Summer Science Reading List for Future Seventh and Eighth Graders

Parents and students please use this list as a guide to help you prepare for science next year. Most of these titles are available at your local library. Add one of these titles to your Language Arts or Social Studies summer reading list to enhance your understanding and interest in science.

Growing Patterns. Sarah C. Campbell. Illustrated with photographs by Sarah C. Campbell and Richard P. Campbell. Boyds Mills Press. 32pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-59078-752-6, $17.95. Paper ed. (F). (3–8) What a beautiful way to explain Fibonacci numbers using photographs of natural objects, simple text, and labeled photographs to increase clarity. It is clear that nature is ordered by mathematics. Glossary, Acknowledgments, More About Fibonacci Numbers. (BCC) I, VIII. Supplemental Material: Developmentally appropriate activities, including pattern finding (PBS)

If Stones Could Speak: Unlocking the Secrets of Stonehenge. Marc Aronson with Mike Parker Pearson and the Riverside Project. Illustrated with photographs. National Geographic Children’s Books. 64pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-4263-0599-3, $17.95. Library ISBN 978-1-4263-0600-6, $26.90. (6–12) Explore the mysterious circle of stones while new questions are raised and new ideas are shared from unusual sources. Experience archaeology at its best, along with maps, illustrations, personal observations, and photos. Narrative Fact-Finder Index, Archaeologists and Their Theories, Chronology of Digs, and the Ever-Changing Timeline of Stonehenge. (SMF) I, II, V. Supplemental Material: Secrets of Lost Empires I—Stonehenge (NOVA)

S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet. Larry Verstraete. Illustrated by David Geister. Sleeping Bear Press. 32pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-58536-470-1, $16.95. (3–8) Science process skills—like the abilities to prove, question, and record—are each described in a poem. Brief descriptions of the work of both ancient scientists, such as Archimedes (265 BC), and present-day scientists, such as Katy Payne (1984), serve as examples of the skills in action. Suggestions for Hands-On Activities. (NHM) I. Supplemental Material: On Being a Scientist, video (National Academies of Science)

Case Closed? Nine Mysteries Unlocked by Modern Science. Susan Hughes. Illustrated by Michael Wandelmaier. Kids Can Press. 88pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-55453-362-6, $17.95. (3–8) These nine mysteries have a great mix of science and anthropology. Readers will enjoy the narrative tone and the additional questions that result from good science. Glossary, Index. (BCC) II, IV, VI, VIII. Supplemental Material: Report on Amelia Earhart (NASA)

The Robin Makes a Laughing Sound. Sallie Wolf. Illustrated by Micah Bornstein. Charlesbridge Publishing. 48pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-58089-318-3, $11.95. (3–8) Delightfully written and exquisitely illustrated, this book gives children and adults a glimpse of a birder’s journal, not to mention the addition of poetry. This is not only a great tool for teaching science and communication arts, but also a book that one will want to hug. Resources. (JCL) I, II, IV, VII, VIII. Supplemental Material: Begin your own journal or participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count (Audubon)

The Complete Human Body: The Definitive Visual Guide. Alice Roberts. DK Publishing. 512pp. Trade ISBN 9780756667337, $50. (6–12) DVD enhanced, this ambitious volume examines human evolution, anatomy, function, reproduction, and disease in an orderly, up-to-the-minute visual format. Glossary, Index. (NHM) IV. Supplemental Material: Virtual labs on cardiology, neurology and other topics (The Howard Hughes Medical Institute)

Great Migrations: Whales, Wildebeests, Butterflies, Elephants, and Other Amazing Animals on the Move. Elizabeth Carney. Illustrated with photographs. National Geographic Children’s Books. 48pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-4263-0700-3, $17.95. Library ISBN 978-1-4263-0701-0, $27.90. (3–8) This book captures the motion of migrating animals in photographs and describes how these incredible journeys are driven by the animals’ survival mechanisms. Index. (KLO) IV, VII. Supplemental Material: Video, links, and more information on migrations (National Geographic)

The Hive Detectives: Chronicle of a Honey Bee Catastrophe. Loree Griffin Burns. Illustrated with photographs by Ellen Harasimowicz. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 80pp. Trade ISBN 978-0-547-15231-8, $18. (6–12). Learn about honeybees, the honey they make, bee keepers, and the scientists who research Bee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Follow along from the beekeepers who noticed the collapse of their hives in 2006 to the researchers and scientists who started looking for the cause of CCD. Appendix, Glossary, Acknowledgments, Select References, Index. (CMB) IV, VII, VIII. Supplemental Material: Colony Collapse Disorder update (PBS) *Editor’s Note: To learn more about the author, hear her read, find teacher resources, and more, visit www.loreegriffinburns.com.

Honey Bees: Letters From the Hive. Stephen Buchmann. Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books. 224 pp. Trade ISBN 978-0-385-73770-8, $16.99. Library ISBN 978-0-385-90683-8, $19.99. (6–12) A bee expert and renowned entomologist shares the history of bees and their relationship with humans throughout history, and looks at the current role of bees as pollinators. Author’s Notes, Appendices. (SAR) IV, VIII. Supplemental Material: Colony Collapse Disorder update (PBS)

Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot. Sy Montgomery. Illustrated with photographs by Nic Bishop. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 80pp. Trade ISBN 978-0-618-49417-0, $18. (6–12) Have you ever seen a nine-pound green-and-yellow parrot that doesn’t fly? Follow the scientists, rangers, and volunteers hard at work on a remote island near New Zealand to protect this uniquely loveable bird and bring it back from the brink of extinction. P.S. The Story Continues, Acknowledgments, Bibliography, Index.(CMB) IV, VII, VIII. Supplemental Material:

