Early Book Review: A Garden in Your Belly: Meet the Microbes in Your Gut by Masha D'yans

 A Garden in Your Belly: Meet the Microbes in Your Gut, written and illustrated by Masha D'yans, is currently scheduled for release on October 6 2020. Your belly is full of tiny creatures—and they love to eat! Along the river of your gut, tiny creatures move, eat, and grow. Learn more about the garden of microscopic flora growing inside the body and come on a journey that explains an important biological concept: the microbiome, the health of which affects everything in our bodies. Did you know that some foods are better for your microbiome (and you!) than others? Striking, original watercolor illustrations keep things from getting too gross. Informational back matter goes further into the science of the microbiome and reveals amazing facts about the gut.

A Garden in Your Belly is a colorfully illustrated book that helps explain to young readers how important the microbiome that lives inside of all of is. The important information is written in a way that is accessible and nonthreatening, because learning that a bunch of little things live inside you could be scary to some readers. I think the artwork helps keep the tone light and fun, and still shows the danger of not taking care of our gut health without being over the top. The message is very well conveyed, and I think it is well done. I really enjoyed the more in depth information at the end of the book, interesting facts, and the glossary included in the end pages. I think this book would be a good addition to school, library, and classroom shelves. It would also be a good tool in households where someone might have digestive health problems, that make this information even more important and relevant.

Book Review: Starry Skies: Learn about the Constellations Above Us by Samantha Chagollan, Nila Aye

Starry Skies: Learn about the Constellations Above Us is a nonfiction picturebook written by Samantha Chagollan and illustrated by Nila Aye. Every night, the sky is filled with stars that tell a thousand tales. Brave warriors, regal queens, fierce beasts -- they all parade across the starry skies each night. 

Starry Skies is a very simple picturebook that show and names a series of well known constellations in a fun way. I like the way they frame the constellation in make believe play that young readers can connect with and enjoy. The artwork is adorable, and does a good job of outlining the vision of the constellation along with the stars and the framing stories. I also like that at the end a few of the constellations are shown in groups depending on if they appear in the spring or autumn sky and that its mentioned that which stars you see depend on where you live and the season. I though that there could have been a mention of which you are likely to see together, or maybe where to spot the most common depending on hemisphere. However, this is a basic introduction that just might inspire young readers to go out with their families and do some star gazing of their own. 

With brilliant illustrations by Nila Aye, you will see the shapes of each constellation, and imagine what they might look like when you look up into the dark sky above. This introduction to astronomy is all you need to start learning about stars, so get ready, star hunters, and look to the skies!

Book Review: Plants Can’t Sit Still by Rebecca E. Hirsch

Plants Can’t Sit Still is a children's non fiction picturebook written by Rebecca E. Hirsch and illustrated by Mia Posada. Have you ever seen a plant move on its own? Plants might not walk, but they definitely don't sit still! Discover the many ways plants (and their seeds) move in this fascinating picture book.

Plants Can’t Sit Still is a book that shows young readers that while plants might not be able to get up and walk, they are definitely not immobile. it is an easy read and will appeal to pre-school and kindergarten readers, and might be useful when talking about science, particularly what is alive. plants move quite a bit, as they grow and seek light for the most part, but in other ways as well. The bright illustrations and simple text do a nice job of explaining the way plants move and why, while leaving the readers to think about the plants in their own yard, on the paths they know, and how they might be moving or might have already moved to get where they are. A nice book to share and read, particularly if you want to instill a love and curiosity about nature.