Once upon a time, nonfiction books for children routinely included concise, stodgy writing. Most of the books were text heavy, with just a few scattered images decorating, rather than enhancing, the content and meaning. But nonfiction has changed dramatically over the last two decades, evolving into a new breed of visually dynamic, engaging texts that delight as well as inform. The timing of these groundbreaking changes couldn't be better, as English Language Arts standards now put an increased focus on nonfiction reading and writing. For decades, we've classified fiction as a way to study, understand, and, ultimately, teach it better. However, up to now, nonfiction hasn't received this same level of intention. In 5 Kinds of Nonfiction: Enriching Reading and Writing Instruction with Children's Books, Melissa Stewart and Marlene Correia present a new way to sort nonfiction into five major categories and show how doing so can help teachers and librarians build stronger readers and writers. Along the way, they: introduce the 5 kinds of nonfiction - active, browseable, traditional, expository literature, and narrative - and explore each category through discussions, classroom examples, and insights from leading children's book authors; offer tips for building strong, diverse classroom and library collections; provide more than 20 activities to enhance literacy instruction; and include innovative strategies for sharing and celebrating nonfiction with students. With more than 150 exemplary nonfiction book recommendations and Stewart and Correia's extensive knowledge of literacy instruction, 5 Kinds of Nonfiction will elevate your understanding of nonfiction in ways that speak specifically to the info-kids in your classrooms, but will inspire all readers and writers.

Hands-on lessons can be fun and compelling, but when it comes to life science, they aren't always possible, practical, effective, or safe. Children can't follow wolves as they hunt elk, visit a prehistoric swamp, or shrink down to the size of a molecule and observe photosynthesis firsthand. But they can explore a whole world of animals, plants, and ecosystems through the pages of beautifully illustrated, science-themed picture books. Perfect Pairs, which marries fiction and nonfiction picture books focused on life science, helps educators think about and teach life science in a whole new way. Each of the twenty lessons in this book is built around a pair of books that introduces a critical life science concept and guides students through an inquiry-based investigative process to explore that idea-from life cycles and animal-environment interactions to the inheritance of traits and the critical role of energy in our world. Each lesson starts with a ""Wonder Statement"" and comprises three stages. ""Engaging Students"" features a hands-on activity that captures student interest, uncovers current thinking, and generates vocabulary. The heart of the investigative process, ""Exploring with Students,"" spotlights the paired books as the teacher reads aloud and helps students find and organize information into data tables. ""Encouraging Students to Draw Conclusions"" shows students how to review and analyze the information they have collected. Bringing high-quality science-themed picture books into the classroom engages a broad range of students, addresses the Performance Expectations outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards, and supports the goals of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts. Even if you are science shy, Perfect Pairs can help you become a more confident teacher whose classroom buzzes with curious students eager to explore their natural world.

Ants are all over. They come in different sizes, different colors, and have different ways of thriving where they live. But thrive they do, and sometimes with the most amazing adaptations. Ants, their homes, and their most interesting aspects are the topic of this book. This high-interest, educationally vetted series of beginning readers features the magnificent images of National Geographic, accompanied by texts written by experienced, skilled children's book authors. The inside back cover of the paperback edition is an interactive feature based upon the book.

A caterpillar hatches. 'It eats and eats...and grows into a butterfly that flits and floats across the sky. Follow the life cycle of one of nature's most beautiful creatures in simple text and stunning photos. This unique book features graduated flaps that display each stage of metamorphosis at a glance. Turn each flap to reveal engaging facts that kids will love.

Get kids reading with cool information about the subjects that interest them the most. National Geographic Readers are high-interest, exciting, and easy to read. The latest in the series, Titanic is no exception. Just in time for the 100th anniversary of the Olympic-class passenger liner's ill-fated journey, this title is replete with brilliant photographs and exclusive in-depth coverage including Bob Ballard's 1985 discovery. Brought to you only as National Geographic can, the industrial feat of the powerful ship, the tragedy of the wreckage, and the fascinating stories of survival bring the historical significance of the Titanic to a new audience in this level 3 reader.

Everyone loves the smile on a dolphin's face. Though smart enough to become theme park tricksters, dolphins are first and foremost wild mammals. Melissa Stewart's lively text outlines our responsibility to conserve their natural environment. This high-interest book also offers an interactive experience to boost awareness of these adorable creatures.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Find out what happens when predator is pitted against predator in this exciting, informative reader. The Level 1 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging, information about some of the world's most amazing creatures for beginning readers.

Perfect Pairs, which marries fiction and nonfiction picture books focused on life science, helps educators think about and teach life science in a whole new way. Each of the twenty-two lessons in this book is built around a pair of books that introduces a critical life science concept and guides students through an inquiry-based investigative process to explore that idea. Each lesson starts with a “Wonder Statement” and comprises three stages: “Engaging Students,” “Exploring with Students,” and “Encouraging Students to Draw Conclusions.” Bringing high-quality science-themed picture books into the classroom engages a broad range of students, addresses the Performance Expectations outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards, and supports the goals of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.

