The Naturalist's Notebook

 

About the book

Become a more attentive observer and deepen your appreciation for the natural world. The unique five-year calendar format of The Naturalist’s Notebook helps you create a long-term record and point of comparison for memorable events, such as the first songbird you hear in spring, your first monarch butterfly sighting of summer, or the appearance of the northern lights. Biologist Nathaniel T. Wheelwright and best-selling author Bernd Heinrich teach nature lovers of all ages what to look for outdoors no matter where you live, using Heinrich’s classic illustrations as inspiration. As you jot down one observation a day, year after year, your collected field notes will serve as a valuable record of your piece of the planet. This deluxe book, with a three-piece case, gilt edges, a burgundy ribbon bookmark, and a belly band with gold foil stamping, is a perfect gift for all nature lovers.

My Thoughts

This notebook is divided into two sections - one to teach you on how to become more observant and see what the nature can show us and the 5-year calendar journal.

The first portion of the book is composed of six chapters which will help you become more attentive to your surroundings and become an observant naturalist.   It will provide you with tips and tricks on how to observe the nature wherever you are and will give you some useful tools to have on hands.  One specific chapter provides some ways of learning through the seasons.   The first 95 pages will be instructive on how to become an observant naturalist.

Here are some examples of the pages found in the first section of the book.

The second portion of the book contains the 5-year calendar of observations.  The pages are presented like the example below.  You can use this notebook for a period of five years if you are dedicated in doing so every year or you could span it to every second year if you prefer to make it last longer.   One thing is for sure, you need to spend time outdoors to be able to fully use this book. This notebook will allow you to track the changes happening in the natural world around you.

In conclusion, if you enjoy the outdoors and take the time to stop and observe, you will enjoy having this notebook in your backpack to jolt down your observations.

This book can be found at your favorite bookstore.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Eyewitness DVDs

Through the years I had the privilege to present a wide variety of Eyewitness DVDs on this blog. The Eyewitness DVDs would be great in this time of social distancing to allow your kids to learn on specific subjects like plant, insect, ocean, birds and so on.

I have two other ones that I would like to present this morning. 

EYEWITNESS DVD INSECT

Like it or not during our spring, summer and fall seasons (at least in Canada anyways) we are surrounded but a wide range of insects.   Discover a world of creatures that are industrious, sociable, and environmentally useful.   Unfortunately for some of them, we do not have the patience to have them around us buzzing constantly in our ears.

But there is much to learn on these creatures.  This DVD will allow you to explore the wonders of the insect world through macro photography and 3-D graphics.  You will observe a queen wasp building her nest, a caterpillar devouring a leaf, a damselfly nympho emerging as an adult and so much more.

EYEWITNESS DVD WEATHER

Weather is something we experience day after day in life. Sunshine. Rain. Snow. These are only a sample of what weather is.   Sometimes it can be deadly like lighting, extreme winds, hail... 

This DVD takes you on a tour of Earth's turbulent atmosphere and reveals the forces that make our day a nice one or a disastrous one. 

Conclusion

Both of these DVD can make a wonderful unit study for your kids when learning from home - whether you are a veteran homeschooler or a new one (voluntarily or not due to Covid-19).

Each DVD are about 25 minutes in length and are packed with information that is interesting and educative at the same time. 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me these DVD for review purposes.  I was not monetarily compensated for this review.  Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way.  All opinion expressed here are only my own.

Keeping a Nature Journal

Keeping a Nature Journal – Discover a Whole New Way of Seeing the World Around You
Written by Clare Walker Leslie & Charles E. Roth
Published at Storey Publishing

About the book

Experience the splendor of nature with fresh eyes! Featuring an inspiring portfolio from Clare Walker Leslie’s nature journals, this guide offers easy-to-learn techniques for capturing the world around you in pictures and words. Encouraging you to make journaling a part of your daily routine, Keeping a Nature Journal is full of engaging exercises and stimulating prompts that will help you hone your powers of observation and appreciate new aspects of nature’s endlessly varied beauty.

