Mary Anning's Curiosity by Monica Kulling

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're taking a walk through history, hand in hand with one of the female unsung heroes of science, more specifically...the field of fossils.  Always a fascinating study, whether in textbook reading or practice, but when you can connect the interest with someone that was and whose work still is, now THAT'S when you spark curiosity.  Speaking of curiosity, let's meet today's book of choice...

Mary Anning's Curiosity

by

Monica Kulling

Illustrated by

Melissa Castrillon

9781554988983

Groundwood Books

About the book...

Mary Anning, considered the world’s greatest fossilist, discovered her first big find at the age of twelve. This novel is an imaginative re-creation of her childhood in early nineteenth-century Lyme Regis.

Mary was born in 1799 in Lyme Regis, England, to a poor family. She and her older brother were the only two of ten children to survive. Her father, a carpenter and part-time fossil hunter, taught his children to look for fossils.

When her father injured himself and was unable to work, Mary quit school and took up fossil hunting full-time to help support her family, a task that became even more important when her father died, leaving the Annings in debt.

At the age of twelve, Mary, with her older brother Joe, found what they believed to be the skeleton of a gigantic crocodile, the Great Croc of the legends. Between dodging her rival fossil hunter, the Curiman, and the sheer work of carefully digging out the fossil, Mary took almost a year to excavate what would later be termed the Ichthyosaurus.

Mary Anning may have been uneducated, poor and a woman, but her life’s work of fossil hunting led her to make many discoveries that influenced our understanding of prehistoric creatures and the age of the Earth. In 2010, Mary was named among the ten British women who have most influenced the history of science. Charles Darwin even cited Mary’s fossilized creatures as evidence in his book On the Origin of Species.

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A wonderful story that puts us inside the imagined days and nights of this curiosity seeking family from our real life history! You'll fall in love with little Mary and her never-say-die spirit that carries her from the classroom to her heart's desire, FOSSIL HUNTING...and in search of the fabled monster's remains. *DUN DUN DUNNNN*  Was it the popular choice? No sir (well, unless you count the opinion of one out to steal your claim)...although neither was a strong education for women at that time, but what's right for one may not always match up to the status quo and that, my friends, can lead us to discoveries and dreams come true we've only dared imagine.

Author Monica Kulling does a wonderful job of bringing history to life once again, making it accessible to the young and young at heart, with a fun filled story and additional learning options at book's end.  The efforts of illustrator Melissa Castrillon definitely do not go unnoticed either, as they give the words some visual depth, and add our imaginations in the "seeing is believing" battle. So, invite yourself along on an edutainment trip this summer and uncover a world you've only heard whispers of, right in your own backyard. 

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About the author...

Monica Kulling is the author of over fifty books for children. Her most recent book is On Our Way to Oyster Bay: Mother Jones and Her March for Children’s Rights, illustrated by Felicita Sala. She has also written the popular Great Idea series, including In the Bag! Margaret Knight Wraps It Up. Monica’s work has been nominated for many awards, including numerous Silver Birch Express and Golden Oak awards. Her recent picture books include Happy Birthday, Alice Babette, Grant and Tillie Go Walking and The Tweedles Go Electric. Monica Kulling lives in Toronto.

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About the illustrator...

Melissa Castrillon has a First Class Honors Degree in Illustration and a master’s degree in Children’s Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. She is a freelance illustrator based in Cambridge, England.

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Special thanks to author Monica Kulling and the Groundwood Books team for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Groundwood Books, an imprint of House of Anansi, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!



Clean Sweep! Frank Zamboni's Ice Machine by Monica Kulling

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

We're tucking into Saturday with an edutainment pick from an author we know and love here on the site.  Her latest addition to the Great Ideas Series released this January and she's once again shed light on the creative mind behind an invention we know of but not as much about...unless you're a hockey or ice skating fan.  Can you guess where I'm going with this yet?  No worries.  We'll let the chill in the air cool off your Summer day as we explore between the pages of today's book of choice...

Clean Sweep!

Frank Zomboni's Ice Machine

Great Ideas Series

by

Monica Kulling

Illustrated by

Renne Benoit

9781770497955

Tundra Books

This is the story of how Zamboni became the name synonymous with those one-manned Ice Machines that work their magic on rinks around the globe.  Frank's invention came out of necessity, as do some of the best ones out there.  He needed a way to cut down the time it took to provide skaters at his rink with a smooth, glass-like surface to glide across for pleasure, practice, or intensive play.  You see, back in the 1940's the job took MULTIPLE people to accomplish in almost a TWO HOUR window.  Would YOU want to wait that long to get back on the ice?  Yeah...in today's give-it-to-me-now-and-why-is-this-site-taking-so-darn-long-though-it's-really-only-been-five-seconds world, the place would be deserted in a heartbeat.  Frank knew there had to be a better way and through his ingenuity, hard work, and dedication, the dream he dreamed turned reality.

