1. GABRIELLE`S MARCH EXPLORATION ! By: Gabrielle M. Black

2. AMY HAS 7 MORE KIDS INFORMATIONAL BOOKS. HERE ARE 5 OF THEM…

3. BUGS AND BUGSICLES Every fall, bugs disappear. And every spring, they return. Where do they go? Bugs and Bugsicles answers the mystery. Some die, leaving their young safe in an egg sack or crawling along the bottom of a pond. Others fly distant places. And one even freezes to thaw out and live another day. Watch as crickets, ladybugs, dragonflies, and other insects get ready for the killing frosts. Then look again, as spring arrives, snow melts, flowers bloom, and suddenly, the bugs are back!

4. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY: HOT STUFF This book introduce students to geothermal energy with some historical background on the use of hot springs by Romans and other ancient peoples. Geothermal energy comes from deep in the earth; natural hot springs in Iceland heat buildings and greenhouses. Underground hot water is converted to steam in geothermal plants, where it turns turbines to make electricity, as in California’s impressive Geysers plant (illustrated). Scientists can also use dry heat from Earth’s crust by adding water and using heat pumps small enough to fit in a basement!

5. SOLAR ENERGY: RUNNING ON SUNSHINE In this book, students are introduced to solar energy with some historical background on passive solar power used in ancient Greece and by the Acoma of New Mexico. Students learn that solar energy is captured by photovoltaic panels to make electricity and in thermal solar plants that heat water with the sun’s energy. The author stresses the availability, cheapness, and cleanness as great advantages of solar power, although it does not work at night or in places with little sunlight, when it needs to be stored.

6. WIND ENERGY: BLOWN AWAY In this book, students are introduced to the concept of using wind for renewable, non- polluting power. The movement of air has been used for thousands of years to sail boats and turn the arms of windmills, both attractively illustrated. Today, wind power is being generated by wind turbines, whose blades cause a drive shaft to move gears that turn a generator—hundreds of these turbines make up a wind farm.

7. NUCLEAR ENERGY AMAZING ATOMS This “Powering Our World” series entry appears designed to bring information about energy sources to a younger audience than usual….In this book, students are introduced to atomic particles (protons, electrons, neutrons) circling around a nucleus, and the two ways energy is released: fusion—as in the Sun—and fission, when uranium atoms break apart. … Nuclear energy does not pollute, but uranium is nonrenewable, mining destroys land, and, worst of all, toxic waste is produced. (The author warns that nuclear waste will leak radiation for some 100,000 years.) The danger of accidents is illustrated by the bleak picture of an abandoned town near Chernobyl; another photo shows costumed women protesting the proposed nuclear waste dump under Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Each book includes a fuel time line and a glossary, but teachers will need to plan additional activities and projects, with field trips to nearby sources of energy production.

8. THE AUTHORS COMMENT ON HER BUGS AND BUGSICLES BOOK. In 2011, 2012, and 2013 Bugs and Bugsicles was the focus of two all- school book grants, and a county-wide grade-level read. The idea is to have all the students read the same book and then do age-appropriate writing projects. I’m honored that Bugsicles is part of a new tradition.

9. A REAL COMMENT FROM AMY S. HANSEN My job is to investigate every day mysteries. Where do bugs go? How do refrigerators work? I get to ask lots of questions and read a lot, then I write. I also get to visit classrooms and libraries and talk about what I found out. It is a very cool job. Let me know what you think. Let me know what you think.