2010 and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year!

I turned in two science books on Monday, so I’m back to my blog. It’s been a year since I started blogging.

It’s starting off as a busy year. I’ll be judging NF picture books for the Cybils second round and I’m looking forward to reading the finalists that I haven’t already read. They look like excellent choices. Many thanks to the first round judges who read so many to winnow down the choices. Here are the finalists. You can check this link to Dad Talk and see a summary of each book.

Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea by Steven Jenkins

Life-Size Zoo Created by Teruyuki Komiya with photographs by Toyofumi Fukuda

Mermaid Queen: The Spectacular True Story of Annette Kellerman, Who Swam Her Way to Fame, Fortune, and Swimsuit History  by Shana Corey

The Day-Glo Brothers by Chris Barton

Moonshot by Brian Floca

Faith by Maya Ajmera, Magde Nakassis, and Cynthia Pon

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy with Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah

The  first new year book  entry  will be here Wednesday, but I’m staying quiet on the Cybils for now! I’ll choose some favorites that suit for fun science activities.  I’m so looking forward to being able to blog on science books I wrote sometime this year. Both topics were such fun and I interviewed some fascinating (and brilliant) people as part of my research.

Here’s to a fun 2010 and lots of great reading.

Hello, Everybody! It’s SimplyScience.

Welcome to you all. I’m Shirley Duke, and this new blog is for anyone who loves books and loves using books to teach. Once a week, I’ll review new books and old book friends and suggest simple science lessons that can be incorporated into your lesson plans. Join me each week for some fresh ideas for teaching science.

I taught science for twenty-five years in San Antonio, Dallas, and Garland, and then stopped so I had more time to write for children. My first trade book, No Bows! (Peachtree), came out in 2006. Since then I’ve written eight other work-for-hire books, teacher guides, and teen magazine pieces. I’m writing another draft of a YA book right now.

However, I love science and it can be simple–and fun. Using elementary level books, I’ll give you some practical ideas you can use in your clasroom or with your children to learn science in an easy to understand way.