# 40- Time Flies

Time Flies (1994)

Eric Rohmann

Caldecott Honor

Rohmann's wordless picturebook takes readers through an experience rich with imagination. The realistic paintings start out in dark tones, taking the reader into an elegant museum with dinosaur skeletons on display. A white bird swoops through the museum, witness to the startling changes that transform the pages. Readers will want to take their time on each painting and follow this small guide, representative of modern fowl, throughout the journey in the following pages.

The bones become flesh and blood dinosaurs that wander into a prehistoric landscape of mountains surrounding a lake for several full page spreads. This bright green landscape is eventually replaced by the somber tones of the museum, and the skeletons return to their places.

After many field trips to museums with prehistoric skeletons, I am glad to have come across this book. Next time we visit a museum, I will pull this book out and share Rohmann's sense of wonderment with students.

# 34- Bones: Skeletons and How They Work (2010)

Bones: Skeletons and How They Work (2010)

Steve Jenkins

The bone-colored, textured cutouts in this picturebook stand out among expository texts. I marveled at the diagrams on these glossy pages, which feature animal, dinosaur and human bones, along with an appendix of even more meticulously constructed cut and torn paper diagrams that are labeled. An example is a cross section of a bone. More detailed information is also available in this section.

What is most useful about this book in my opinion is how the author/ illustrator explains why each bone helps the animal survive. Jenkins asks the reader questions like “Where do you think this bone belongs” that get children thinking like scientists. It illustrates perfectly why a frog’s bones are shaped for jumping and other examples. The concept of symmetry is also explained within the context of skeletal structure.

There is a marvelous 4-page spread showing a snake’s skeleton, with all 400 pairs of ribs. Another foldout section features each of the 206 human bones on the outside with all of them put together when the reader opens up the pages. The pages with skulls feature the actual sizes.

This book is artfully written and illustrated to capitalize on childrens’ natural curiosity, creating an engaging scientific experience.

# 20- Snowflake Bentley (1998)

Snowflake Bentley (1998)

Jacqueline Biggs Martin

Illustrated by Mary Azarian

Caldecott Medal

This award-winning book features a narrative biography alongside an informative piece about Wilson Bentley, a pioneer photographer who specialized in micro-photography. The narrative text tells of the passion that Willie felt for observing, illustrating, and then photographing snowflakes throughout his life. The story includes the voices of his loving parents, who purchased the microscopic camera that he dreamed of having as well as the skeptical neighbors who laughed at his ideas. On a panel on many of the pages the reader will find additional information about Bentley told in a more informative tone.

Azarian’s framed ink and watercolor illustrations appropriately look like woodcuts for this biography set in the 19^th century. The informative panels are decorated with unique snowflakes, and most of the pages are covered in snow to represent Willie’s passion.