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The True Book series is an older book series, from Children’s Press, giving basic information and simple text, with many volumes suitable for a child just learning to read. Some of the titles have entered the public domain and Plumfield Press has started to reprint them in nice paperback editions using high-quality glossy paper and computer-graphic-refreshed color illustrations. This review covers one of the easy-to-read titles available from Plumfield Press, which can be characterized as learn-to-read books but using non-fiction, not fiction. A child can learn to read while at the same time learning high-interest organized facts about the natural world that God has made for us. The scientific material in these books is not dated at all but is basic for a child’s understanding of the natural world.
The True Book of Pebbles and Shells was written by Illa Podendorf and illustrated by Mary Gehr. The author also wrote several other True Books reprinted by Plumfield Press. This book is split between pebbles and shells, unified by the fact that pebbles and shells are probably the easiest and most common thing that children collect, in stream beds, near quarries, and by the seashore.
I like how Podendorf defines and describes pebbles as being pieces of big rocks that have been worn smooth. I guess the definition of gravel would be similar but without the smoothing part. I don’t think I have seen another book like this about pebbles, which are something that all kids have seen and felt and thrown but probably don’t know much about. Providing information and education about something that is so commonly encountered opens up a child’s mind and encourages real scientific thinking (something of which the USA could use more).
The second part of this book is about animal shells and describes the major types and many individual examples. The illustrations of individual shells, labeled by their name, reads almost like a field guide and could easily be used as such to identify snails found around local ponds or in woods and seashells at the beach. The many interesting names for some of the shells are a little hard for early readers but good for their vocabulary! The illustrations of the shells and pebbles are accurate and detailed, while all the other illustrations of children, beaches, and trees are warm and a bit whimsical.