LOST AND FOUND: WHERE ARE THE HULA PAINTED FROGS? Article in Touchdown Magazine

I am pleased to have my article, LOST AND FOUND: WHERE ARE THE HULA PAINTED FROGS? published in the February 2020 issue of Touchdown Magazine, one of the publications of The School Magazine in Australia. It is the story of a rare species of frog found in Israel, once thought to be extinct. It was rediscovered in 2011.
I first learned about the Hula painted frog when I was doing research for my book LIVING FOSSILS: Clues to the Past. It turns out that the Hula painted frog's closest relative is an ancient frog known only from its fossil remains, and is thus a living fossil. I was intrigued by the story of its discovery and the connection to its ancient relatives.
I thank the editors of The School Magazine for publishing my story, and illustrator, Marjorie Crosby-Fairall, for her artwork that brings this tiny amphibian and its environment to life.

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS: Adding Value to My Books

When my books go into school libraries, I want to know--

• Who will read them?

• How will they fit into the curriculum?

• What connections do they make to other kinds of learning?

Here are are few of my recent books and ways they can be used to enhance learning:

A Day and Night in the Rain Forest (PictureWindow Books, 2015)
Common Core Connections:Integration of Knowledge and Ideas: Describe how the passage of time is shown throughout this book.
Key Ideas and Details: Explain the similarities and differences between diurnal and nocturnal animals in the rain forest.
Key Ideas and Details: Name three things that all animals in the rain forest need to survive.
Key Ideas and Details: Name three diurnal predators in the rain forest and their prey. Then name three nocturnal predators and their prey.

[Similar connections can be made with the other three titles in the Day and Night series--in the Desert, in the Forest, and on the Prairie.]

Living Fossils: Clues to the Past (Charlesbridge, 2016)
Curriculum Links:
Language Arts: comprehension strategy--compare and contrast, main idea/details strategy, cause and effect relationships
Science: Life science--animal adaptation and classification

Hatching Chicks in Room 6 (Charlesbridge, 2017)
Teaching Ideas:Sequencing: Understanding Chick Development and Text Structure
Life Cycles: Make a time line.
Eggs: Where do eggs come from?
Baby Animals: What do baby animals need?
Photo essays: How do pictures tell the story?

A Warmer World (Charlesbridge, 2012)
Common Core Curriculum Links:
Language Arts: genre--non-fiction informational text; new scientific vocabulary, comprehension strategy, cause and effect relationships
Science: Life science--animals and their environment, survival, adaptation, extinction. Environmental issues--global warming/climate change over time, pollution

Author Visit and Book Signing at Overland School, Los Angeles, CA

With bags of signed books at Children's Book World ready to go to students at Overland School

Last week I did two presentations in the auditorium of Overland Avenue School for Advanced Studies in Los Angeles, California--one to the kindergarten students and one to the first and second graders. Both groups were enthusiastic audiences and had good comments and questions. Many of the children had purchased books to be autographed which I did afterward at Children’s Book World, a local bookstore. The books I signed were Hatching Chicks in Room 6, Wiggle and Waggle, and Living Fossils.

Overland Avenue Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA

My visit to Overland brought back many memories. My own children attended Overland forty years ago and I remember going to many events in the school auditorium–which has not changed in all these years. The library, on the other hand, has changed a lot, doubling in size and now with Mary Mittelbach, the librarian, running a wonderful library program. (In my day, the library was only open if a parent could be recruited to sit behind the desk and check out books. I was one of those parents. There was no school librarian.) I thank Mary for organizing my visit and doing such a great job promoting my books to the students. I had an impressive pile to sign when I went to Children’s Book World. Students received their books the following day. And I thank Sharon Hearn and her staff at Children’s Book World for ordering the books and helping to make the signing go quickly and smoothly.

Entrance to Children's Book World, Los Angeles, CA

Hatching Chicks and Living Fossils at Kite Tales Blog

See my books this week at Kite Tales, the blog published for the SCBWI Tri-Regions of Southern California. The publication of Hatching Chicks in Room 6 is in the Toot Your Horn! section and Living Fossils, Clues to the Past is in the Great News section.
Thanks SCBWI!

SCBWI 2016 Winter Reading List

The 2016 Winter Reading List has just been published at the SCBWI website and includes my book LIVING FOSSILS: Clues to the Past, listed in the section of California/Hawaii authors as a nonfiction picture book for grades 3-5.

The Reading List Program includes books of all genres from SCBWI  PAL authors and illustrators. This is an opportunity to find that book that a kid or teen will enjoy and can engage with the fun and adventure of reading. The lists will be published bi-annually, in the Summer and Winter.

Check out the current books for all kinds of great titles to add to your holiday gift lists!

NYPL Recommends: New Nonfiction for Kids

I was delighted to discover my new book, LIVING FOSSILS: Clues to the Past on the list of books recommended by the staff of the New York Public Library, in a blog post NYPL Recommends: New Nonfiction for Kids written by Lynn Lobash, Manager of Reader Services.  In each of six categories–science, biographies, sports, animals, art and other stuff–the library's Best Books for Kids committee has chosen several books.  In addition to my book in the science category, the other two titles are: Solving the Puzzle Under the Sea: Marie Tharp Maps the Ocean Floor by Robert Burleigh [Gr. 2 - 4]A beautifully illustrated biography about the first person to successfully map the ocean floor.
and
Professor Astro Cat’s Atomic Adventure: A Journey Through Physics by Dr. Dominic Walliman & Ben Newman [Gr. 2 - 5]A cat explains physics and finally I get it!
These and all of the other books recommended by NYPL look equally fascinating.
I am proud that Living Fossils is included in this list!