My Thoughts

I have been doing bible art journaling for a few years now and as time goes by I am always eager to learn new techniques on drawing.   I have been seeing this particular book numerous time through the years but never ended up getting it.   I got the opportunity to review it and I have learned quite a bit while reading and trying the techniques presented in the book.    This is the 2nd edition of the book and in includes 32 pages of color portfolio from Clare’s latest journals.   Most of the rest of the book is black and white drawings. 

This book will open up a whole new way to look what is going on around you.  Personally, I find it peaceful and relaxing to sit down with a sketch book and draw.   The book is divided into four parts.  Part One will guide you on how to get started.  And please do not give me the excuse that you are not skilled whatsoever in drawing.  I, myself, is the perfect example in how someone can develop the skills and draw better.  I remember when I was in high school and I disliked my art classes.   It was always difficult for me that year to get better….  But unbeknown  to be the genes in my body would blossoms when I would be in my…. wait for it….. FORTIES!   Yes you have read this right.  I have learned to enjoy drawing and painting in my forties and as I am at the edge of turning fifty next year, I am looking forward to see how this journey will develop itself in the years to come.

Part Two will provide plenty of tips and tricks to draw through the seasons – whether you decide to do an ongoing journal or specific season journals.  Part Three presents the new selection of pages from Clare’s journals this time in color.   Finally Part Four is giving you a lesson on how to enjoy and develop the skill of nature journaling.  You cannot miss the examples and techniques presented.  One thing I will tell you is that practice makes you better as time goes by.  So do not hesitate a minute and grab this book, a sketch book and pencils to practice drawing.

I was inspired by one of the examples found in the book.  The tree presented looked as though it was a spring or summer image.  However, I decided to change it a bit and create a more late fall/winter image.   I am quite pleased with the result.

Another thing that I think is great for this book is that at the end of the book you can have a suggested scale for teachers to assess nature journaling skills.   As a homeschooler I think it is fabulous to have guidance of this sort because it can be difficult to grade assignments.  

This book is definitively a great resource to have if you desire to develop a new skills, if you desire to be better at drawing, if you homeschool, or if you do bible art journaling (because like it or not nature is perfect to illustrate verses!).  

The book Keeping a Nature Journal is available to purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned book for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

The Curious Nature Guide

The Curious Nature Guide – Explore the Natural Wonders All Around You
By Clare Walker Leslie
Published at Storey Publishing

About the book

With dozens of simple prompts and exercises, best-selling author, naturalist, and artist Clare Walker Leslie invites you to step outside for just a few minutes a day, reignite your sense of wonder about the natural world, and discover the peace and grounding that come from connecting with nature. Using stunning photography as well as the author’s own original illustrations, The Curious Nature Guide will inspire you to use all of your senses to notice the colors, sounds, smells, and textures of the trees, plants, animals, birds, insects, clouds, and other features that can be seen right outside your home, no matter where you live. Sketch or write about one exceptional nature image each day; learn to identify cloud types and the weather they bring; or create a record of what you see each day as you walk your dog. Easy, enjoyable, and enlightening, these simple exercises will transform your view of the world and your place within it.

My Thoughts

I love nature – exploring the woods or walking in the neighborhood is always a fun activity to do whether alone or with family/friends.

So I was curious about this book.  How could it make exploring nature more fun and entertaining.   As soon as I grabbed the book and started reading it I was hooked.  

The author has beautifully reduced the table of contents to three sections – begin, discover, connect.

Begin – first, you need to pause.  Wherever you are, open your senses to the world of nature around you.   This section will give you some tips on how to pause and enjoy what is around you whether you are in the woods or in a park in the downtown area.  There is always something to enjoy.

Discover – This section will help you identify what trigger your curiosity.  Take a closer look at the clouds, the night sky, the plants and animals, rivers, rocks and so on.  This weekend I was doing Uber and a young lady requested a ridesharing.   At some point she simply said “I love the clouds.”   I lifted my eyes and looked at the clouds – they were ok but not the beautiful white puffy ones.  Then she proceeded to tell me that she came to Canada from India back in December.  In India there is so much pollution that they do not see the clouds.  Then it dawned on me…. for us Canadians we probably take the clouds for granted because we see them all the time.   I am thankful for her comment because it made me realize that we are blessed to be able to see clouds on a daily basis.

