Five Faves: Informational Books About Eclipses

One of my newer bucket list goals is to see a total solar eclipse. When I realized that this year's eclipse would be the week after my kids' spring break, I went into chaotic research mode to see if we could find a way to get to a part of the country where we could see the eclipse in totality. Alas, we can't make it work this time, and I'm still not over it. Maybe 2026 in Iceland--how cool would that be?! Whether you can experience the eclipse in person or just wish you could, you can still have the joy of learning more about eclipses with the following informational reads!

Casting Shadows: Solar and Lunar Eclipses With the Planetary Society
By Bruce Betts
Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Pub Group, 2024, Informational. 32 pages.

Learn about the different types of eclipses, where and how you can safely see them, why they happen, and cool things that can happen during the different types of eclipses. Beautiful, full-color photographs go along with the wealth of information.

Eclipse
By Andy Rash
New York: Scholastic Press, 2023. Informational.

A father and son share in the excitement and beauty of a solar eclipse. Told in countdown style, a little boys learns about an eclipse to happen in a month's time and then follows him and his father in different moments leading up to the eclipse, how time seems to stand still during the eclipse, and ends describing the moments after and the memories the pair will cherish in the far distant future.

Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon's Shadow
By Ilima Loomis
Boston; New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019. Informational. 79 pages.

Readers follow a solar scientist and her team as they attempt, with varying degrees of success, to study the sun's coronal atmosphere during solar eclipses. Descriptions of what the scientists found in the past and what they were looking for in the future, and why, are explained clearly.

Exploring Eclipses
By Jill Sherman
North Mankato, MN: Capstone Press, 2018. Informational. 32 pages.

Exploring Eclipses explains how people in the past viewed and tried to make sense of eclipses, the different types and parts of eclipses, and how eclipses are studied today.

A Few Beautiful Minutes: Experiencing a Solar Eclipse
Written by Kate Allen Fox
Illustrated by Khoa Le
New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2023. Informational.

An ode to the awe-inspiring nature of a solar eclipse and how it reminds humanity of their tininess in the universe and brings people together over a few beautiful shared moments.

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Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

If You Like...Ladybugs

Spring is almost upon us! We'll have more rain instead of snow, flowers will start blooming, and more bugs will be out. Ladybugs are some of the prettiest insects--and the least intimidating for those more wary of bugs. If you like ladybugs, check out these books! Ladybugs Do Not Go to Preschool Written by Ali Rutstein Illustrated by Nin̋a Nill Richmond, VA: Bright Light, 2024. Picture Book. Ravi loves ladybugs--he eats aphids instead of cornflakes for breakfast, brushes his mandibles instead of teeth, and has a ladybug costume complete with wings and antennae. He is certain that ladybugs don't have to go to preschool, and when Mom says that Ravi still has to go to school, he is nervous. However, thanks to Mom's patience and gentle encouragement, Ravi makes some new friends and realizes that preschool might be a good place for ladybugs after all. A Perfect Spot By Isabelle Simler Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book. A ladybug is ready to ...

You Need to Read: Percy Jackson

I was a kid myself when The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan was published, and it didn't take long for the Percy Jackson series to take the world by storm. Being the son of a Poseidon, Percy Jackson has some unique challenges as a half-blood. Here's some books that I think could've helped Percy when he was on his adventures trying to save the world: Greeking Out: Heroes and Olympians Written by Kenny Curtis and Jillian Hughes Illustrated by Javier Espila Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2024. Informational. 191 pages. Percy, I know Chiron did a good job teaching you about mythology in Latin class, but this book is sure to be good to have on hand while you're traveling across the United States. Greeking Out is written in a kid-friendly voice with vivid illustrations and a sometimes-snarky tone (much like Percy himself). It also presents real-life creatures and places along with the information about Greek mythology. The Homework Squad's ADHD Guide to School S...

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