartfelt ending.

This book promotes creative components of different perspective and originality.

WHY I LIKE THIS BOOK:  I like this book because I am a big fan of fractured fairy tales and this tale is full of originality and heart.  

TITLE: Moldilocks and the Three Scares: A Zombie Tale

AUTHOR: Lynne Marie

ILLUSTRATOR:David Rodriguez Lorenzo

PUBLISHER: Sterling Children’s Books, 2019

AGE GROUP: 4-7

TOPIC(S): fractured fairy tale, family, belonging

CREATIVE COMPONENTS: different perspective, originality

LEARNING EXTENSIONS:

1) What things do you and your family do before a guest arrives? Pretend you have invited a monster to your house for dinner. In what ways do you make your strange guest feel at home?

2) Create a monster family. What types of monsters would be in your family? Who would be the mom, the dad, any siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or cousins? Don’t forget pets, if you want them.

EXTENDING CONNECTIONS:

To learn more about author Lynne Marie, visit:

http://www.literallylynnemarie.com/ABOUT.html

To learn more about illustrator David Rodriguez Lorenzo, visit:

https://davidlorenzoillustration.com/Contacto-About-and-contact