scholarly journals Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes by N. Davies

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Plecash
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Blood Cell ◽  
White Blood Cell ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
The World ◽  
The Invisible

Davies, Nicola. Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes. Illus. Emily Sutton. Somerville: Candlewick Press, 2014. Print.“Do you know that there are creatures so tiny that millions could fit on this ant’s antenna?” Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes takes a close up look at the invisible world of microorganisms around us. Davies takes this potentially difficult topic and presents it in a way that is accessible to children. This picture book starts by comparing concrete ideas-- the size of a whale to the size of an ant’s antenna-- to help children visualize the size of these microbes. From there, the book goes on to explain that microbes are everywhere, even in volcanoes and our own bodies. Unlike other children’s books about germs, Davis does not focus on presenting microbes as evil monsters, with white blood cell super heroes. Instead, she frankly discusses how some microbes can make you sick, but the majority are “busy doing other things.” This is a nice movement away from the tendency in children’s books to insist that germs, generally, are the bad guys. Davis’ germs are not scary, but they are powerful.Instead of using text to show how to protect against these germs, the illustrator Emily Sutton presents pictures of children washing their hands and using mosquito netting. The watercolour artwork follows two young children exploring the world of microbes. The illustrations are bright, engaging, and effectively enhance and add to the text.Nicola Davis has published a number of children's books about nature, drawing on her expertise as a zoologist. Tiny Creatures is particularly welcome as there are so few options for books of this kind. With its accessible language and simple artwork, this book is a wonderful way to introduce children in kindergarten to grade three to the world of microbes.Highly recommended:  4 stars out of 4Reviewer:  Jenny Plecash

eye brings you another batch of the latest products and books on offerExploring Poetry with Young Children: Sharing and creating poems in the early years Ann Watts ISBN 9781138100503 £22.99. Paperback Publisher Routledge Orders www.routledge.com/education; orders via 01235 400400 Review by Neil HentyEarly Childhood and Neuroscience: Theory, Research and Implications for Practice Mine Conkbayir ISBN 9781474231909 £19.99. Paperback Publisher Bloomsbury Orders Tel: 01256 302699; www.bloomsbury.com/uk Review by Neil HentyForest School in Practice For All Ages Sara Knight ISBN 9781473948921 £22.99 Publisher SAGE Orders Tel: 020 73248500; www.sagepublications.com Review by Neil HentyOver and Under the Pond by Kate Messner and Christopher Silas Neal [£10.99 from Chronicle Books; ISBN: 9781452145426].When I Coloured in the World by Ahmadreza Ahmadi [£7.99 from Tiny Owl; ISBN: 9781910328224].Mummy's Got Bipolar by Sonia Mainstone-Cotton [£7.99 from Jonson Publishing; ISBN: 9780995687400].The Night Gardener by Eric and Terry Fan [£12.99 from Frances Lincoln Children's Books; ISBN: 9781847809391].That's Not a Daffodil! by Elizabeth Honey [£6.99 from Allen & Unwin; ISBN: 9781743368800].The Butterfly Dance by Suzanne Bartin [£11.99 from Bloomsbury; ISBN: 9781408864845].British Values and the Prevent Duty in the Early Years: A practitioner's guide Kerry Maddock ISBN 9781785920486 £12.99. Paperback Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers Orders Tel: 02078332307 www.jkp.com Review by Neil HentySuccessful Early Years Ofsted Inspections: Thriving children, confident staff Julian Grenier ISBN 9781473938410 £22.99 Paperback Publisher SAGE Orders Tel: 020 73248500; www.sagepublications.com Review by Neil HentyChild-initiated Play and Learning: Planning for possibilities in the early years Annie Woods (editor) ISBN 9781138688193 £21.99 Paperback Publisher Routledge Orders www.routledge.com/education; orders via 01235 400400 Review by Neil Henty

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 46-48
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
The World ◽  
Theory Research

Mapping the Topics and Evolutions of Chinese Children’s Bestsellers

Libri ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 305-317
Author(s):  
Jiming Hu ◽  
Xiang Zheng ◽  
Peng Wen ◽  
Jie Xu
Keyword(s):  
Social Network ◽  
Quantitative Analysis ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Intellectual Structure ◽  
Structure Evolution ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
Correlation Structures ◽  
The World ◽  
Data Source

