by Laura Crawford
An arctic adaptation of “This is the House that Jack Built” follows polar bears, walruses, seals, narwhals and beluga whales as they chase each other around “the ice that floats in the Arctic waters.” Not only is the rhythmic, cumulative prose good for early readers; it is a pure delight to read aloud. The “For Creative Minds” section helps children learn how these animals live in the cold, icy arctic region. Softcover · Ages 3-7
Preview for the Book
For Creative Minds (PDF)
Teaching Activities
Learning Links and More
Sylvan Dell is a young company on a serious mission to create picture books that excite children’s imaginations, are artistically spectacular, and have educational value.
All of Sylvan Dell's books start with fun, warm stories, generally fiction with math, science, or nature themes and are brought to life by art. They then add a 3-5 page “For Creative Minds” section that includes fun facts, crafts, vocabulary and games to reinforce the educational value and to support National Science and Math Standards. Finally, each book is carefully vetted for scientific accuracy by experts in the field including scientists and educators from NASA, NOAA, SeaWorld, Houston Zoo and various nature centers and aviaries.
These are not textbooks in the traditional sense but rather fun picture books that a child will want to read over and over again. Sylvan Dell's science and math learning objectives are there for the taking but the child’s reading pleasure is primary. They believe having a child excited about a book and its subject enhances the opportunity for parents and teachers to build on that interest and to strike while the learning iron is hot.
