The 2010 Skipping Stones Honor Awards recognize 25 outstanding multicultural books.(Young adult review)(Children's review)(Book review)(Video recording review)

Each year Skipping Stones, a bimonthly nonprofit children's magazine, recognizes outstanding books and teaching resources with its Honor Awards. The honored books are chosen because they promote an understanding of cultures, cultivate cooperation, and encourage a deeper understanding of the world's diversity, ecological richness, respect for differing viewpoints, and close relationships in human societies. Bound to provide a great reading adventure, these honored publications offer a variety of learning experiences for all ages.

Skipping Stones thanks the many reviewers, from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, who helped select the 25 titles honored this year. The winners are presented in three categories--"Nature and Ecology Books," "Multicultural and International Books," and 'Teaching Resources."

Good books offer an affordable and exciting way to explore and understand cultures, places, societies and their histories. Skipping Stones invites you to enjoy the wonderful world of words!

Nature and Ecology Books

In the Trees, Honey Bees

By Lori Mortensen

Illustrator Cris Arbo

www.dawnpub.com

Ages 5-9

ISBN 978-1-58469-115-0

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In the Trees, Honey Bees is a book that young readers will enjoy. The story is told in two parts--poetic and descriptive--making it easy for readers of all ages to have fun while reading it. A background of vividly colored outdoor scenes, full of minute details of the bees' world and bee anatomy, illustrate the text. There are many richly colored visual details to be explored on each page.

The educational information in the story is kept concise, but the book has more in-depth information about bees in the 'Buzz' section at the end. Sources for further research for the reader who becomes hooked on the subject are also included. The book made me appreciate anew the miraculous talents of honeybees and their precious gifts to us, while stimulating my appetite for more understanding.

--Kara Steffensen, parent

Where Else in the Wild? More Camouflaged Creatures Concealed ... and Revealed

By David Schwartz & Yael Schy

Photos: by Dwight Kuhn

www.tricyclepress.com

Ages 6-11

ISBN 978-1-582-46283-7

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Each fascinating animal in this picture book is accompanied by a vibrant and crystal-clear photo of the creature, camouflaged in its natural environment. Where Else in the Wild? allows readers to challenge their observational skills and delve into the mystery of our natural world. Pages fold out to reveal detailed information about the behavior, appearance, and habitat of each animal, as well as a short, tricky riddle to help you discover where it's hiding. This is a great book to get kids and adults alike interested in the magical world of nature.

--Olivia Seulement-Provol, high school senior

Multicultural Reviews

The Man Who Flies with Birds

By Carole Garbuny Vogel & Yossi Lesham

www.karben.com.

For middle schoolers to adults

ISBN 978-0-8225-7643-3

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With the invention of the airplanes in 1903, birds no longer ruled the skies. Yet deadly encounters between the airplanes and the birds continue to this day.

Israeli scientist, Yossi Leshem, has devoted his adult life and work to soaring with migrating birds. His research has been invaluable in reducing bird strike threats to airplanes. With his data on bird populations and their migration patterns in the skies over Israel, Yossi has been able to predict when and where it is safer for planes to fly, so as to avoid these collisions.

Dr. Leshem works to solve ecological and cultural problems that put birds and humans in conflict with each other. On an international level he helps children study the nature of birds. This book is for bird watchers, nature lovers and people who fly.

--Beth Erfurth, Skipping Stones contributing editor

Waste (Science Q&A Series)

By Melanie Ostopowich

www.weigl.com

Ages 8-13

ISBN 978-1-60596-064-7

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Planet Earth is our home and it's very important that we know how to take care of it …