Connect – This section is interesting to me.   The author encourages you to journal and meditate on nature.  Personally I would prefer just drawing what I see but everyone is different.   I would also bring my faith in my drawings and observations of nature.   But the author encourage you in developing a new way of connecting with what you have observe – could be drawing, writing a story or a poem, using photography, anything.

 

 

Through the pages of this book, the author is slowly expanding your senses and your observation skills in order to help you to be more aware of the nature surrounding you on a daily basis.  This would also be a great book to discover as a family, for homeschoolers, or within a class.

The Curious Nature Guide is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned book for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Thule Women Guidepost Backpacking Pack

Remember the backpack that had tubular metal for the frames? Yeah the old ones from back in the 80s. I used to walk with one of these when I was in the girl guides. It was the top of the line back then..... bulky, straight, but doing the job nevertheless. And then when I was a bit older I got a second hand backpack that had better pads and easier to carry. But honestly I wish I had a time travel to come in 2017 and get the new Thule guidepost because this is an extraordinary backpack design with women in mind.

First of all you have the possibility to adjust the height of the torso as well as the shoulder pads width based on your body form itself. Yes I am not kidding you about this. This is some of the functionality of the Thule Guidepost that is worth considering when you purchase a backpack. Another fabulous feature is definitively the fact that the hip belt can pivot as you walk. This will give you the maximum comfort.

But the backpack also comes with a numerous bonuses like the versaclick snaps which allow you to include other accessories. The backpack comes with a weatherproof rooftop pocket which allows you to protect important papers in case of rain. However, you could also purchase a ware bottle sleeve, a DSLR holster, a mirrorless camera holster, as well as an accessory pouch.

Another functionality that is interesting is the PowerPocket which allow you the manage the cords of your device is your wear a head phone and listen to music while doing your climb or walk. You also have the possibility to unclip the lid and transform it was a summit backpack if you desire.

And if you want to get to the bottom of the backpack to get something without having to remove everything in it, a handy-dandy J zip access will allow you to do that in à matters of seconds. Oh and by the way you can put 65 lbs of things in it.

Finally to make this backpack even more interesting, You will have a raincover included in it so that your items inside are protected from the rain that could surprise you during your outdoor adventure.

This backpack is definitively one of the best on the market. But I really do not see why the company is specifically highlighting the fact that it is for women in mind though. Because like it or not people comes in all sizes and shapes. You will have women who are more bulky and might prefer to get the backpack designed for men as well as men who are slimmer and could be more comfortable with a backpack designed for women. Personally, I would have no problem to have my sixteen years old son use this backpack on an adventure or mission trip.

The backpack I received was a bordeaux colour but there are other Colors available as well. Also a Thule Guidepost allowing 75 lbs of things in it is also available.

The Thule Women’s Guidepost Backpacking Pack is available for purchase on Amazon.ca.

65 LB model

  

75 LB model

  

Disclaimer: This product has been provided courtesy of Amazon.ca Vine Voices for review purpose. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by Amazon.ca or the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Eyewitness DVD Plant

Eyewitness DVD Plant
Published by DK Canada

About the DVD

Here is a an original and exciting new look at the fascinating natural world of plants. Stunning real-life photographs of flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves and more offer a unique "eyewitness" view of the natural history of plant anatomy and growth. See the biggest flower in the world, where a seed develops, what the inside of a plant stem looks like, how a flower attracts insects, what a plant's reproductive organs look like, and how a dandelion spreads its seeds. Learn how plants defend themselves, why flowers are brightly colored, how a plant can climb, why some plants feed on insects, and why some plants have no seeds. Discover why some plants have spines and stingers, what plants looked like millions of years ago, how plants survive in the desert, how plants turn sunlight into energy, and much, much more.

