This series is a classroom must! Sleeping Bear Press has compiled a series of books which take specific subjects and arrange information into alphabet form. Each book is written by experts in that specific field. This particular book was written by a fifteen year meteorologist and storm chaser Pat Michaels.
Each page introduces the new topic such as "L is for lightning". Then, a four lined rhyming description of that topics significance. Then, in the margin, an in depth description of that topic is included, which is typically several paragraphs long. Beautiful illustrations complement each topic. These features lend this book to be a great picture book, whether to younger students learning the alphabet, to older students learning about a specific subject, or how to write poetry, or even as a reference book for detailed information.
This series has won the Teachers Choice Award in 2007 for Children's Books, and it is no surprise why. The series covers many, many topics, from all fifty states (an entire alphabet book per state including Washington DC), sports such as ice hockey, soccer and baseball, different countries (Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador, Japan, Canada), and science topics such as the weather, plants, and how-to-be-green. These are just a few of the extensive subjects this series explores, a full list can be found at http://www.sleepingbearpress.com/educators/. But the best part is that each book has an extensive online pdf built in for each book that can be found on this website. These pdfs include word games, writing prompts, scavenger hunts for book content, and other exciting activities for students. Each pdf is available for reproduction "...for use in the classroom with this express written consent of Sleeping Bear Press".
What a great resource for teachers! and when the books can be bought for seven dollars each in paperback, its hard to pass up. When I found this book I had to buy it, and now that I've had a chance to explore the website and find out all they have to offer, I am definitely adding this series to my Christmas list!
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