Reading the Environment: Children's Literature in the Science Classroom
This book has much to offer teachers who are anxious to expand their students' natural curiosity about the world. Author Mary Cerullo, who has written four children's books about the ocean, is knowledgeable about science and young learners. Cerullo maintains that combining science and literature can help children explain events they observe, develop reading and recording skills, and understand how science has affected human history. For those who are creating or revising a science curriculum for pre-K-six students, Cerullo provides criteria for selecting science trade books. She also recommends fiction and nonfiction titles for enhancing the study of earth science, the ocean, weather and the seasons, and the movement of water from the mountains to the sea. Each of the above subjects is covered in a single chapter, so you don't have to read the book from cover to cover. Cerullo suggests science activities and discussion topics, and lists complete bibliographic information for cited books at the end of each chapter. This title would be a worthy addition to your professional collection or a great resource for selecting library materials. In today's world of outstanding science books, few would disagree with Cerullo's viewpoint that science trade books surpass textbooks as learning tools.?Edith Ching, St. Albans School for Boys, Washington, DCCopyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.