The Inuit Thought of It: Amazing Arctic Innovations
by Alootook Ipellie with David MacDonald
As the Inuit settled in Alaska and then gradually spread throughout the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, they lived on what the land had to offer. They built houses with sod and driftwood, crafted hunting tools from animal bones, and turned whale intestines into waterproof clothing. The many inventions created by these creative and resourceful peoples are catalogued in this attractive book.
Some Inuit ideas and innovations include:
- dog boots
- sled runners
- kayaks
- sleeping bags
- harpoons
- snow goggles
Discovering the Iceman
by Shelley Tanaka
In 1991, two hikers in the Italian Alps spotted what they first thought was a doll sticking out of the melting snow. Crudely dug up, the body was transported to an Austrian medical lab, where carbon-14 dating revealed that it was 5,300 years old. Examinations of The Iceman, as the body became known, has shed light on what life used to be like in the late Stone Age (500 years before the Egyptian pyramids). Pictures of the Iceman's clothing and tools are very interesting, while diagrams and sidebars provide information about diet, agriculture and glacier movement.
Most of the book consists of a fictional recreation of the Iceman's life and how he may have died. The story may mislead some readers into thinking it is actually true. However, the book does provide a good look at how archeologists do their work. Also, the close-up and gruesome photos of the Iceman will prove attractive to many children.
Under the Ice: A Marine Biologist at Work
by Kathy Conlan
In this photo-essay, marine biologist Conlan describes her three-month stay in Antarctica, where she performs experiments regarding the effects of pollution on sea bed animals. Conlan details the dangers of polar diving, the precautions needed to dive safely, and what it really feels like to enter an ice-covered world. Kids will be fascinated by the appealing photos of sea urchins, sea stars, and Emperor penguins. Conlan even has a close encounter with a playful Weddell seal.
A very engaging introduction to the life of a marine biologist.
Love Every Leaf: The Life of Landscape Architect Cornelia Hahn Oberlander
by Kathy Stinson
Cornelia Oberlander was the first architect to realize the importance of living in harmony with nature. She was ahead of her time in designing green roofs and parks and in using native plants and soils. She also recognized the need of children to build and play, and designed wonderfully creative playgrounds. The adventure playground she created for Expo67 had hills to climb, tunnels to hide in, water for wading, and building materials for kids to construct their own houses. It may sound dangerous, but consider this: there was only one injury (a sprained ankle).
I've been unable to determine if Oberlander's playground still exists. I hope it does. In the meantime, read this inspiring book. It's filled with many imaginative ideas. I just wish that the photos were in colour!
(Kids Can Press)
An excellent and fun book about gardening, even if it uses drawings instead of photos. The introduction contains good information about garden preparation, and even tells you to test soil for lead (very important if you’re growing fruits and vegetables). The book has lots of helpful advice about garden design, harvest times, native plants, and school and community gardens.
Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder
by Richard Louv
In chapter one of From Then to Now: A Short History of the World, Christopher Moore asks Did you ever go farther than a car or a motorboat could take you, to a place where you could see no lights, no roads? To a place where no phones rang, beyond the view of power lines and buildings, beyond the rumble of traffic? At night you saw no city lights glowing on the horizon, but a billion stars blazed fiercely overhead. Outside the crackling comfort of your fire there was only darkness, with the rustle of insects and an animal's distant cry. You could feel for a moment that you and your companions might be the only people on the face of the earth.
Sadly, many children are growing up with little connection to nature. Summer camps, Boy Scouts, and Girl Guides teach children more about computers, science, self-improvement or serving others, rather than natural history. There is growing evidence that the lack of nature in children's lives corresponds to the rise in obesity, attention disorders, and depression. In Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv makes an eloquent and convincing case for the essentialness of direct exposure to nature. He cites the cumulative impact of overdevelopment, environmental regulation, building regulation, fear of litigation and fear of strangers as the reason why kids today are prevented from exploring the outdoors. But, you may argue, my child plays soccer, rides skateboards, uses all-terrain vehicles; isn't that spending time outside? Yes, but Louv states that using nature isn't the same as being in nature. Children need to experience an awareness of nature so that they can better appreciate its wonders and learn to sustain it. They can also find that being alone in nature can nurture creativity, alleviate stress, and provide solace in times of trouble.
Connecting to nature doesn't have to be difficult. Planting a garden, building an igloo, going on a hike or building adventure playgrounds - these are all activities that Louv suggests for healing the broken bond between children and nature.
Louv is an American author, but his book is a very important and effective wake-up call for parents, teachers, and policy-makers.
Nonfiction books for children are not as popular as fiction. Compared to vampires, werewolves and fantastical places, nonfiction is sometimes seen as boring and unexciting. Nothing could be further from the truth! Nonfiction books these days are lively, entertaining, and awe-inspiring! They're written by intelligent, passionate authors who like nothing better than to share their enthusiasm with young readers.
There are many children who enjoy facts and trivia and long to know about the world. Any parent who's ever been bombarded with lots of questions would understand. To satisfy all inquisitive children, welcome to this blog! With Interesting Nonfiction for Inquisitive Kids, I will be featuring fascinating children's nonfiction books. Whenever possible, I will try to showcase Canadian authors (indicated by the maple leaf icon). Today's book won the 2011 Governor General's Literary Award for children's text.
From Then to Now: A Short History of the World
by Christopher Moore
As the preface states, this is a story about people. From hunters and gatherers to today's multiculturalism, Moore traces humanities' spread throughout the world and beyond. In just 188 pages, he manages to not only cover European history, but those of Africa, China, and India as well. Clearly written and concisely told, this is a thought-provoking and engaging book that makes history interesting to readers young and old.
