JoAnn Early Macken


Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move

With a gust of wind a dandelion seed takes off soaring through the sky. Who knows where it will land? Seeds use ingenious methods to travel to new places, from bobbing along through waves to spinning like green helicopters. A glossary is included.


Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move
By JoAnn Early Macken
Illustrated by Pam Paparone
Age Level: 3-6
Look for my new book, with gorgeous illustrations by Pam Paparone, in stores now!
 

Reviews


Booklist (April 15, 2008):
Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move.
Macken, JoAnn Early (Author)
Apr 2008. 32 p. Holiday, hardcover, $16.95. (9780823420438). 581.4.
Maple seeds twirling in the wind, tumbleweeds rolling across the prairie, burdock seeds sticking to socks, coconuts drifting across the ocean, fig seeds falling to the ground in bat droppings, and acorns buried by forgetful squirrels are some of the examples used here to introduce methods of seed distribution. Each is introduced on a double-page spread, in which a few lines of poetic text provide information succinctly, while the occasional use of internal rhyme or onomatopoeic words gives verbal punch to the presentation. The plants’ varied habitats give broad scope to artist Paparone, who offers a series of acrylic paintings that show seeds traveling within distinctive locales. Pleasing in their colors, compositions, and decorative elements, the pictures clearly show points made in the text. The final pages offer an illustrated glossary of words relevant to the topic. Satisfying, and well designed for both classroom sharing and individual reading.
--Carolyn Phelan

School Library Journal:
MACKEN, JoAnn Early. Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move. illus. by Pam Paparone. unpaged. CIP. Holiday House. 2008. RTE $16.95. ISBN 978-0-8234-2043-8. LC 2006037278.
Gr 3-4–Macken’s crisp text reveals burdocks sticking to a kid’s socks and to a rabbit’s fur, touch-me-not seeds exploding from their pods, and acorns being interred energetically by provident squirrels. A final segment explores several kinds of seed “containers” (pods, fruit, nutshells) and the varying shapes of a number of seeds (peach pits, corn kernels, peas), and explains the stages of growth from seed to flowering plant. All the while, in careful step, Paparone’s bright, realistic acrylics present clear pictures of the featured seeds in their natural dispersals, from tumbleweeds rolling across a Western landscape to coconuts dropping into a tropical sea. Many of the double-page illustrations contain a circular “bubble” with close-ups of leaves, flowers, pods, etc. Team this inviting introduction with Ken Robbins’s elegant Seeds (S & S, 2005) and/or Helene J. Jordan’s simple How a Seed Grows (HarperTrophy, 1992), or perhaps Sam Godwin’s even simpler A Seed in Need (Picture Window, 2004) for a seed-full good time.
-–Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

AdLit.org:
The many ways seeds get to where they can grow is revealed in poetic language enhanced by understandable illustrations. Though the information is brief, the sound of the words makes this a unique introduction to this cycle in nature.




Gary Paulsen: Voice of Adventure and Survival
This biography of author Gary Paulsen was published in June 2007 as part of the Enslow Publishers series Authors Teens Love.
 


Sing-Along Song

Busy buzz, dizzy fuzz!
Bumble like a bee does!

What's that you hear? From a robin chirping in the morning to a lazy dog snoozing on the kitchen floor, from a squirrel's chitter chat to Daddy's home-at-last footsteps in the evening, everyday sounds can inspire the sweetest melodies.

Vibrant illustrations and a toe-tapping, sing-it-out-loud story are sure to make this a young child's favorite book any time of the day.


Look for Sing-Along Song, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, in bookstores now!
Illustration copyright © LeUyen Pham 2004.
 

Cats on Judy

Within the pages of this book, Judy and her fabulous furry felines will fill your heart with fun and frivolity. Join in on this hilarious romp through a day in young Judy's cat-filled life.


Cats on Judy was illustrated by Judith DuFour Love.
Illustration copyright © Judith du Four Love 1997.
 

More Biographies

Easy Biographies
Scholastic, 2007 (coauthor)
Abraham Lincoln: The Road to the White House
George Washington: Young Leader
Abigail Adams: Young Patriot
Elizabeth Blackwell: First Woman Doctor
Paul Revere
Ben Franklin
Daniel Boone
Davy Crockett
Babe Ruth
Roberto Clemente

Easy Biographies
Scholastic, 2006 (coauthor)
Thomas Edison: Incredible Inventor
Wilbur and Orville Wright: The Flight to Adventure

Science

Ecosystems: Full of Energy (Grade 6)
Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, 2006

Invertebrates: Life without a Backbone (Grade 3)
Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, 2007

Auroras and White Nights: Light at Earth’s Poles (Grade 4)
Macmillan/McGraw-Hill, 2007

Beginning Readers

Construction Zone series
(Capstone Press, Spring 2008)
Building a Road, Building a Skyscraper, Construction Crews, Construction Tools, Demolition!, Digging Tunnels

Seasons of the Year series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2006)
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter

Animals That Live in the Mountains series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2006)
Bighorn Sheep, Condors, Cougars, Elk, Golden Eagles, Mountain Goats

Things with Wings series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2006)
The Life Cycle of a Bat, The Life Cycle of a Cicada, The Life Cycle of a Dragonfly, The Life Cycle of a Flamingo, The Life Cycle of a Hummingbird, The Life Cycle of a Moth

Where on Earth? World Geography series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2006)
Deserts, Lakes, Mountains, Plains, Rivers, Seas

Animals That Live in the Desert series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2005)
Coyotes, Gila Monsters, Jackrabbits, Rattlesnakes, Roadrunners, Vultures

Water Habitats series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2005)
Beaches, Coral Reefs, Lakes, Ocean Floors, Rivers, Wetlands

Animals That Live in the Forest series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2005)
Black Bear, Deer, Moose, Opossum, Owl, Porcupine

After-School Fun series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2005)
Art Classes, Bike Riding, Gymnastics, Karate, Music Lessons, Swimming

Animals That Live on the Farm series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2004)
Chickens, Cows, Goats, Horses, Pigs, Sheep

Let’s Read About Pets series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2003)
Goldfish, Guinea Pigs, Kittens, Parakeets, Puppies, Rabbits

People in My Community series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2003)
Mail Carrier, Nurse, Sanitation Worker, School Crossing Guard, Teacher, Veterinarian

Animals I See at the Zoo series
(Weekly Reader Early Learning Library, 2002)
Bears, Camels, Elephants, Giraffes, Hippos, Lions, Monkeys, Penguins, Sea Lions, Snakes, Tigers, Zebras

Animal Worlds series
(Gareth Stevens Publishing, 2002)
African Animals, Farm Animals, Polar Animals, Rain Forest Animals

All content on this site copyright © 2007 by JoAnn Early Macken except as otherwise noted.
Please do not copy without permission.


Freelance Writing
Partial Client List


Anthology, Inc.
BrainWorx Studios
Capstone Press
CTB/McGraw-Hill
Enslow Publishers
Gareth Stevens
Harcourt Assessment
Mazer Creative Services
Pearson
Quarasan
Scholastic
Time for Kids
Weekly Reader Early
Learning Library


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