Fun Non-Fiction selections for the K-3 group!

OK - so the perfect book to read before or after the parade on Turkey Day?

Balloons Over Broadway:  The True Story of the Puppeteer of the Macy’s Parade written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet (2011)

Perfect for the Thanksgiving holidays!!  Learn a bit about puppetry and the history of the parade along with an introduction to Tony Sarg, the inventor of the balloons over Broadway. (guess who one of his apprentice's apprentice was?)

If you have kids that love the Lulu the Ladybug Girl by David Soman, then please share this book with them so they can learn all about real ladybugs!

Ladybugs by Gail Gibbons (2012)

I learned a lot about ladybugs from this book!  They live on six of seven continents.  There are over 5000 different types of ladybugs.  And they are similar to butterflies and moths – they form a pupa and when they hatch, they become a ladybug.  

And while you are reading about ladybugs, check out 

The Story of Silk: From Worm Spit to Woven Scarves. by Richard Sobol (2012)

What a fun story!  This would be a great book to share with 2^nd or 3^rd graders about life in Thailand and how silk is made.  They would especially enjoy the parts about worm poop and eating the silk worms!

Owen & Mzee:  The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship, by Isabella and Craig Hatkoff and Paula Kahumu.    Photography by Peter Creste, 2006.

I love this story of a baby hippo named Owen and a 130-yr-old giant tortoise named Mzee (Mm-ZAY).  Owen lost his mom in a tsunami.  Cranky old Mzee adopts the baby hippo and takes care of him after Owen is moved to an animal sanctuary. 

Stars Beneath Your Bed: The Surprising Story of Dust, by April Pulley Sayre Illustrated by Anne Jonas (2005)

A fascinating, lyrical look at where dust comes from.  K-3^rd should all enjoy this one as a read-aloud or on their own for the more experienced reader.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!