I've said it before and I'll continue saying it as this series of Children's Non-Fiction works grows...I love how they wrap the educational aspects of the book inside wonderfully illustrated pages that highlight inventors of those things we take for granted but never took a second to think about how they came to be.  You're made to think about the "what if's".  You know, WHAT IF this person never had that idea, WHAT IF they decided it wasn't worth the effort, WHAT IF that invention never came to be...and so on.  Those lead us to the "how's", like HOW would our lives be impacted by that invention not having been made, HOW would we have advanced in that particular area...and so on. 

So you see, a two fold read indeed.  It's entertaining and educational in all the right proportions with illustrations that fill in the blanks for those lack previous exposure to the particular invention.  I was born in the Northern U.S. so we had more ice rinks than my current "home", thus I'd seen one face-to-face so to speak in my youth.  They're pretty big and mysterious to see, but this little read explains it all without getting too in-depth for those with passing interest.  I'd say a win win overall and a delightful read perfect for the classroom, summer reading lists, and family read nights.

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About the author...

Photo: Jamie Buisman c/o Author's Site

Monica Kulling was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She received a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria. Monica Kulling has published twenty-six fiction and nonfiction books for children, including picture books, poetry, and biographies. She is best known for introducing biography to children just learning to read and has written about Harriet Tubman, Houdini, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Amelia Earhart among others. Monica Kulling lives in Toronto, Canada.

SITE  |  FACEBOOK

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Special thanks to author Monica Kulling and the team at Tundra Books for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the series, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Stay tuned for more from this prolific author, as Zap! is set to hit store shelves this August...and guess who has a review copy already in hand and ready to review?  ^-^

Until next time...happy reading!

Happy Birthday, Alice Babette by Monica Kulling

HI there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Here's hoping that you survived any pranks you might have encountered yesterday, it being April Fool's Day and all.  I lucked out with being off from work so I hibernated at home with a movie/pizza night, and all the reading I could "eat".  As for being "taken", I clicked through a few of the more entertaining ads just to see what's what and managed a good chuckle.  Laughter is good for the soul, right?  Yes, indeed...and so is a healthy dose of friendship and love, bringing us to today's post and featured title...

Happy Birthday, Alice Babette

by

Monica Kulling

Illustrated by

Qin Leng

9781554988204

GroundwoodBooks

About the book...

It’s Alice’s birthday! But her friend Gertrude seems to have forgotten. No matter, Alice goes out and enjoys her day just the same. A beautiful spring afternoon in Paris — what could be better? Little does she know that her dear friend has a few surprises up her sleeve.

While Alice spends the day walking around Paris — riding a carousel in the park and watching a puppet show — Gertrude turns her attention to the kitchen. She is determined to make a lavish dinner with all of Alice’s favorite things and write a poem to match the occasion.

But the lure of the perfect poetic line proves to be too distracting, and just as Alice’s day takes an exciting and unexpected turn, Gertrude’s big dinner falls all to pieces. The poem turns out beautifully, of course, but the house is a bit of a mess. It’s a good thing Alice doesn’t mind cleaning up. And that she has such a good brownie recipe for their guests.

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Today, we're celebrating the early arrival of another Picture Book wonder from author Monica Kulling via Groundwood Books.  Is the name ringing a bell?  Well, it should!  We've featured her work several times and always glad to join the party when another hits store shelves.  Her work always manages to bring to life something of little known history but of utmost importance that we're usually taking for granted while delivering messages that echo through reading audiences of all ages.  Today's selection is no different in those veins, only the fact that the events in the tale were "inspired by" versus a record of, varies.  That's okay though because even when imagined, it still comes from a place grounded in reality that one can easily see it being so.  

Here, we have a story inspired by the lives of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas, best friends from a time gone by that left their marks equally on the world.  (Did I mention that the author's works always spark that need to explore further?)  In this story on this particular day, it is Alice's birthday and she is oh-so-excited to see what's in store for her, but the surprise she get is on her.  It's a classic case of oh-my-they-forgot-about-my-big-day, or at least that's the way it looks ala Sixteen Candles, only...it isn't; she just doesn't know it yet.  Alice sets out to celebrate her day in her own way (which by the way, is definitely a my-way-too situation!) with plans to return home later that evening.  In the mean time, Gertrude has plans of her own to make her a party she won't forget full of her favorite foods, a tasty dessert, and a poem to commemorate the occasion.  Sounds great, right?  Umm...yeah, about that.

Gertrude is a pro in the writing aspect of things, but cooking isn't really her forte...reminding us that it's the thought that counts in gifts received, not necessarily the quality or quantity.  She tries her best on all fronts but in the end, her talents win out over those that she tried to adopt for the day...you know writers, they get distracted by their craft and a boiling pot waits for no man/woman.  Her friend comes home from a day of merriment to discover...well let's just say that they are best friends for a reason and that fondness runs deep.  A smile brought to the other's face was something worth celebrating and though it may not have turned out exactly as Gertrude intended, it was still an event to remember with good food, friends, and moments to cherish a lifetime through.

