Welcome to the SUNDAY EVENING POST! This week's theme is nonfiction books. Children love to soak up new information so don't forget to include lots of interesting nonfiction books in your classroom or home. Depending on the age of the child I have found that they may not read the entire page or book but they look at the pictures, read the captions and have interesting discussions with their friends and classmates.

National Geographic: Angry Birds
by Mel White

Who could have imagined that the Angry Bird App would turn into a worldwide phenomenon that would include things like clothes, cartoons, board games and books? This book combines fictional personality descriptions of the Angry Bird characters with facts, pictures and explanations of real life angry birds. I am not a huge fan of video game type apps but it is nice to see how a menial pastime can be turned into a learning opportunity. Your children and students will love the action shot pictures and the fascinating rap sheets of each bird. It's entertainment and education all wrapped up in one angry book.

https://www.angrybirds.com/read

Owen & Mzee:
The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
by Isabella Hatkoff, Craig Hatkoff
and Dr, Paula Kahumba

This heartwarming story is about how a baby hippo and a 130-year-old Aldabra tortoise, called Mzee, became friends after the tragic tsunami in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004. The book is written by a father/daughter pair in conjunction with the veterinarian who was part of the rescue effort for Owen, the baby hippo. The photographs that support the text show the care and concern of the people who found Owen stranded on a reef near Malindi, Kenya. The photographer was also able to capture the budding friendship and "love" between these two unlikely companions.

As a teaching tool, this book could be used for geography, science or literacy lessons but also a child could learn about acceptance, friendship and determination from the story.

http://www.owenandmzee.com/omweb/

Time for Kids: Super Science Book
By Lynette Brent Sandvold

My boys love science and love science experiments even more! We often have Science Experiment Night (instead of movie night or games night) where the kitchen gets very messy and gooey. In this book you will find experiments that can be done on the spur of the moment with supplies in your own home as well as others that may need a little planning. The experiments are broken down into 3 scientific categories and each experiment has background information as well as an explanation of the science behind the experiment. There is a combination of actual photographs and step by step drawings and instructions to help even the youngest scientist be successful. So, why are you sitting there? Get some baking soda and vinegar and get going! Have fun!!