National Geographic Primary Readers pair magnificent National Geographic photographs with engaging text by skilled authors to help your child learn to read. Developed by education experts, this series of books for beginner readers is spread across four levels: Early Reader, Becoming Fluent, Becoming Independent and Independent Reader. Did you know that a tiny golf ball-sized creature called the blue-ringed octopus contains enough venom to kill 26 adult humans? Or why the Sydney funnel web spider is one of the most dangerous creatures in the world? In this National Geographic Kids Level 4 Reader, children will be fascinated by 12 species that you hope you'll never come across! Sharks, snakes, jellyfish and more - these creatures are among the most threatening - and interesting - in the world! Level 4: Independent Reader books are perfect for kids who are reading on their own with ease and are ready for more challenging vocabulary with varied sentence structures. They are ideal for readers of White and Lime book bands for guided reading. For another National Geographic Level 4 Reader, try Elephants (9780008266813).

NOW IN SPANISH! Ants are all over. And since little kids travel fairly close to the ground, ants are often the first animal they watch and study-sometimes with the intensity of full-fledged scientists! In this Reader, kids will get up close to learn all about them. Ants come in different sizes, different colours, and have different ways of thriving where they live. But thrive they do, and sometimes with the most amazing adaptations. Through age-appropriate text and vivid photographs, young readers will discover what's so wondrous about these amazing and ubiquitous little critters.

Blast off on a trip to discover the fascinating world of meteors. In this image-packed book, kids will learn all about these objects hurtling through space--and into our atmosphere. This level 3 reader is written in an easy-to-grasp style to encourage the scientists and explorers of tomorrow!

Superhero and comic book force? Sure, but also a real-life animal! Find out in this Level 3 Reader how fierce wolverines, who are expert survivors, can be even more fantastic than those in movies and graphic novels.

Journey through harsh cold and rugged mountain ranges to see how wolverines take down prey, raise their young, and live in one of the world's harshest environments. Learn how their bodies adapt for survival and about its challenges in a warming world.

National Geographic Readers' expert-vetted text, along with brilliant images and a fun approach to reading have proved to be a winning formula with kids, parents and educators. Level 3 text provides accessible, yet wide-ranging, information for fluent readers. Each reader includes text written by an experienced, skilled children's books author, a photo glossary, and interactive features in which kids get to reinforce what they've learned in the book.

National Geographic Primary Readers is a high-interest series of beginning reading books that have been developed in consultation with education experts. The books pair magnificent National Geographic photographs with lively text by skilled children's book authors across four reading levels. Discover the coolest robots of today and tomorrow in this colourful, photo-packed book. In this inviting and entertaining format, kids will learn about the science behind these amazing machines. This Level 4 reader is written in an easy-to-grasp style to encourage the scientists of tomorrow! Level 4: Independent reader Perfect for kids who are reading on their own with ease and are ready for more challenging vocabulary with varied sentence structures. They are ideal for readers of White and Lime books

Melissa Stewart shares with young readers the basic facts about butterflies, including how they transform from caterpillars to butterflies, where they live, what they eat, and how they benefit plants and animals. Sidebars throughout the book contain information about how human action has harmed butterflies in the past, and the many ways people can protect certain butterfly populations, like by preserving forests and meadows and cutting down on pesticide use. Also included are pointers on how youngsters can help butterflies in their own neighborhood.

Stewart reminds children of the interconnectedness of our world and shows how the actions of one species can inadvertently harm another. Bond's realistically detailed illustrations highlight the diversity of the species, from the Schaus swallowtail butterflies in southern Florida to the endangered Mitchell's satyrs.

They're SSSSLITHERY! SLIPPERY! They creep us out! But get to know them and you'll find snakes private, quiet types who just want a cool, shady place to call home. From the tip of their forked tongues, to skin that sheds, to the rattles on certain tails, these creatures have secrets all kids will love. Cool photos and fun facts slip us inside their surprising world.

Did you know that a tiny golf ball-sized creature called the blue-ringed octopus contains enough venom to kill 26 adult humans? Or why the Sydney funnel web spider is one of the most dangerous creatures in the world? In this Level 3 book, kids will be fascinated by 12 species that you hope you'll never come across! Sharks, snakes, jellyfish and more-these creatures are among the most threatening-and interesting-in the world! National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Everyone loves chocolate, right? But how many people actually know where chocolate comes from? How it's made? Or that monkeys do their part to help this delicious sweet exist?
This delectable dessert comes from cocoa beans, which grow on cocoa trees in tropical rain forests. But those trees couldn't survive without the help of a menagerie of rain forest critters: a pollen-sucking midge, an aphid-munching anole lizard, brain-eating coffin fly maggots--they all pitch in to help the cocoa tree survive. A secondary layer of text delves deeper into statements such as "Cocoa flowers can't bloom without cocoa leaves . . . and maggots," explaining the interdependence of the plants and animals in the tropical rain forests. Two wise-cracking bookworms appear on every page, adding humor and further commentary, making this book accessible to readers of different ages and reading levels.
Back matter includes information about cocoa farming and rain forest preservation, as well as an author's note.

Young naturalists meet sixteen birds in this elegant introduction to the many uses of feathers. A concise main text highlights how feathers are not just for flying. More curious readers are invited to explore informative sidebars, which underscore specific ways each bird uses its feathers for a variety of practical purposes. A scrapbook design showcases life-size feather illustrations.

Water is all around us; we drink it every day. In this level 3 reader, kids will learn about the water cycle, discovering how rain and snow flow into our lakes, rivers, and oceans, and later evaporate into the sky again. Vivid photography and accessible text make this book an ideal introduction to the science of water.