What's That Noise?

What's That Noise?
by Naomi Howarth
32 pages; ages 3 - 7
Candlewick, 2020

theme: Arctic animals, friends, problem-solving

Early one morning, while the sun was rising over the icy plains of the Arctic, a long, low rumbling sound woke Magnus from a very deep sleep.

What could it be? Hare has a good pair of ears. Maybe he can hear better. No luck, so they ask other friends to help figure out what the rumbling is. Could it be the trees creaking, the ice cracking, the wind moaning?

What I like about this book: It is a fun and noisy book, and I love the surprise at the end. I also like how the back endpages are put to use presenting more information about the Arctic animals featured in the book.

Beyond the Books:

Learn more about animals that live in the Arctic. Here's a good place to start.

Check out these Arctic Animal Sounds here.

Make a Mask of an Arctic Animal. Want to be a polar bear? Here's how to make a mask. Here's instructions for a Puffin mask. Or be creative and make a walrus mask or a snowshoe hare mask.

In September we'll join Perfect Picture Book Friday, an event where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's website. Review copy provided by the publisher.

Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention

Izzy Gizmo and the Invention Convention 
by Pip Jones; illus. by Sara Ogilvie
32 pages; ages 4 - 8
Peachtree Publishing, 2020

theme: STEM, invention, problem-solving

Izzy Gizmo and Fixer were making a racket inventing a So-Sew to fix Grandpa’s jacket, when
Ding  
   Dong  
         Doink! 
went the bell on the door, and a golden note fluttered down to the floor.

That golden note is an invitation to the annual invention convention. Even though her inventions don’t always work, Izzy and Grandpa set off to Technoff Isle. Izzy has an idea, but other competitors take the best tools and supplies. When Izzy discovers a trove of cast-off broken tools that only need repair, she comes up with a new invention.

What I like about this book: Things go wrong, as they do when one is inventing something new. And Izzy ignores what her buddy, Fixer is trying to tell her until… it makes sense. Oh, and did I forget to say that Fixer is a crow whose wing Izzy repaired using her inventive ideas?

Beyond the Books:

Think of something you use and ask: How could we do this better? How could we do this faster? Write or draw your ideas.

Start with materials in your recycling bin. Think of ways you could use plastic bottles to bring light into a tree fort or shelter. Or how you could use those discards to capture the wind. Draw or write your ideas.

Make an Inventor Took Kit. Fill it with needle nose pliers, wire strippers, screwdrivers, alligator clips, wires, batteries, small motors and solar panels, rubber bands, electrical tape, maybe a hot glue gun.

In September we'll join Perfect Picture Book Friday, an event where bloggers share great picture books at Susanna Leonard Hill's website. Review copy provided by the publisher.