AbstractChildren’s books involve a large number of topics. Research on them has been paid much attention to by both scholars and practitioners. However, the existing achievements do not focus on China, which is the fastest growing market for children’s books in the world. Studies using quantitative analysis are low in number, especially on the intellectual structure, evolution patterns, and development trends of topics of children’s bestsellers in China. Dangdang.com, the biggest Chinese online bookstore, was chosen as a data source to obtain children’s bestsellers, and topic words in them were extracted from brief introductions. With the aid of co-occurrence theory and tools of social network analysis and visualization, the distribution, correlation structures, and evolution patterns of topics were revealed and visualized. This study shows that topics of Chinese children’s bestsellers are broad and relatively concentrated, but their distribution is unbalanced. There are four distinguished topic communities (Living, Animal, World, and Child) in terms of centrality and maturity, and they all establish their individual systems and tend to be mature. The evolution of these communities tends to be stable with powerful continuity.

scholarly journals What do we read to our children? Messages concerning ethnic diversity in popular children’s books in the Netherlands

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ymke de Bruijn ◽  
Rosanneke A. G. Emmen ◽  
Judi Mesman
Keyword(s):  
Critical Race Theory ◽  
Young Children ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Ethnic Diversity ◽  
White Supremacy ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
Cultural Authenticity ◽  
Cultural Specificity ◽  
Cultural Details

AbstractChildren’s books can create opportunities for children to see themselves as well as others in different settings and stories, but cultural details and specificity within these stories can play an important role in the messages that children take away. Therefore, the present study aims to provide insight in the messages concerning ethnic diversity and various cultures in a subset of popular books that Dutch young children are likely to be exposed to. Books aimed at young children that were sold or borrowed most often or were awarded between 2009 and 2018 in the Netherlands are examined through the combined lens of critical race theory and critical multicultural analysis. Specifically, books including a protagonist or secondary character of color were selected. The study provides insight in the degree of cultural specificity and cultural authenticity, as well as prevailing power relations between characters and ideologies that are portrayed within the books. Results indicate that while cultural stereotypes and ideologies including White supremacy and eurocentrism are found only in a few books, cultural details are generally lacking and colorblindness is common in books aimed at young children. The study therefore underlines the particular need for books that are culturally specific and include authentic cultural details, to improve the reflection of various cultures and experiences of characters of color.

scholarly journals The Very Hungry Caterpillar in Tuscany

2013 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Picture Books ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
Very Young Children ◽  
Specific Goal ◽  
Level Of Understanding

The volume publishes some essays illustrating experiences which attempted to promote reading with very young children in nurseries and infant schools, as part of a project on the picture books by Eric Carle, a well-known American illustrator of children's books. In particular, this initiative took place during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years, in a large number of nurseries and infant schools in some areas of Tuscany (Pistoia, Firenze, Grosseto, Livorno, Lucca, Viareggio, and the Empolese area). The main aim of the project, carried out as action-research, was to present the books of Eric Carle and investigate the level of understanding of the stories proposed by the famous illustrator. The specific goal of the project was to introduce teachers, educators, librarians and parents to the picture books written and illustrated by Eric Carle and translated into Italian.

People of the Picture Book

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel B. Gross
Keyword(s):  
Popular Culture ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Religious Activity ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
American Jews ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
American Jewish ◽  
Reading To Children ◽  
Jewish Families

Since 2005, a philanthropic organization, PJ Books, has set out to influence American Jews by reaching them in one of their most tender, intimate family moments: parents reading to children. The program uses children's books to influence Jewish families' values and practices. This chapter argues that PJ Library demonstrates the burden that American Jewish institutions place on popular culture to shape their communities. Though staff members deny that PJ Library is engaged in religious activity, the organization does, in fact, use children's books as a tool to shape American Jewish religion. It uses children's books to introduce families to or reinforce their connection with sacred rituals and Jewish customs. More broadly, PJ Library seeks to persuade American Jewish families to make Judaism an important part of their lives and to connect them, one illustrated book at a time, to networks that will help them do so.

