Laurie Thompson

Review: We’ve Got a Job

Laurie Thompson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:40:08 +0000

We’ve Got a Job by Cynthia Levinson Peachtree Publishers, February 1, 2012 176 pages Ages: 10 and up Oscar Wilde supposedly said, “Any fool can make history, but it takes genius to write it.” While I don’t necessarily agree with the first part, the second part absolutely rings true. After all, how do you make a story [...] Related posts:

STEM Friday roundup is here!

Laurie Thompson — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:00:51 +0000

I’m thrilled to be hosting STEM Friday today! If you reviewed a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) book for kids on your blog today, please leave your link in the comments or on Twitter (@lauriethompson), and I will add you to the round-up throughout the day. Thanks! My contribution to this week’s STEM Friday, a review of [...] Related posts:

Review: In Search of Sasquatch

Laurie Thompson — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:59:41 +0000

In Search of Sasquatch by Kelly Milner Halls Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (October 25, 1011) 64 pages, ages 9 and up When I was a kid, one of my favorite books was BIGFOOT: MAN, MONSTER, OR MYTH? by Carrie Carmichael (Raintree, 1977). I’ve always been an animal lover, and I loved the possibility that there [...] Related posts:

What I Learned From the Cybils

Laurie Thompson — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 02:37:09 +0000

The Cybils’ Nonfiction Picture Book panel for round one, which I was thrilled to be a part of this year, recently finished our deliberations. The panelists were: Fiona Bayrock (blogging at Books and ‘Rocks) Janssen Bradshaw (blogging at Everyday Reading) Susan Murray (blogging at From Tots to Teens) Cathy Potter (blogging at The Nonfiction Detectives) [...] Related posts:

Review: Bring On the Birds

Laurie Thompson — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:27:21 +0000

Bring On the Birds written and illustrated by Susan Stockdale Peachtree Publishers (February 1, 2011) 32 pages, ages 4 and up This is one of my favorite books of all the nominations in the Cybils Nonfiction Picture Book category this year, and I just can’t get over how absolutely perfect it is. The poetic text is [...] Related posts:

Review: Amazing Kitchen Chemistry

Laurie Thompson — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:00:58 +0000

Amazing Kitchen Chemistry Projects You Can Make Yourself by Cynthia Light Brown (Author) Nomad Press (May 1, 2008) 122 pages Ages: 9-12 From the publisher’s web page: “In Amazing Kitchen Chemistry Projects You Can Build Yourself, kids ages 9 and up will experiment with kitchen materials to discover chemistry. Readers will learn about atoms, molecules, solids, [...] Related posts:

Review: Picture Yourself Writing Poetry

Laurie Thompson — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:00:51 +0000

Picture Yourself Writing Poetry: Using Photos to Inspire Writing by Laura Purdie Salas Capstone Press, August 2011 32 pages Ages: 8 and up This title is one of the Picture Yourself Writing ____: Using Photos to Inspire Writing series, and it’s quite effective—it inspired me to write! Not only does it demonstrate how one can use images [...] Related posts:

The importance of play

Laurie Thompson — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:54:14 +0000

I have a confession to make. I’ve never been much of a journaler, my creativity has always been bursty, and I have never in my life had anything resembling a daily writing habit. But I really need one. “Need” is the right word, too. I almost wrote “should,” but that isn’t quite correct. It’s 1:30 p.m., and I’ve [...] No related posts.

Review: Only the Mountains Do Not Move

Laurie Thompson — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:00:44 +0000

Only the Mountains Do Not Move: A Maasai Story of Culture and Conservation by Jan Reynolds Lee & Low Books, September 01, 2011 40 pages Grades 3-4 I’ve always been fascinated by the Maasai, so I was pleased to see this book about their culture written for children, and this book didn’t disappoint. Straightforward text [...] Related posts: