Archives for March 30, 2015

Highly-Anticipated Third Season of Emmy Award-Winning Series Launches April 2015 on PBS KIDS (Check Local Listings) or Watch Online.

SciGirls is in the house! And on the street, at the beach and in the park. From their own backyards to a NASA research center, the bright, relatable, real girls featured on the groundbreaking PBS series are seriously into science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. And Season Three of SciGirls finds these STEM adventurers tracking toads, counting clouds and much more, all in the name of citizen science. The brand-new season of the Emmy-winning show, featuring six stand-out episodes, debuts April 2015 on PBS KIDS (check local listings) and online at http://pbskids.org/scigirls. 

Citizen science is the hottest new STEM frontier that engages the general public –and kids! – in real science. Scientists worldwide invite ordinary people—like the SciGirls—to observe and record data about everything from birds to beaches, monarch butterflies to maple trees. The data is then shared with scientists, who use it to generate new scientific knowledge.

In six exciting new episodes, middle school girls and their female STEM professional mentors hit the great outdoors, cataloging frog calls, tracking the changing seasons, verifying satellite imagery of clouds, monitoring fragile butterfly populations, improving urban bird habitats, and advocating for healthy oceans. In addition, animated characters Izzie and Jake are back and finding themselves in sticky situations that can only be solved by STEM—and the SciGirls. When the SciGirls share their data with professional scientists, they save the day for Izzie and Jake and help save the environment!

And since all citizen scientists are on-the-go, the series that snagged a “New Approaches” Daytime Emmy Award is unleashing mobile-friendly web upgrades on http://pbskids.org/scigirls that let kids play new games, watch episodes and videos, and connect with fellow STEM explorers anywhere, anytime.

“Collaboration is the key to successful citizen science,” said SciGirls executive producer Richard Hudson. “Since SciGirls’ beginning, working together—making discoveries, mistakes and friends—is one of the important research-based methods we use to engage girls around STEM. This new season underscores the importance of collaboration within the scientific research community and workforce. SciGirls is fortunate to have powerful partners advising us about citizen science, including the University of Cornell Department of Ornithology, NASA and FrogWatch USA.”

The third season of SciGirls,  the show Parenting Magazine calls “cool stuff” and the New York Times says makes science “downright enjoyable,” brings even more inspirational, authentic hands-on science content to girls from coast-to-coast, turning STEM viewers everywhere into STEM doers. Every girl can be a SciGirl – and a citizen scientist!

The SciGirls creative team is headed by Twin Cities Public Television’s Director of Science Content Richard Hudson, Executive Producer of the long-running PBS children’s science series Newton’s Apple and creator of DragonflyTV and the SciGirls initiative. Animation is created by Soup2Nuts, producers of PBS’ WordGirl.

Gaming and mobile website is developed by Curious Media. SciGirls is made possible by a major grant from the National Science Foundation. Additional funding is provided by INFOR, Northrop Grumman Foundation, and PPG Industries Foundation.

ABOUT TWIN CITIES PUBLIC TELEVISION (TPT)
The mission of TPT is to “enrich lives and strengthen our community through the power of media.” As one of the nation’s leading public media organizations, TPT uses television, interactive media and community engagement to advance education, culture and citizenship. Over its 50 plus year history, TPT has been recognized for its innovation and creativity with numerous awards, including Peabody awards and national and regional Emmys.

Based in St. Paul, MN, TPT is one of the highest rated PBS affiliates in the nation, reaching over 1.3 million people each month through multiple broadcast and online channels. The organization’s particular areas of focus include: the educational readiness of children; serving the needs and unleashing the potential of America’s aging population; engaging a new generation in the power of public media; and being the preferred media partner for organizations that align with our mission to enrich lives and strengthen community. For more information, visit TPT online, follow TPT on Facebook and Twitter

Watch SciGirls on pbskids.org, follow SciGirls on Facebook and @SciGirls on Twitter.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

The National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency that supports education and research across all fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).  In addition to providing major support for SciGirls, the NSF supports other science and math programs on PBS and pbskids.org, including DragonflyTV, Peg + Cat, Design Squad Nation and Plum Landing.  Visit here for more information on NSF activities.