AUTHOR VISIT at the WPC Preschool, Los Angeles, CA

This morning I made my annual visit to the Westwood Presbyterian Preschool and had two lively sessions–the first with the three-year-olds, and the second with the four-year-old group. With the younger children we read Noisytime for Zoo Animals--complete with making the animal sounds, counted eggs and chicks in Who Has More? And Who Has Fewer?, sang the Wiggle and Waggle song, and went on a lion hunt after reading A Zebra’s World. With the older group, I shared my new book Living Fossils and showed them my nautilus shell and 50 million year old fish fossil. We then talked about birds and measured the students’ wingspans. We also discussed nocturnal and diurnal animals in my Day and Night books. The children will soon be making their own books. I shared with them how I make cut paper art for the illustrations in my books. As always, I finished by reading The Terrible Hodag and the Animal Catchers, a perennial favorite. I thank all the teachers, Heidi Rudd in the office, and director Sophie Robertson for helping to make this another successful visit!

Project: MAKE YOUR OWN FOSSIL

   
You can make a mold of a living object. It will be similar to a real fossil.
     
You will need:
    1. a small paper or plastic cup
    2. wet sand
    3. a small object such as a seashell, nut or leaf (it must fit in the bottom of the cup)
    4. plaster of Paris (you can get this at a hardware store or hobby shop)
    5. water
    6. spoon
    7. bottom half of a milk carton
    8. newspaper

    Spread out the newspaper to catch anything that might spill.  Put wet sand into the cup until it is about half full.  Pat the sand firmly into place.
    Carefully press your object into the surface of the sand.  Lift it out.  You should be able to see an impression of the shape of your object in the sand. 
    Put about a cup of dry plaster of Paris in the milk carton.  Add water and stir until the mixture is about the thickness of heavy cream.   (Add water a little bit at a time until you have enough.)  Make sure that there are no lumps in your plaster of Paris mixture. 
    Pour the plaster of Paris mixture into the cup.  Leave it for an hour or so to harden.  When it is hard, peel away the paper cup and throw away the sand.  You will see the shape of your object in the plaster. 
    You made your fossil in a few hours. In the Earth, it takes thousands of years for fossils to form

You can read about real fossils and their living counterparts in my new book LIVING FOSSILS: Clues to the Past.

LIVING FOSSILS: Clues to the Past, OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DAY!

TA-DAH!  Today is the official publication date of my book LIVING FOSSILS: Clues to the Past by Charlesbridge Books. With beautiful illustrations by Andrew Plant, the text profiles six living species that look very similar to their ancient relatives otherwise known only as fossils.
Living fossils are modern-day animals such as horseshoe crabs that very closely resemble their ancient relatives. Discover why animals like the dragonfly and the nautilus have changed so little over time, while other animals evolved or went extinct. Contrasting "then" and "now" illustrations alternate profiles between a prehistoric creature in its native environment and its contemporary living-fossil counterpart. An amazing way to experience the ancient past!
Back matter includes a time line, additional information about the six living fossils, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading.
I thank my editors and all the staff at Charlesbridge for making LIVING FOSSILS into such an attractive and readable book and look forward to promoting it at my upcoming school and library visits!

Horseshoe crabs coming on shore during mating season. (Illust. by Andrew Plant)

Author: Caroline Arnold Illustrations: by Andrew Plant Age: 8-11 years Pages: 32 Publisher:Charlesbridge Publishing, 2016 ISBN: ( Hardcover ): 978-1-58089-276-6 ISBN ( e-book ): 978-1-60734-596-1 Accelerated Reader:LIVING FOSSILS is an Accelerated Reader book Lexile level IG910L

LIVING FOSSILS: Clues to the Past, Review in Kirkus

My new book LIVING FOSSILS: Clues to the Past, due to be published February 2, 2016, has a great review in the December 1 issue of Kirkus!


Six creatures whose essential appearances haven't changed in millions of years provide an introduction to the idea of "living fossils." Scientist Charles Darwin introduced this phrase in 1859, and, though it's not scientifically accurate, it's a popular way to refer to animals that seem to have retained ancient features. Some have even reappeared, alive, after having disappeared in the fossil record. Arnold illustrates this with intriguing examples: coelacanths, horseshoe crabs, dragonflies, tuatara, chambered nautiluses, and Hula painted frogs. Her choices range widely across the animal kingdom and come from around the world. After introducing the concept with the coelacanth, she presents the other five, each with two double-page spreads: then and now. An accompanying narrative describes major features, when and where the species can be found, something about its behavior, and, usually, some natural threats. Further facts appear in the backmatter. The pleasing design offers a clear image of the animal stretching across the fold to a column of text. Inset boxes detail adaptations that have allowed each animal to survive. (In the case of the extremely endangered frog, the question becomes "Will They Survive?") Plant's realistic acrylic paintings show his subjects in their natural habitats and, sometimes, as fossils. School and public libraries whose copies of James Martin's Living Fossils (1997) have worn out will welcome this inviting new look at a popular subject, as will kids with an interest in paleontology and evolution. (timeline, glossary, resources) (Nonfiction. 7-10) 

Review Issue Date: December 1, 2015
Online Publish Date: November 17, 2015
Publisher:Charlesbridge
Pages: 32
Price ( Hardcover ): $16.95
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
ISBN ( Hardcover ): 978-1-58089-691-7
Category: Picture Books