Donald M. Silver

ONE SMALL SQUARE Backyard guides kids and adults on a gentle exploration of animals, plants, insects, birds, soil, and more - all in one small area of a yard.

It relies on familiar observations, then moves to a more detailed science approach to slowly increase learning and knowledge.

This book is perfect for families and classroom teaching!

(Fewer pictures of a bird pulling on a poor worm would be welcome
as well, an alert to be sure that no living creatures are affected when filling a jar with show more water
and setting timers to be sure to release fireflies and others...) show less

Our modern day will never be able to experience such times as the mammoths and dinosaurs, and/or swampy forests but through this book we can imagine we’re walking through a national park. On this walk we endure great life and land experiences that help explain why things happen and how it affects the life around them. Along our path we spot out such things like fossils, predators, and unique origins of animals. Through this picture book the author offers us great informational facts show more regarding fossils and we could even make our own fossils.
The pop-ups throughout book are the reason I love this book because underneath each pop-it reveals an interesting fossil or insect or animal. Within the text, it actually talks about each pop-up and why it’s there. Not only does this book have pop-ups it also have tabs that we as readers can pull to find out what’s hidden behind a rock or tree or even in the water.
The narrator acts as a character and so does the audience. We both are on an adventure through time and what may have happened through this national park. Each giant step we take we are taking a gigantic step back into time where we see mammoths, saber-toothed lions, dinosaurs, and fossils galore. We see dinosaur eggs and then we venture to strange wonderful creatures that live in the water.
Ultimately, we end the book with an assessment of all fossils we seen throughout the book and the fossil expert, who is also a character in the story, asks us to se if we can recall of the fossils and where we seen them. The fossil expert continues to ask us to name each fossil and if not look not only through the inside of the book but the outside also.
The writing style of this book gives me a sense of the place it’s set because right in the beginning, we know that we are to use our imagination to venture through this national park. I feel that this book is great for the elementary level. Since it is a pop-up with great facts and a great adventure that goes along with it, it could be read from K-3 grades. Because it touches on so many topics covered in school, this book could be used in a lesson covering dinosaurs or fossils. It also touches on a very important science process skill, observation. Young children are making observations each day and are so interested in the world around them and with this book students can learn with their imagination through these picture book illustrations on some of the types of things that have happened in the past. show less

This is a beautifully illustrated book which encourages children to explore the amazing biodiversity found in one square foot area of a typical backyard. Part how-to book, part nature journal, part field guide, this book focuses on this small plot through many different lenses -- throughout the seasons, above and underground, during different times of the day and night -- and provides activities, instructions and supply lists to invite children to do the same. Illustrations and text are show more detailed and accurate, and are incorporated almost seamlessly together. A guide to the most common species is included in the back of the book, as well as a partially illustrated index. The rich illustrations, high quality activity suggestions, and concise descriptions allow children of varying reading levels, ages, and learning styles to benefit from this book. A great resource for inspiring, planning, and supporting outdoor experiences. Highly recommended for public and elementary school libraries. show less

I really like that this book has so many interactive things for the kids to do, while also giving a description of how certain things like our voice box and taste buds work. You could easily use this book for multiple lessons and also have them keep for something to look back on if they have questions in future classes.