eye brings you another batch of the latest products and books on offer101 Games to Play Before You Grow Up: Exciting and fun games to play anywhere! ISBN 97816332233370 £8.99. Paperback Publisher Walter Foster Jr Orders Tel: 020 77006700 https://www.quarto.com/ Review by Neil HentyBeginning Teaching, Beginning Learning In Early Years and Primary Education (Fifth edition) Edited by Janet Moyles, Jan Georgeson, Jane Payler ISBN 9780335226962 £28.99. Paperback Publisher Open University Press Orders Tel: 0203 4293400 [email protected] www.mheducation.co.uk Review by Neil HentyBuilding Positive Momentum for Positive Behavior in Young Children: Strategies for success in schools and beyond Lisa Rogers ISBN 978 785927744 £19.99 Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers Orders Tel: 02078332307 www.jkp.com Review by Neil HentyAfter the Fall: How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again by Dan Santat [£6.99 from Andersen Press; ISBN: 9781783446353]How Does My Fruit Grow by Gerda Muller [£10.99 from Floris Books; ISBN: 9781782504726]Juniper Jupiter by Lizzy Stewart [£11.99 from Frances Lincoln Children's Books; ISBN: 9781786030238]Rainforest by Julia Groves [£6.99 from Child's Play International; ISBN: 9781846439353]Baby Bird by Andrew Gibbs and Zosienka [£11.99 from Frances Lincoln Children's Books; ISBN: 9781786030122]Rowan the Red Squirrel by Lynne Rickards and Jon Mitchell [£6.99 from Picture Kelpies; ISBN: 9781782504771]Using Film to Understand Childhood and Practice Sue Aitken ISBN 9781474274555 £19.99. Paperback Publisher Bloomsbury Orders Tel: 01256 302699; www.bloomsbury.com/uk Review by Neil HentyReflective Playwork: For all who work with children (Second edition) Jacky Kilvington and Ali Wood ISBN 9781474254038 £19.99. Paperback. Publisher Bloomsbury Orders Tel: 01256 302699; www.bloomsbury.com/uk Review by Neil HentySchool Readiness and the Characteristics of Effective Learning: The essential guide for early years practitioners Tamsin Grimmer ISBN 9781785921759 £14.99 Paperback Publisher Jessica Kingsley Publishers Orders Tel: 02078332307 www.jkp.com Review by Neil Henty

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (12) ◽  
pp. 46-48
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Primary Education ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Positive Behavior ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Effective Learning ◽  
Child's Play ◽  
Humpty Dumpty

Books Without Boundaries: Jewish Children's Books in the Secular Arena

1994 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-101
Author(s):  
Carol Snyder
Keyword(s):  
Young Adult ◽  
Picture Book ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
Personal Experiences ◽  
Jewish Writers

Books with Jewish content are of universal interest and are important to individuals and to society. Through humor and personal experiences in writing and speaking about my Ike and Mama series, my middlegrade young-adult books, as well as my picture book, God Must Like Cookies, Too, I communicate to publishers, authors, and librarians the ways that my books have crossed over to the general marketplace. Why and how this came to be, and the newfound inclusion and interest of Jewish writers in the "multicultural" designation are also examined.

scholarly journals What might books be teaching young children about gender?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly Lewis ◽  
M. Cooper Borkenhagen ◽  
Ellen Converse ◽  
Gary Lupyan ◽  
Mark S. Seidenberg
Keyword(s):  
Young Children ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Children's Books ◽  
Children’S Books ◽  
Large Scale Data ◽  
Occurrence Data ◽  
Gender Biases ◽  
Scale Data ◽  
Early Source

We investigate how gender is represented in children’s books using a novel 200,000 word corpus comprising 247 popular, contemporary books for young children (0-5 years). Using human judgments and word co-occurrence data, we quantified gender biases of words in individual books and in the whole corpus. We find that children’s books contain many words that adults judge as gendered. Semantic analyses based on co-occurrence data yielded word clusters related to gender stereotypes (e.g., feminine: emotions; masculine: tools). Co-occurrence data also indicate that many books instantiate gender stereotypes identified in other research (e.g., girls are better at reading and boys at math). Finally, we used large-scale data to estimate the gender distribution of the audience for individual books, and find that children tend to be exposed to gender stereotypes for their own gender. Together the data suggest that children’s books may be an early source of gender associations and stereotypes.

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