My Thoughts

We really enjoyed watching this DVD one gloomy morning during the month of June.   We learned quite a bit while listening to the narrator proceeded to explain everything relating to plants – from the seed to the various types of plants we can find on the planet.   We were amazed to be presented with stink plants which doesn’t grow on a yearly basis, to discover how carnivorous plants eat their prey, how the dandelion can be useful during war time and how a cactus can be affected by lighting in the desert…

This dvd was an eye opener to the world of plants and I think it would make a fabulous addition to your personal dvd library if you are homeschooling.   We have a book on Botany that I am thinking of using next year and I will definitively re-watch this dvd with the kids when we study the plants in more details.  The dvd can also supplement your studies of insects as you will see how they can help with the reproduction of plants.

If you are wondering how to entertain your kids during a rainy day or how to can feed their brain with educational information during the summer months, this dvd will allow them to learn quite a bit about plants.  

The Eyewitness DVD Plant is available for purchase at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

     

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book for review purposes from DK Canada.. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

DK Nature books

Spring means something special for us – exploring the outdoors and discovering the creatures and plants found around us.   Since the snow has melted and hopefully the sun will shine through the clouds soon, I though it would be nice to present you two books from DK which will help you to explore the nature with your kids.

The first book I want to present you is titled Spot the Bug.  Last year, I had the opportunity to review the book Spot the Bird and this new book has the same concept in mind. Essentially, the book will introduce you and your kids to the world of bugs that can be found in your backyard or in your neighborhood.    It contains numerous photographs of over 100 insects and creepy crawlies and will help you to identify them with information about their features, what they eat, where they live, and whether they live in colonies or alone.  Some of the insects you will find in this book are the honey bee, the carpet beetle, the field grasshopper, the crab spider, the housefly, the gypsy moth, the ladybug (obviously!) and more.   Stickers are also included in order to challenge your kids to keep track of their findings and create their personal bug journal.    I am looking forward in seeing which bug will cross our paths in 2013.

The second book will help you identify plants that can be found everywhere – trees.  In What’s That Tree?  you will be able to find identification information about commonly found trees.    This book will definitively be a great item to have when we start our camping season since the campground has numerous trees on its property.   We will easily be able to grab this pocket resource in order to practice identifying the trees found in their nature paths.    This book contains information about more than 150 North American common species and you will be able to use the pictures to help you find which tree your are studying.  The book will present you the leaves and fruits of the trees as well as some key information you need to know about them.   My only disappointment with this book is that there isn’t a picture of the bark of each tree.  The book is divided in three main sections: conifers, broadleaves simple and broadleaves compound.

There is nothing like the warm weather to encourage you to study the nature and I look forward to expand our knowledge on trees, birds and bugs this year.  DK Canada is currently having a Earth Day Boutique with some specials on books celebrating all the good things that come from the earth and live on the Earth.   Check out the various books they have to offer  for your nature studies this spring, summer and fall seasons by clicking on the image below!

Spot the Bug and What’s that Tree? are available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned products for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Pocket Genius Bugs

Pocket Genius Bugs
Published at DK Canada

About the book

The prefect sized books for backpacks, DK's Pocket Genius series is bright, inviting, concise, and punchy — the ideal source for reference. Featuring essential information, full-color images, glossary, and top ten lists, these books are a brand-new type of encyclopedia for young readers.

Whether it's the industrious ant, the breath-taking Monarch butterfly, or the multi-legged centipede, no bug is left unexamined in this visual encyclopedia.

My Thoughts

Bugs – some hate them like there is no tomorrow while others study them.   What is your take on them?   Me I don’t mind most of them while others I could live without like the mosquito for example.   Spiders I don’t mind while camping but I don’t particularly enjoy finding one in our house.  