In the end, it's a simple tale filled with love, friendship, and the mishaps that both can encounter along the rocky road of life.  It reminds us to cherish those we hold dear, never forget the efforts behind the results, and to celebrate ALL the moments with a full heart.  The combination of gentle story and playful illustrations work wonders to whisk you to old Paris as we wander the streets with Alice, stress over our self assigned task with Gertrude, and eventually toast the day with a cup of tea.  It was a birthday to remember and a celebration that will carry over from the wee ones to readers up there in years.

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About the author...

Monica Kulling was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She received a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria. Monica Kulling has published twenty-six fiction and nonfiction books for children, including picture books, poetry, and biographies. She is best known for introducing biography to children just learning to read and has written about Harriet Tubman, Houdini, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Amelia Earhart among others. Monica Kulling lives in Toronto, Canada.

SITE  |  Children's Literature Network

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About the illustrator...

Qin Leng lives and works as a designer and illustrator in Toronto. She graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and has received many awards for her animated short films and artwork. Throughout her career, Qin has illustrated picture books, magazines and book covers with publishers around the world. Hana Hashimoto, Sixth Violin, written by Chieri Uegaki, was a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award, and received the APALA Award for best picture book

TUMBLR

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Special thanks to the Groundwood Books team for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, her growing collection of works, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Groundwood Books, an imprint of House of Anasi Press, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!

To the Rescue: Garrett Morgan Underground by Monica Kulling

Hi guys and gals!

Welcome back to another day here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're continuing along the same vein of things as yesterday's Ordinary People Change the World blog tour with a review of the latest addition to ANOTHER fabulous Children's Edutainment Storybook series.  It comes to us from an author whose work has been featured right here many a time before and hopefully many times to come.  She always brings a certain spark to her titles and manages to convey the information in such a way that readers of all ages are perceptive to the message.  It's a perfect fit after yesterday's post and a great match for Black History month which we are just at the start of.  Well now, enough with the suspense, let's get to it and do it!  Today's book of choice is...

To the Rescue:

Garrett Morgan Underground

by

Monica Kulling

Illustrated by

David Parkins

9781770495203

Tundra Books

About the book...

The son of freed slaves, Garrett Morgan was determined to have a better life than laboring in the Kentucky fields with his parents and ten siblings. He began by sweeping floors in a clothing factory in Cleveland, Ohio, where he decided to invent a stronger belt for sewing machines. When he was promoted to sewing-machine repairman, Garrett was on his way. In 1911, 146 workers died in the shocking Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in New York City, so Garrett decided to invent a safety hood for firefighters. Little did he know that most people wouldn't be interested in buying his safety hood when they discovered its inventor was black. But an explosion that trapped workers in a tunnel under Lake Erie soon changed all that. Garrett's hoods were rushed to the scene and used to rescue as many men as possible. Developed further, Garrett's invention came to save thousands of soldiers from chlorine gas in the trenches of World War I.

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A fascinating look at the life of a man whose work we take for granted yet never knew the mind behind.  That's what I LOVE about the Great Ideas series.  Every installment brings to light something everyday that we may not even look twice at, turns it inside out, and brings to the forefront the person or persons we have to thank for their creative genius.  In this case, it is one Garrett Morgan.

Now, admittedly when I first saw the title of this one combined with the imagery on both the front and back covers, I thought it had something to to with a little known member of the Underground Railroad.  Whoops!  I suppose I should have noticed the sewing machine odds and ends laying about but what can I say, I glanced quickly and I WAS viewing it on my phone so tiny picture = my mistake.  Once I had it in my hot little hands, I realized the "error of my ways" and dove right in to discover what this man's life was REALLY all about.  

From his notice of things that could be made stronger so they were more efficient to the inventor's mind that lived inside of him, both combined to create a very remarkable life.  True, it wasn't easy going for him, as African Americans were just beginning to be accepted as free let alone businessmen, but that doesn't mean he gave up.  If he had, we wouldn't have hair refiner (straightens out the curliest of hair), modern day gas masks (the original format/idea came to him from watching elephants!), or even the traffic signal as we know it today.  Surprised?  I told you this series was good...

All in all, a great addition to any reader's library from the tall to the small, the home to the classroom, or anywhere in-between.  The informative nature of the story combined with the detailed illustrations that cover every page add up to an edutainment experience not to be missed.  If you haven't checked out this series as of yet, I highly suggest you do as it keeps growing and growing and growing and...well, you get the idea.  ^_^

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About the author...

Monica Kulling was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She received a BA in creative writing from the University of Victoria. Monica Kulling has published twenty-six fiction and nonfiction books for children, including picture books, poetry, and biographies. She is best known for introducing biography to children just learning to read and has written about Harriet Tubman, Houdini, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Amelia Earhart among others. Monica Kulling lives in Toronto, Canada.

SITE  |  AUTHOR PAGE

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Special thanks to author Monica Kulling and the team at Tundra Books for the review copy.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the Great Ideas series, the author, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title just celebrated its BOOK BIRTHDAY last month via Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!