Nonfiction Monday: Show Off by Sarah Hines Stephens & Bethany Mann

Show Off
By Sarah Hines Stephens and Bethany Mann
Candlewick Press
ISBN: 9780763645991
$18.99
Grades 4-7
In Stores Sept. 22, 2009
Review copy provided by publisher

*Recommended*

A Step-by-Step Review

Step 1 – Get your hands on this book.

You might check it out from a library, you might find it in a book store, maybe you see it at a friend’s house – no matter the avenue, you should take a look.

Step 2 – Find out what’s inside.

Open it up, check out the table of contents. Highly visual step-by-step guides to more activities than you can shake a stick at. Contemplating a fake tatoo? Page 114. Considering boogie boarding? You’re covered. You’ll likely find a whole new batch of thing you want to try.

Step 3 – Learn how to use it.

Since words are at a minimum, symbols, images, and icons do much of the talking. Show Off begins with a guide to describe how to make sense of it all.

Step 4 – Examine the illustrations.

The artwork is bright and modern. Page layouts are varied, adding visual interest. They clearly show, so fewer words are needed to tell.

Step 5 – Dive in.

Broken into broad sections with titles like Amaze, Create, and Explore, there is plenty to learn. The difficulty level of the activities covered  – from the simplicity of shadow puppets to the more advanced “cereal box speakers”, is nicely varied.

Step 7 – Burn the receipt (if purchased).

You ain’t gonna need it. Add to your collection and alert reluctant readers accordingly.

Check out the Nonfiction Monday roundup at SimplyScience Blog.

Find this book at your local library with WorldCat.

Filed under: *Best New Books*, Reviews