Like it or not, bugs were created by God and have a purpose (even if we don’t see it).    This book will highlight everything you will need to know about bugs.   The book starts with informing you what are arthropods and what is not an arthropod.  You will also get an idea of the life cycle, feeding habits, habitats as well as some tips on how to study bugs.   Then you will get specific information on various bugs:

• Insects – silverflish, bristletails, mayflies, damselflies and dragonflies, stoneflies, rock crawlers, earwings, mantises, crickets, grasshoppers, cockroaches, termites, thrips, ture bugs, lice, alderflies, lacewings, beetles, scorpionflies, fleas, ture flies, caddisflies, moths, butterflies, swaflies, wasps, bees and ants.
• Arachnids – scorpions, ticks, mites, spiders, sun-spiders, pseudoscorpions, and more.
• Other arthropods – myriapods, crustaceans, non-insect hexapods.

You will also have  information on incredible bugs and record breakers.  Each  bug  has a little section presenting the Latin name, a description, as well as information about the size, the diet, the habitat and the distribution.  You will also get tidbits of fascinating facts throughout the book. For example, did you know that bites from the tarantula spider were believed to be poisonous in 16th-century Taranto, Italy and the remedy involved a form of wild dancing called the tarantella?   Though the tarantula may look venomous, it is actually harmless to humans.   When threatened a tarantula will first rear up on its hind legs and raise its fangs in an aggressive posture to scare off the attacker.   

As you can see you can learn interesting things about bugs in this book.  If you have a child who enjoy observing bugs and want to learn more from them you might have a little entomologist in your hands.  Why not encouraging him/her by providing a fun book to bring along in their science discoveries?

The Pocket Genius series has eight titles at this point in time: Rocks and Minerals, Animals, Sharks, Dinosaurs, Space, Earth, Bugs, and Ancient Egypt. Other titles comings in 2013 will be Mammals, Horses, Human Body, and Science.

Pocket Genius Bugs is available at your favourite boosktore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

     

The book is also available in the Kindle format.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

How Animals Work

How Animals Work – Why and how animals do the things they do
Published at DK Canada

About the book

Have you ever wondered how fish breathe underwater, how caterpillars transform into butterflies, why deer grow cumbersome antlers every year, or how snakes slither? How Animals Work explains the structures and systems of animal bodies, using photographs and diagrams to show how animals use their anatomy to move, communicate, hunt, and feed, and how their bodies enhance their chances in the struggle for survival.

My Thoughts

Are you still looking for the one gift for a child who adores animals?  Well I have a great book for you – How Animals Work.  This book will give you the why and how animals do the things they do like for example defense or hunting.  There are nine sections in the book:

• Body basics – Soft bodies,shells, exoskeletons, bony skeletons, skin, fur, feathers and scales are covered here.
• Animals on the move – This section will highlights every way an animal can move whether it is creeping, sliding, on legs, jumping, climbing, gliding, flying, swimming, diving or more.
• Life support – How does an animal live?  Discover the secrets in the breathing, circulation, nerves, brain, temperature control,rhythms, migration and survival skills.
• Animal diet – Food to fuel their bodies from grazing to scavengers and let’s not forget the omnivores either.
• Hunters and hunted – Learn about the tips and tricks of the hunters and how other animals will survived by camouflage, mimicry or other emergency escapes.
• Senses – Eye, ear,taste, smell, and touch faculties of the animals.
• Keeping in contact – How do animals communicate between each other.
• Animal families – Everything you want to know about the families in the animal kingdom.
• The animal world – Learn more about the various species in the animal kingdom.

This book is packed with interesting information and facts about the animals we might encounter when travelling or exploring your own backyard.   The photos are stunning and you also learn quite a bit while reading the pages.

For example,one year we went fishing as a family and I was able to taken a fabulous picture of dragonflies.  I discovered in this book that these dragonflies were mating and it is a perfect example of how their exoskeleton can be flexible. Their abdomens are made up of many jointed section that enable the male to arch its body and clasp the female behind the head during mating.

Another thing I have learned while reading the book is that many animals will feast on berries during the winter months.   Well I knew about that as I have caught some birds on my street having a late afternoon snacks recently.  What I have not realized is that they help to scatter the seeds when – well  you get the picture…    These berry bushes/trees are not just good for flying birds but we also spotted two wild turkeys feasting on such a bush near the retirement residence close to a busy street in our area.   

