Dewey Discoveries: "Wildlife Oddities"

Here's a fun new book series! It's called "Wildlife Oddities," and it is full of strange facts and amazing full-color photos. Each book is sure to capture the attention of any reader in grades four to six. Click on the titles below to reserve a copy today.

--Andrea W., Headquarters

"Shocking Sea Creatures"

Dewey Number: 591.77

"Incredible Insects"

Dewey Number: 595.7

"Mystifying Mammals"

Dewey Number: 599

"Peculiar Plants"

Dewey Number: 580

Dewey Discoveries: "Super Shark Encyclopedia" by Derek Harvey

Do you think you know everything about sharks? Think again! Check out this "Super Shark Encyclopedia: And Other Creatures of the Deep" by Derek Harvey. Chock full of every kind of shark (like the thresher shark, which boasts a tail as long as it's body which they use to shock their prey) and illustrated by large, full-color photographs, this encyclopedia is sure to shed light on some new information. Click on the link to make your request right now! Great for all shark and deep sea enthusiasts.

Dewey Number: 597.3

--Andrea W., Headquarters

Shark Week

Did you know it's Shark Week on the Discovery Channel?  It's the 26th year of this week of celebrating all things sharky!  Try one of these toothy books to continue the theme:

"Nugget and Fang: Friends Forever or Snack Time?" by Tammi Sauer
These two best friends love to play together and they have so much in common.  The one big difference: Nugget is a minnow and Fang is a shark!  When Nugget goes to school, his new classmates tell him that Fang can't be his friend anymore.  Nugget is conflicted: he loves Fang, but he doesn't want to be his lunch.  But when there is an emergency, guess who swims in to save the day?  Sometimes best friends can look very different, but that doesn't change how much they care about one another.  Recommended for children preschool through 2nd grade.

"Face to Face with Sharks" by David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes
 This non-fiction book explores the varieties of sharks.  You can see photos of sharks in their natural habitat It's filled with new vocabulary, fun facts and other resources to learn more.  There is a section devoted to "Ways to Help" encouraging you to get involved and help save sharks from their greatest enemy: humans.  Recommended for students grades 1-4.




Does your love of all things sharky make you want to sing? 
Baby Shark Chant
(use thumb and index finger to make a shark mouth)
Baby shark do do, do do do do
Baby shark do do, do do do do
Baby shark do do, do do do do
Baby shark

(shark mouth with forearms connected at elbows)
Mama shark do do, do do do do
Mama shark do do, do do do do
Mama shark do do, do do do do
Mama shark

Continue with Daddy shark (shark mouth with full arms), Grandpa shark (same as Daddy, but with fists instead of fingers to look like no teeth), Surfer Dude (arms out riding a wave) sees a shark
(hand on top of head like shark fin, other hand rubbing stomach with hungry look on face), swims away (swimming arms fast), no more shark (wave goodbye).

After Shark Week is gone, you don't need to fret.  You can still request DVDs and books to learn more!

--Angie R., Headquarters

Exploring the Sea with Jack and Annie

"Dark Day in the Deep Sea" by Mary Pope Osborne. Travel back in time with Jack and Annie to the mid-nineteenth century where they meet a group of explorers and scientists searching for a sea monster. Learn about the ocean and sea life as Jack and Annie continue to look for the secrets of happiness. 

Also, check out the non-fiction research guide “Sea Monsters: A Non-Fiction Companion to Dark Day in the Deep Sea” to learn more.






After learning all about different sea creatures you can make your own. This octopus is made with a piece of an egg carton, felt strips, beads, and googly eyes.

Cut out and paint one of the cups from an old egg carton. This will be the octopus body.

Glue two googly eyes onto the body when the paint has dried. 

Cut out eight strips of felt that are about four to five inches long. Glue these strips to the inside
of the body.

Glue beads onto the underside of the felt “tentacles”. These are its suckers.

* Regular Elmer’s glue will work, but takes some patience. Tacky glue or hot glue might
be quicker and hold a bit better.

--Shelley A., WR