“The Antidote for a Hurried Childhood” was what the Huffington Post called my middle grade nonfiction book, The Slowest Book Ever (Boyds Mills Press, release in April, 2016) in a sneak peek article by Vicki Cobb last year. This book has line drawings by the fabulous Kelly Murphy. It’s reviewed by the esteemed School Library Journal in their upcoming (February) issue. The wonderful Junior Library Guild will be sharing it with their subscribers in July, 2016.
[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”]Illustrated by Steve Jenkins, Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, May 12, 2015.
“Verdict: Lovely and exciting, this title is a great hook for young researchers, as well as fledgling ornithologists.”
-Starred Review, School Library Journal.
“Repetitive onomatopoeic sounds such as ‘CHOP, CHIP, CHOP’ and ‘BONK-BONK-BONK’ combine with plentiful alliteration to make the simple verses come alive . . . Attractive and surprisingly informative, this should join the duo’s Eat Like a Bear (2013) on every preschool and primary nature shelf.”
-Kirkus
“Sayre introduces the distinctively noisy woodpecker and the rhythmic cadences that fill its industrious life through a rhyming, sound word-filled text.”
-Horn Book
“Short, playful text featuring plenty of action words and onomatopoeia describes a variety of woodpecker activities.”
-Booklist[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.3.2″ type=”4_4″][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
Text and photos by April Pulley Sayre. Beach Lane Books/S&S, January, 2015. Ages 3-8.
“With lyrical words and striking images, a poet, photographer, and veteran natural history writer celebrates rain . . . Preschoolers can appreciate the poem and pictures, but middle graders will want the facts in the concluding ‘Splash of Science’ . . . Wonder-full in every way. -Starred Review, Kirkus
“Sayre and Jenkins follow Vulture View (2007) with a similarly excellent study of brown bears that’s in equal parts poetic and enlightening.” -Kirkus, starred review.
ALA (American Library Association) Notable Book 2014
Let’s Go Nuts! Seeds We Eat is a chant which introduces children to beans, nuts, grains, and spice seeds. Endmatter explains why seeds don’t grow inside our stomachs, why seeds are such great food, and how seeds fit into biology, ecology, and culture. This book completes the trio of books that includes Rah, Rah, Radishes: A Vegetable Chant and Go, Go, Grapes: a Fruit Chant.
It’s here! April 23rd release. If you like what you hear in my talks or read in my children’s books, this is the next step. Touch a Butterfly: Wildlife Gardening With Kids is perhaps my most personal book with a traditional publisher. Yes, it’s geared to parents and families, but I think some of my student fans, 5th grade and up, would like sections of it because in it I share not just wildlife gardening and family stories, but also how to approach/study wildlife at close range. Continue reading “Touch a Butterfly: Wildlife Gardening With Kids”
Turn your garden into a hummingbird hotspot, a haven for butterflies, and a thriving ecosystem. This family-friendly guide is my most personal book yet, sharing the wildlife gardening knowledge that Jeff and I have gained over the years. Continue reading “Touch a Butterfly: Wildlife Gardening With Kids”
Here Come the Humpbacks! My new nonfiction picture book, illustrated by Jamie Hogan of Maine, traces the migration of a humpback whale from the Caribbean to Stellwagen Banks near New England. The main narrative text is supplemented by expository sidebars. It’s a tad older, longer read than some of my youngest picture books. It’s a good pairing with Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! because it traces some of the environmental challenges along the migrating animal’s journey. NSTA Recommends has commentary on how to use it in science units and NC Teacher Stuff‘s STEM Friday post mentions using it in teaching different kinds of nonfiction writing. It was named a NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book and also a Bank Street Best Book for the year.
