From Butterflies to Thunderbolts: Discovering Science with Books Kids Love [Paperback]

Anthony Fredericks (Author), Rebbeca Fredericks (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Books Kids Love

With award-winning and beloved information books, users can explore a variety of scientific topics such as animals, plants, environment, dinosaurs, and more. Every section profiles several excellent books, such as A River Ran Wild and Brain Surgery for Beginners, with each featured title summaried and followed by a suggested major project and additional activities relating to various content areas. Ideal for teachers and parents who love good books and science.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

According to Fredericks, children learn science best through discovery, with teachers and parents facilitating the learning rather than teaching scientific concepts and facts. Intended for use with grades K-6, From Butterflies to Thunderbolts encourages such an approach by suggesting science trade books and activities to build on children's natural curiosity. The book consists of nine parts, covering subjects such as animals, plants, the environment, dinosaurs, and space. There are three or four chapters on a subject, with each chapter focusing on a single book. The format includes a bibliographic entry, a brief summary of the book, several open-ended questions for use with students, suggested activities, "incredible facts," and a bibliography of related literature. Though this book will aid in efforts to use literature in the science curriculum, it has a few problems. One is that it does not indicate the appropriate grade or reading level for each book. Another is the age of some of the books featured: almost half are at least five years old, with some published before 1990. Finally, it lacks a comprehensive list of the works cited?an important aid in collection development. Despite these drawbacks, teachers or librarians could use this title to come up with ideas for science activities.?Jessica Foster, Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Anthony D. Fredericks has written more than 30 teacher resource books in the areas of science, social studies, and language arts, plus six children's books on animals, nature, and environmental studies. He and his family live on a mountainside in south-central Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing (September 4, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555919464
• ISBN-13: 978-1555919467
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,065,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tony ([e-mail])is an award-winning children's author well known for his energetic, humorous, and highly informative school visits throughout North America. His dynamic presentations have captivated thousands of students in Canada, Mexico, and across the United States ' all with rave reviews!
Tony is a former elementary teacher and reading specialist. He is the author of more than 100 books, including more than three-dozen children's books. His children's titles include Under One Rock (2002 Nature and Ecology Award); Slugs (2000 Outstanding Science Trade Book), Bloodsucking Creatures, Around One Cactus (2004 Teacher's Choice Award), Near One Cattail (2006 Green Earth Book Award), and The Tsunami Quilt: Grandfather's Story among others. Forthcoming titles include A is for Anaconda: A Rainforest Alphabet and Dinosaur Droppings.
Fredericks is also the author of several teacher resource books including the perennial favorite Frantic Frogs and Other Frankly Fractured Folktales for Readers Theatre.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars science teacher must have, April 26, 2009

By 

Sarah (outside Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: From Butterflies to Thunderbolts: Discovering Science with Books Kids Love (Paperback)

This book by Anthony Fredericks is a great tool for finding trade books to use in the science curriculum. Plus, Fredericks himself is such a great guy at his seminars - his information is very engaging and applicable for younger students. I was surprised to find this was no longer in print and it is very useful.