Kingdom: Micro Monsters: Extreme Encounters With Invisible Armies. Nam Nguyen. Kingfisher. 48pp. Trade ISBN 978-0-7534-6455-7, $14.99. (6–8) The incredible photographs in this book zoom in on tiny insects and nearly invisible creatures to illustrate the amazing adaptations that allow these animals to survive and thrive. Glossary. (KLO) IV. Supplemental Material:

Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age. Cheryl Bardoe. Illustrated with color illustrations and photographs. Abrams Books for Young Readers. 48pp. Trade ISBN 978-0-8109-8413-4, $18.95. (3–8) Mammoths and mastodons are extinct, but their stories aren’t over. This book is an account of how real-life CSI techniques are being used to study a recently discovered, fully frozen baby mammoth, and how we are adding to our knowledge of these unique creatures. Glossary, Selected References, Index. (CSW) II, IV, VIII. Supplemental Material:

National Geographic Kids: The Ultimate Dinopedia. Don Lessem. Illustrated by Franco Tempesta. National Geographic Children’s Books. 272pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-4263-0164-3, $24.95. Library ISBN 978-1-4263-0165-0, $34.90. (3–8) This is not your typical dinosaur book. It offers kids a look at familiar dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus Rex and Diplodocus while using kid-friendly text and stunning art work to give complete coverage of all the known dinosaurs. This book is a real treat and a must have for the dinosaur lover on any gift list. Dino Dictionary (thumbnail sketch of each dinosaur), Glossary, Recommended Books, Websites and Videos, Suggested Places to Visit, Index. (CSW) IV. Supplemental Material:

Project Seahorse. Pamela S. Turner. Illustrated with photographs by Scott Tuason. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 64pp. Trade ISBN 978-0-547-20713-1, $18. (6–12) Scientists off an island in the Philippines work to help the dwindling numbers of seahorses and to protect their coral reef ecosystem. In working with the local fishing community to protect this fragile ecosystem, a way of life is also being preserved. Glossary, Acknowledgments, Resources, Index, How to Help Seahorses. (CMB) IV, VII, VIII. Supplemental Material:

Come See the Earth Turn: The Story of Léon Foucault. Lori Mortensen. Illustrated by Raúl Allén. Tricycle Press. 32pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-58246-284-4, $17.99. Library ISBN 978-1-58246-361-2, $20.99. (3–8) The life of Foucault is beautifully yet simply presented, as is the connection between science and history. The historically accurate illustrations are supportive of the story. Author’s Note, Bibliography, Glossary, Pronunciation Guide. (BCC) I, V, VIII. Supplemental Material:

Dinosaur Mountain: Digging Into the Jurassic Age. Deborah Kogan Ray. Frances Foster Books, an imprint of Farrar, Straus and Giroux BYR. 40pp. Trade ISBN 978-0-374-31789-8, $16.99. (3–8) Step back 100 years to join Earl Douglass on his Utah quest to find, excavate, and preserve dinosaur bones. Science + History = “The Bone Wars.” Glossary, Bibliography, Diary Notes. (SMF) I, II, V. Supplemental Material:

Earth Heroes: Champions of Wild Animals. Bruce and Carol Malnor. Illustrated by Anisa Claire Hovemann. Dawn Publications. 144pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-58469-123-5, $11.95. Paperback ISBN 978-1-58469-123-5, $11.95. (6–12) Meet eight animal conservationists as young people who grew into adults passionate about saving animals from extinction. Each chapter has Fast Facts, Ripples of Influence, Personal Timeline and Historical Timeline, End Notes about Becoming a Citizen Scientist, and Index. (SMF) II, V, VII. Supplemental Material:

Erased by a Tornado! Jessica Rudolph. Illustrated with photographs. Bearport Publishing. 32pp. Library ISBN 978-1-936087-52-5, $18.95. (3–8) The stories of tornado survivors are accompanied by explanations of what causes these natural disasters, where they occur, and how to stay safe. Selected Bibliography, Glossary, Index. (KLO) V, VII. Supplemental Material:

Global Warming. Seymour Simon. Collins, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s. 32pp. Trade ISBN 978-0-06-114250-5, $17.99. (3–8) In the brilliant Seymour Simon format, this book is a photo essay examining global warming and the devastating facts regarding this enormous world issue. The lesson, that this problem affects each and every one of us, is powerfully conveyed through text and photos. Glossary, Index. (JCL) I, II, IV, V, VII. Supplemental Material: Editor’s Note: Learn more about Seymour Simon, read his blog, find teaching materials and more at www.seymoursimon.com/.

I Dreamed of Flying Like a Bird: My Adventures Photographing Wild Animals From a Helicopter. Robert B. Haas. Illustrated with photographs by Robert B. Haas. National Geographic Children’s Books. 64pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-4263-0693-8, $17.95. Library ISBN 978-1-4263-0694-5, $27.90. (3–8) With amazing photographs taken from a helicopter, this book provides us with aerial views of wild animals. Each photograph will engage students and give them opportunities to use their inquiry skills. Proceeds from the sale of this book go to the Humane Society of the United States. Glossary, Index, Resourses. (JCL) I, VI, VII, VIII. Supplemental Material:

Oceans: Dolphins, Sharks, Penguins, and More! Johnna Rizzo. Illustrated with photographs. National Geographic Children’s Books. 64pp. Trade ISBN 978-1-4263-0686-0, $14.95. Library ISBN 978-1-4263-0724-9, $24.90. (3–8) Beautiful photographs depict the many organisms that thrive in oceans around the globe and increase our understanding of why the oceans are so important to us all. Author’s Note, Glossary, Index. (KLO) IV, V. Supplemental Material: