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Over in the Arctic

Published January 9, 2016 | By Carol Malnor

STAY TUNED! Dawn Publications is launching an new blog in February. In the meantime, I’ll be featuring blogs from some of Dawn’s award-winning authors. Enjoy this week’s blog by Marianne Berkes.

ARCTI_COVER2I have fond memories of winter snow days in upstate New York. Other folks must miss the cold (somewhat) too, since my book Over in the Arctic, Where the Cold Winds Blow always sells best this time of year. Click on the cover to check it out.

When the first really good snowfall came, my students and I couldn’t wait to make angels in the snow! And we filled spray bottles with water and added drops of food coloring to each bottle to paint on the snow!

We also collected freshly fallen snow and made snow cones. Make small snowballs, put them in a bowl and quickly go inside. Place the snowballs on sugar cones and top with fruit juice or fruit juice concentrate. Or you can add some sugar, vanilla and a little milk to a big bowl of snow and make “snow ice-cream.”

Do you know the story of Wilson A. Bentley, a Vermont farmer who had a passion for studying snowflakes? Check out the Caldecott Medal Book Snowflake Bentley. You can study snowflakes too: Freeze a piece of black construction paper so you have it ready for the next snow fall. Have a magnifying glass handy. Go outside and let some snowflakes fall on the frozen paper. Before the snowflakes melt, examine them. Are there any two alike?

I miss not being able to find animal tracks in the snow here in Florida. But we do find animal tracks in the sand along our beaches, especially those of birds, and we build “snowmen” out of sand. But somehow a cup of hot chocolate after being outside doesn’t quite taste the same.

FOR THE CLASSROOM

Check out these fun and educational activities—Tips from the Author, Tips from the Illustrator, and free downloadable bookmarks for your classroom.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Berkes_smallMarianne Berkes has spent much of her life with children as a teacher, children’s theater director and children’s librarian. She knows how much children enjoy brilliantly illustrated, interactive picture books with predictable text about real animals. She retired to write full time and visit schools, libraries and literary conferences. Marianne is the author of nineteen (and counting!) published picture books for children. Find out more about Marianne’s books for Dawn. And visit her website!

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Posted in Nature Books Blog, Uncategorized
subscribe     Blog by Carol Malnor I love making connections: kids and nature, science and reading, fun and learning. I discovered the joy of connecting Dawn Publications' books with kids when I was a classroom teacher. Dawn's books were easy to incorporate into my lessons and the kids loved them. I used picture books with students of all ages, from primary school all the way up through 9th grade. Over the years, my relationship with Dawn changed and developed, and I authored Dawn’s Teacher’s Guides as well as writing books for children 4-14 years old. ARTICLE How to Use Creative Nonfiction Picture Books in Support of Common Core and Science ACTIVITIES Dawn Publications STANDARDS Common Core State Standards Next Generation Science Standards National Science Teachers Association Picture Perfect Science   OTHER FAVORITES Dawn Publications Children and Nature Network
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