I find animals are full of wonder.   Our family enjoy observing them whether in the wild or at the zoo.   My daughter’s favourite bird is the flamingo and my third son’s is the bald eagle.   Totally different birds but there is so much we can learn from them.   Did you know that flamingos are the only birds that eat entirely by filter-feeding?   Their tongue works like a pump, pushing water through the edges of its beak, which in turn is lined with fibrous plates that trap its food.   I find this fascinating to learn this kind of information.   When you are homeschooling and your child has a specific interest on an animal, you can dig and discover about that animal anytime you want.

How Animals Work is a wonderful book to own and discover while studying animals.   It has beautiful pictures, graphs, as well as charts to help you understand how and why certain things happens in the animal kingdom.    It is definitively a great book to offer as a gift to the child who is passionate about animals.

How Animals Work is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

    

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Pocket Genius Earth

Pocket Genius Earth
Published at DK Canada

About the book

The prefect sized books for backpacks, DK's Pocket Genius series is bright, inviting, concise, and punchy — the ideal source for reference. Featuring essential information, full-color images, glossary, and top ten lists, these books are a brand-new type of encyclopedia for young readers.

A visual look at the planet we call home, Pocket Genius Earth delves into Earth's geology and geography, examining oceans, mountains, deserts, clouds, and more.

My Thoughts

The DK Pocket Genius books are fabulous to grab when you are travelling with children or simply running an errands with them.  They are very portable and the perfect size to slide in a bag or hold on their laps while you drive.   It contains lots of information on a specific subject and will allow them to learn on the go. 

This specific book will introduce your kids to the geology and geography of the planet Earth.   I don’t agree with everything in the book – more specifically on the creation of the planet and the millions/billions of years comments – but even with these mentions of evolution, I think the book is worth looking into.   If you are like me, you will want your kids to be exposed to both creation and evolution because when they will arrive in high school/college/university, that’s what they will learn.   I want them to understand that different people think differently and have the tools necessary to be able to defend their beliefs.

The book possess four main sections:

• LAND – In this section you will learn much about world biomes, mountains,volcanoes, volcanic features, rocks, rivers, rivers features, lakes, wetlands, glaciers, glacial features, deserts,forests, grasslands,tundra, agricultural areas, and urban areas.
• OCEAN – This section highlights all you need to know about oceans: currents, seas, oceans, coral reefs, and coastal features.
• ATMOSPHERE – This section will provide information on everything linked to the atmosphere – precipitation, cloud types, and storms.
• CLIMATE – Finally, you will get information on the climate regions throughout the world as well as the global warming.

To conclude the book, you will get fascinating facts about the Earth as well as a glossary and an index.   The book also contains breath-taking photos, graphs, maps and more.  

As I was reading the book, I stumbled on great information on the Yangtze River which apparently has flooded over 100 times in the past 2000 years.  I explored volcanoes and fabulous chain of mountains.   I learned more about the Dead Sea, admire a stunning photo of the tundra, learn more about the currents in the oceans, and discovered the powerful force of a tornado.  Did you know that in 1931, a tornado in Mississippi lifted a train weighing 91 tons (83 metric tonnes) up into the air and tossed it 80 ft. (24 m) away from the track?   That’s powerful!  A tornado usually as a width of 328 ft (100m).   No wonder it causes so much destruction…

This book will help your kids to learn more about the planet where they live.   The Pocket Genius series has eight titles at this point in time: Rocks and Minerals, Animals, Sharks, Dinosaurs, Space, Earth, Bugs, and Ancient Egypt. Other titles comings in 2013 will be Mammals, Horses, Human Body, and Science.

