Preschool Non-Fiction

For my own record, here are some of the good preschool non-fiction finds from our last library trip a few weeks ago.

A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme by J. Patrick Lewis


My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved this book, but maybe that's just the poetry nut in me. I thought it was such a clever way to teach geography to kids, to use short and fun little poems. My favorite poem in the book is called Is the Yellow Sea Yellow?

Is the Yellow Sea Yellow?

Is the Yellow Sea Yellow?
Is the Red Sea red?
Is the Black Sea black?
Is the dead sea dead?

Yes, because there's too much loess-
A fine, rich yellow silt.

Yes, because the red seaweed
Is floating like a quilt.

No, the black come from,
They say, dark brooding storms.

Yes, it's dead. No fish, no plants,
Or any of life's forms.
It's no one's fault...
Just too much salt!

I laughed so hard at that. I'm pretty sure Aaron thought I was off my rocker. But I love poetry, and I'm kind of cheesy. My kids sat and listen to me read the whole thing all the way through though, so they must've liked it too. And the illustrations are cool. I'm probably going to buy this book.


When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer (Golden Kite Honors by Walt Whitman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love when people take great poems and then do awesome illustrations to go with them. The pictures in the book are really well done and help to convey the meaning of the poem.


What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You? by Steve Jenkins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Linc liked this one, but it was a little over his head. I think it could have been better if they'd chosen to use photographs instead of illustrations, and also showed a before and after picture. Still good and informative though. But I do think Linc will like it better in a few years.


Prehistoric Actual Size by Steve Jenkins

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

My boys both really like this book, I think because #1 It has fold out pages and #2 because it was about dinosaur like creatures. The information inside is a little bit over their heads though since they have no idea what different measurements mean.



I Face the Wind by Vicki Cobb

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this one. Simple science, with short clear explanations of what the wind is and great preschool level experiments to go along with it.




Guess What Is Growing Inside This Egg by Mia Posada

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The kids really liked this one. The first page shows you a picture of an egg and a portion of the animal or environment the egg is in, and a clue to help you guess what kind of animal will hatch out of the egg. The next page tells you the answer and some facts about the animal.



Down to the Sea in Ships by Philemon Sturges

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lincoln picked this one because it has a ship that looks like a pirate ship (but isn't) on the cover. The inside has poems about different kinds of ships and the history that goes with the ship. (Vikings, Magellan, whaling, the invention of steam ships, etc.) I really liked this book too, and I was surprised that I did. I guess it's the poetry aspect, it gets me every time. :)


Animal Colors: A Rainbow of Colors from Animals Around the World by Beth Fielding

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is really well done, I think. It takes the animal kingdom and divides it up by color. The photography is excellent, and Lincoln really like seeing the different kinds of animals. The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the descriptions of the animals are not written in complete sentences and that bothered the English gene in me :)

The other books we checked out aren't worth mentioning, but I was happy with all the good ones we found. I think it's hard to find good non-fiction for preschool aged kids.