Review of Sylvan Dell Spring 2011 Titles

Sylvan Dell (a children's book publisher that integrates science into it's picture books) released their spring titles several weeks ago and though my children dug right into reading them as soon as they set their eyes on the brilliant glossy covers, I am running behind with reviewing them online. All Sylvan Dell books have a "For Creative Minds" section in the back . These pages are every homeschooling parent's dream, with several pages of material ready to be turned into easy lesson plans.

 Scotti Cohn, Author of Big Cat, Little Kitty, also wrote one of my previous favorite Sylvan Dell releases, One Wolf Howls. This story from her follows a different cats from the feline family throughout a week; a tiger, cheetah, a lion, a snow leopard, a cougar, a jaguar, and a bobcat and after each page contrasts the wild cats to children's familiar favorite pet, the house cat. As each page is read the child learns about the different habitats these wild cats live in and which animals the cats are predators to. Susan Detwiler's illustrations are vibrant and show the beauty of the cats beautifully. The author uses a vast variety of verbs throughout the story which adds great interests and vocabulary development for the child.

 Deep in the Desert is a genius book. Our whole family was entertained. My three year old was dancing. My 7 year old cranky-kid came to check it out and started singing/reading it again by himself when we were done. Best of all, I was stimulated while reading it, not bored. It is a series of songs put to familiar tunes (I knew all the tunes well) and all the new lyrics in the book teach about the desert and desert animals. We had fun getting the tunes into our head before we commenced with the new words and there were particular ones that were declared at the end "that was a fun one!" The illustrations by Sherry Neidigh (also from Count Down to Fall) were detailed and seemed almost textured. Rhonda Lucas Donald has not written for Sylvan Dell before but I hope she does again.

The Glaciers are Melting was my three year old's favorite, but as read-aloud-reader it was a nightmare. It's all done with animal names such as Wiley Wolverine, Sally Squirrel, Harry Hare, Mountain Monarch, Mandy Marmot, ect. Once we met all the animals I hoped we would then be on a first name basis with them but the book continues the tongue twister-ing names throughout the whole book. But this lyrical type chant by Donna Love did enrapture my three year old and the message stuck as afterwards she reenacted the book with her toys, complete with calls of "the glaciers are melting!" Also, some fabulous illustrations within this book though from Shennen Bersani. These illustrations were my favorite from the releases this spring.

This is short and simple book, Habitat Spy, relies on detailed illustrations by Christina Wald (who illustrated one of my favorite illustration from the Sylvan Dell books, Henry the Impatient Heron). Visiting many habitats through this book the text asks you to spy 4 things on each page. It is done in short and simple rhyme and opens up plenty of opportunity for discussion of the different verbs used (guard, cling, sip, knit, etc.) as well as room for further investigation about the subjects you are looking for (lichens, midges, algae, alders, ect.). I am quite impressed with this first picture book from Cynthia Keiber-King.

This book offers some wonderful information on the planets in a fun "announcer" style of writing (break out the "voices" for this read-aloud!). Laurie Allen Klein, who also illustrated a Sylvan Dell favorite, Where Should Turtle Be (which for this blog I designed a free lapbook for) had a difficult job, I am sure, personifying the planets through her illustrations. This book is more "cutesy" in over all style than my family usually goes for and my kids did not spend as much time with it as others, but for some families I know it would be a great success. It is also nice to have a recent astronomy release with Pluto omitted. With this book I did not have to explain why Pluto was there, and why it shouldn't be.

As a parent, an educator, and a daughter of a published children's author, my favorite illustration vote this season go to Shennen Bersani from The Glaciers are Melting and my favorite writing was by Rhonda Lucas Donald for Deep in the Desert. My 10 year old girl voted for Deep in the Desert as her favorite story and her favorite illustrations came from  Big Cat, Little Kitty. My 7 year old boy was drawn to the pictures from The Glaciers are Melting  also and his favorite story was Deep in the Desert. My almost 4 year old girl got into them all but The Glaciers are Melting  made the most lasting impression on her.

All in all I am really very pleased with the spring titles. I always look forward to Syvlan Dell's releases. Be sure to check them all out!