Pocket Genius Earth is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

    

It is also available on the Kindle.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Top 5 Favorites Items from New Leaf Publishing in 2012

Before I became an official Mom of Master Books last month, I have gotten their book for the previous two years and review numerous ones.    For December, it was suggested that we list our top five favorite items of the year.   Now, I haven’t been part of the group since January but numerous titles they have reviewed in the past twelve months have passed through my hands.   The first three titles I have on my fav five are three books that I have reviewed as well.   The last two are books I had purchased six years ago when I started my homeschool journey.  All five books are a marvelous addition to an homeschool or personal library.

#1 Big Book of History

This particular book is a great tool to have in your homeschool especially if you are a Christian because it will give you the Christian perspective of History.   Not only that but you will end up having a HUGE timeline on your floor when your kids are exploring it and trying to find a specific event in history.  More than 15 feet of history that could be discovered with your kids while doing history lessons.  

And to top it off, there is a Teacher’s guide of 32 pages that could be downloaded for free..

#2 Awesome Science

Ever wondering how the Bible can explain places like Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, or Meteor Crater and Petrified Forest?  Well you are in for a treat with the Awesome Science DVDs with Noah Justice.  This young man will explain in clear terms how the Bible can explain these places.   Let your family be transported in fabulous places and be in awe with God’s work in nature.   And to complete the lesson you can get a study guide which contains activities to help the information you have learned while watching the DVD sink into your brain and being absorb. There will be fill in the blanks, discussion questions, true/false questions, as well as bonus activities to do.  

New titles have also been released this month to complete this awesome science video library for your homeschool.

#3 Made in Heaven

I recently reviewed Made in Heaven and I was speechless by the quality of the text and the picture in it.   Not only do you discover how things we use on a daily basis (or not so daily basis) have been created from observing the world around us but you also see the great creativity of God when he created everything.  It was fun to read about the new money that we have in Canada and how they made it happened.    Recently we got some 50$ and 20$ with the new polymer bills and also learned that you have to be cautious when dealing with these as they stick to each other like a gecko would stick on a wall.   

This book is a great addition for your personal library and would be a perfect book to read daily to learn more about science and creation at the same time.

#4 Complete Zoo Adventure

This book has been part of our lives for numerous years already.   Every time we go to a zoo, I bring this marvelous teaching book on animals.     It is packed with information about the animals you will encounter at the zoo and doesn’t contain evolution reference.   Each time we explore this book, we end up learning something new.   For example,did you know that polar bears has a third eyelid that acts as sunglasses in order to protect it from snow blindness? 

The Complete Zoo Adventure sets the stage for learning with "Before the Zoo" preparations, gives you the tools you need for an awesome "At the Zoo" experience, and then continues to deepen the understanding of God's Creation with fabulous "After the Zoo" activities.   You will also find seven devotionals, encounter fabulous creature, learn more about creation, get some scripture memory aids and more.   It a great book to have and own in your personal library and to bring with you when you visit a zoo!

#5 Complete Aquarium Adventure

This book goes hand-in-hand with the Complete Zoo Adventure.    You will learn about amphibians, aquatic birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, pelicans, penguins, clownfish, eels, sea dragons, jellyfish, sharks, coral octopus, sting rays, and even whale sharks.   Similarly to the Complete Zoo Adventure, this book is designed for a on-the-go learning experience when you go to the aquarium, the lake or the beach.    It includes devotionals and other materials that will help you prepare your under-the-water exploration with your family.  

• At this point in time, there isn’t an aquarium near where we live.  There was talked of building one downtown at some point but the project never materialized.   However, while in Toronto last summer, we discovered that an aquarium is getting build in the downtown core which is quite exciting (though parking will be extremely difficult…).   I can’t wait to visit this new attraction in Toronto in the future.  You can bet that the Complete Aquarium Adventure will follow us during our explorations.

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These are five fabulous books and DVDs to own in your personal library.  I highly recommend each and every single one of them.  

2012 was a great year for new products at New Leaf Publishing.  I am quite curious to see what will be coming in 2013.  

 

These products are available at your favorite bookstore, even amazon.ca (except the DVDs) and amazon.com.

Thanks for following Canadianladybug Reviews!

