Synergy: Science Songs

SCIENCE SONGS are tunes with lyrics that feature science-related facts and stories.

Read the recently published nonfiction picture books for children, then learn more at the websites:

Author Susan Lendroth and illustrator Bob Kolar have teamed for a series of sing-a-long science picture books for young readers. Now available in board book format, HERE WE GO DIGGING FOR DINOSAUR BONES and HEY-HO, TO MARS WE’LL GO are the latest installments that began with OLD MANHATTAN HAS SOME FARMS. These books are a fun way to introduce science occupations to young children using motivating and familiar tunes.

STORY TIME FROM SPACE is a YouTube channel that reads (and sings) picture books from the International Space Station. Listen to astronaut Christina Koch read Hey-Ho from space! To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/7dtzMJipiuA.

SCRATCH GARDEN is a YouTube channel that specializes in fun and educational videos for children including STEM songs. To visit the channel, go to https://www.youtube.com/@ScratchGarden.

ARC courtesy of Charlesbridge, and imprint of Penguin Random House. ( )

This is spectacular -- well laid out for storytime or reading or singing along for younger kids. Great facts for older kids, and a nice overview of what a long space journey would look like right now. Excellent humor, and a diverse crew rounds the book out nicely. ( )

This book is a sing-along book in the tune of "Farmer in the Dell." The book mixes the song with facts about launching a rocket, the supplies you will need, what the rocket looks like, and various facts about space. Something I learned was that it's easier to launch a spaceship from orbit than earth. The book also explains the concept of gravity and other components of space.

Overall, I think this book is engaging for younger students and gives them an introduction to being an astronaut. Because of the sing-along feature, students could learn the song as a way to become more informed about the process of traveling through space. ( )

Hey-Ho, To Mars We'll Go! is one of an increasing number of nonfiction books with several different uses or target audiences. The book's primary, large font text, is written for singing to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell." The singing factor, combined with large, computer-created, colorful cartoon art, makes this a perfect choice for storytime crowds. Older folks (teachers, caregivers, elder siblings, and the like) will appreciate the smaller text insets that elaborate on the verse,

"Can you catch my sock?
Can you catch my sock?
Hey-ho, to Mars we'll go—
Can you catch my sock?"

"Imagine what a mess you could make without gravity. At home, if you leave your toys on the floor, they stay where you've dropped them. But in space, anything you don't put in a cupboard or fasten in place will drift like dandelion fluff, bouncing off walls and your crewmates."

The book begins with the launch, follows the crew during the journey, and ends with exploration of Mars. To give a sense of the journey outside the Earth's gravitational pull, the text and the pages have varying orientations—several pages are designed to be read upside-down.

Anything that introduces and interest in science and space exploration is a welcome addition to any library collection.

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(My copy of Hey-Ho, To Mars We'll Go! was provided by the publisher.) ( )