Self Disclosure: No compensation was received to post. I will be receiving some cool swag.

Wildlife photographer and environmental educator David FitzSimmons is on a mission to get children to fall in love with animals of the ocean by making reading as engaging and educational as a swim in the sea. His new book, Curious Critters Marine, the third book in his popular Curious Critters series, is being released on April 22, Earth Day 2015. And it’s bound to make a splash!

We received a copy of this book to review and even my 11-year old son loved it! He was especially happy to see that Horseshoe Crabs are in the book because it is so difficult to find amazing children’s marine books with even the mention of them. I recommend for children (and parents) of all ages! The illustrations are amazing and the educational information is superb!

FitzSimmons is at the forefront of environmental education. He produces exquisitely-detailed, upclose photography of amazing animals that inhabit the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Through stunning photography, children go face-to-face with animals ranging from a spectacular spoonbill to an incredible blue lobster, from a tufted puffin to an upside-down jellyfish, and from a baby sea turtle to a giant Pacific octopus.

“Children are mesmerized as they stare eye-to-eye with a crab, a cormorant, or an octopus. I try to photograph the animals on eye-level so kids can connect emotionally with the critters,” said FitzSimmons. “The goal is to foster children’s biophilia—to get young readers to fall in love with nature.”

www.curious-critters.com displays more Curious Critters photos and provides information about how FitzSimmons photographed the animals, as well as insight about how he write his books.

This book really is a Must-Buy!

Self Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book to facilitate this feature. Photo Credit: FitzSimmons.

What does it take to make your dreams come true?  Passion?  Practice?  A willingness to defy your natural duty?  For one loveable dragon, all this and more!  Come meet author Terry John Barto’s newest character inNickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon, a 34 page color illustrated book with an SRP of $15.15 breathing fun for children ages 5-8 available since March 23, 2015. Nickerbacher will also be available as an eBook with the download price of  $3.99.

Nickerbacher is a sweet-tempered, bushy-browed beast who spends his days guarding Princess Gwendolyn and dreams of being a stand-up comic — not exactly a profession for a dragon! He’s true to his duty as a dragon – as dictated by his Papa – but wants only to make the world laugh.   Gwendolyn is supportive and encouraging, telling him he needs to do what makes him happy.  It isn’t until the dashing Prince Happenstance comes along, ready for a fight, that they realize that instead of battling each other, they should do what’s in their hearts and pursue their true desires (the Prince really wants to be a baseball pitcher).  With a winning set at The Comedy Castle and his family’s newfound support and pride, it’s all laughter, happiness and dreams come true for the good-natured dragon!

With beautiful illustrations by Kim Sponaugle, Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon encourages young ones to dream big while laughing at Nickerbacher’s silly jokes!

We received a copy of this delightful book and I recommend for ages 4-8! It is a wonderful laugh out loud story with amazing illustrations! Younger children will love Nickerbacher!

Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon is 34 pages and is available for a suggested retail price of $15.15. To order or for more information please visit http://nickerbacher.com.  Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon is also for sale at www.amazon.com orwww.barnsandnoble.com  and available for download as an eBook.

About the author:

Terry John Barto has crafted dances and musical staging for more than 200 productions throughout the United States and abroad. His versatility ranges from Annie and Crazy For You to The Who’s Tommy and West Side Story. Terry staged long-running shows for Princess Cruises and a variety of his choreography has been seen on CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful. As the Creative Director for Wings of Dreams Productions, he turned diverse ideas into screenplays for animation and toys. He has also written another children’s book Gollywood, Here I Come! (Mom’s Choice Award Winner and Story Monster Approved). For more information about Terry John Barto, please visit www.TjbKids.com.

About the Illustrator

Kim Sponaugle, a graduate or the Art Institute of Philadelphia, started Pictures Kitchen Studios in 2007 and since has illustrated over 50 books for kids. Pictures Kitchen Studios has been honored to receive numerous awards including Mom’s Choice, Pinnacle Book Award, CIPA EVVY and Reader’s Favorite Awards.  Visit http://www.picturekitchenstudio.com.

Self Disclosure: I received a free book to facilitate this feature.