Nonfiction Monday

Tis the season – for getting out on the ice and enjoying hockey. And MY FIRST BOOK OF HOCKEY: A Rookie Book by Sports Illustrated for Kids  is just the book to inspire and delight young hockey enthusiasts.

This new book from Time Inc. provides a solid all-around introduction to the sport that is both informative and entertaining. A cartoon character guides readers through the pages that explain the organization of teams, the use of equipment, and the structure of games. Terms highlighted in bold, colorful fonts are clearly explained within the context of the action-packed photographs that serve as illustrations and carry the reader through a simulated game from face-off to overtime.

Nonfiction Monday

Blobfish, Star-nosed Mole, Vampire Squid, Thorny Dragon, Ghost Octopus! Yes, these are just a few of the remarkable animals you’ll find in Animal Planet’s Strange,Unusual, Gross & Cool Animals by Charles Ghigna.

Ghigna does an outstanding job of putting fun in the “ICK” factor and sharing startling facts with readers in this spectacular collection. Playing off the title, the book is divided into four main sections with subheadings that focus on individual animals as well as related traits such as Creatures of the Deep - Mimics - Marvelous Mammals - Fabulous Feet - Squirters and Spitters - Blobby, Slimy, Stretchy Creatures - and Fantastic Frogs – to name a few.

Information is well-organized and accessible thanks to elements such as the Gallery spreads that explore specific themes, Feature Creature which provides details about individual animals, the Creature Collection which gives readers opportunities to compare and contrast, and Macrophotographs to highlight the smallest details.

Stunning color photographs fill every page in this large format, 128 page book, with the exception of the Glossary, Index, and Additional Reading.

Maps and charts offer additional perspectives on the information for animal lovers and budding scientific minds.