Nonfiction Wednesday
Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday is hosted by Kid Lit Frenzy and was started to help promote the reading of nonfiction texts. Most Wednesdays, we will be participating and will review a nonfiction text (though it may not always be a picture book).
Be sure to visit Kid Lit Frenzy and see what other nonfiction books are shared this week!
Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years
Author: Stacy McAnulty
Illustrator: David Litchfield
Published October 24th, 2017
Summary: “Hi, I’m Earth! But you can call me Planet Awesome.”
Prepare to learn all about Earth from the point-of-view of Earth herself! In this funny yet informative book, filled to the brim with kid-friendly facts, readers will discover key moments in Earth’s life, from her childhood more than four billion years ago all the way up to present day. Beloved children’s book author Stacy McAnulty helps Earth tell her story, and award-winning illustrator David Litchfield brings the words to life. The book includes back matter with even more interesting tidbits.
Review: Wow! This book went above and beyond my expectations! Think of it as Earth’s humorous autobiography. The voice that Stacy McAnulty gave Earth is perfect, and you learn things too! Although the book is silly and is told from Earth’s point of view, it is still a book that should be taken seriously because the knowledge it (and the back matter) holds is tremendous. It goes through the history of Earth is a truthful yet understandable way. Kids will leave the book knowing more than they did before but also really interested in learning more. Stacy McAnulty’s narrative with David Litchfield’s cartoonish illustrations lends itself to the perfect picture book for entertainment and information. Just check out the flagged passages to see why I say this is a must-get book!
Teachers’ Tools for Navigation: When Earth’s history is first introduced in elementary school, Earth! would be the perfect introduction book because it goes over the entire history in a way that students will pay attention to but also without dumbing down any of the information.
Discussion Questions:
- How did the author use text features throughout the book?
- How did the author’s use of an unconventional narrator help you understand the history of Earth better?
- What humorous parts of the book were your favorite? Why?
- Using the ruler visual within the book, how much of Earth’s history have human’s inhabited? What else do you learn from this visual?
- Read the back matter of the book. What else did Stacy McAnulty teach you in the back of the book?
- What is something new you learned about Earth or the solar system in Earth!?
- Would you classify the book as fiction or non-fiction? Why?
Flagged Passages:
Read This If You Love: Science, Space, Picture books with humorous narrators like It’s Not Jack and the Beanstalk by Josh Funk & Nothing Rhymes with Orange by Adam Rex
Recommended For:
**Thank you to Kelsey at MacMillan for setting up the blog tour for Earth!**
I love finding funny nonfiction!
Imogene is very interested in the short movie at the museum that shows the earth changes, then there’s more in the evolution displays. This looks like it will teach a lot while being somewhat silly too. Thanks!
I just saw this yesterday. I need to read it.
I am so excited for this one! Stacy told me about it at ALA, but for some reason I was thinking it was coming out in January. I’m on hold for it at the library now 🙂