Smithsonian Super Nature Encyclopedia

Smithsonian Super Nature Encyclopedia – The 100 most incredible creatures on the planet
From DK Canada

About the book

How can a cheetah accelerate from zero to forty miles per hour in three seconds? How do termites build cooling systems into their homes? What is that Alien-like set of jaws in a moray eel's mouth for? These questions and more are explored in Super Nature Encyclopedia, an interactive look at the "wow" factor of the natural world — spotlighting Great White Sharks, African Elephants, Emperor Moths, Howler Monkeys and more of the world's most fascinating and surprising animals in remarkable detail. Visualized with incredible 3D animal models with cross-sections and strip layers, readers can explore every essential detail of the animals' anatomical features and learn why their bodies work the way they do.

My Thoughts

Something they want

Something they need

Something to wear

Something to read

This is a wonderful way of covering Christmas don’t you think.  I saw it on Pinterest recently and trust me that I love the idea of reducing the quantities of things under the Christmas tree.    One thing I always done was to give books to the kids at any age they were.  This year, I am planning to give this marvelous book to my son who adores animals.   He has a special gift with all creatures and I think he will enjoy this book very much.  

The book will present to you a variety of animals from the various species existing on earth – mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. In each section you will discover the ones who will have the most amazing anatomy, the animal athletes, the life stories of some animals as well as the supernatural senses they might have.  Each section will also highlights the record-breakers that exist around the planet.

Each animal has a stats and facts that will give you interesting information about is, an at a glance section which will highlights the size,habitat, location and diet of the animal as well as close up photos of it.  Depending of the animal presented, you could also get some 3D animal models or drawing that will help you understand a specific aspect of the creature.   For example,  take the woodpecker – a bird that is commonly seen everywhere during the summer.   Even when you don’t see it, you can hear his tock-tock-tock as he is looking for food in the tree.    Did you know that a woodpecker’s skull is made of spongy bone that absorbs the vibrations has he makes holes?   The brain sits very tightly inside the skull to stop it from bouncing off the bone when the bill strikes.    And to protect it even more, there are dense muscles in the neck that will divert the impact away from the brain.  

While going through the book, I also learned that the basilisk lizard – also known as the Jesus Christ lizard – can run on water because the bubbles under its feet help to keep it afloat.     This lizard is apparently the heaviest water-walking animal on earth.   I love animals too and I have discovered fascinating information while reading this book.  I would highly recommend it to all homeschoolers as well as every one else.   This book is a great addition to your personal library and will keep your kids busy in learning fun things about the animals found on the planet.

So this Christmas season, why not provide an educational book to kids in your life.  The Smithsonian Super Nature Encyclopedia is a fabulous book that would make a great gift.

The Smithsonian Super Nature Encyclopedia is also available in the ebook version on iTunes for the price of 4.99$.

The Smithsonian Super Nature Encyclopedia is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Monarch Butterfly

Monarch Butterfly
By Gail Gibbons
Published at Holiday House

About the Book

From egg to caterpillar to butterfly, the story of how they live.

My Thoughts

I’ve discovered the books by Gail Gibbons with Ladybugs which I absolutely adore.  I wanted to look at other titles from her and requested the Monarch Butterfly one because it is one of my favourite butterflies.

From the beginning of the book I learned something interesting that I didn’t know – the egg of a monarch is almost always laid on a milkweed plant.   When the egg latches the plant becomes its food.   I didn’t know that a monarch butterfly will lay its eggs on the same kind of plant.   Now I understand the importance of keeping milkweed plants around.   The tiny caterpillar will eat for two weeks and molt five times before starting the process of becoming a marvelous butterfly. The process is explained in details with nice illustrations.   Through the book, you will always experience the journey of a monarch butterfly as it migrates for the winter.   

The book explains in clear words the whole life cycle and migration of the monarch butterfly.  It is a great way to discover more about the butterfly that comes and visit us during the warm season.   At the end of the book, you also have some tips on how to raise a monarch butterfly.   It would be a great way to have live science in your home!

Monarch Butterfly is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Thomas Allen for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.