Month: October 2025

A Gift of Dust

Sophie Rosen , ,

Brockenbrough, Martha. A Gift of Dust: How Saharan Plumes Feed the Planet. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2025.
I am a fan of nonfiction picture books. They expand my general knowledge, providing a relaxing way to spend a few minutes of free time in the day. I like to leave one out by a comfortable chair, so I can sit down with a cup of coffee and let my mind wander away from the tasks of the day.
Did you know the dust blown from a dried up African lake contains diatomite – fossilized remains of algae – that adds iron to the oceans, which enables the water to absorb extra carbon dioxide and turn it into oxygen? Did you know the cloud of dust from northern Africa can be up to two miles thick and provides phosphorus that replenishes the soil of the Amazon Rainforest? Facts like these remind me of the vastness and complexity of the natural world. They fill me with wonder and curiosity and take me away from the everyday chores of life.
This nonfiction picture book combines all the best features of the genre. Beautiful full-page coloured illustrations by Juana Martinez-Neal set the mood for information arranged on short lines of text in a way that enhances comprehension and creates a smooth flow of information. Additional information is provided at the end, along with a list of sources for further study. Wonderful as a read-aloud, A Gift of Dust is highly recommended for readers 5 years old and up. 

More books to expand general knowledge

Muhammad’s Recipe for Remembering

Sophie Rosen , , ,

Ahmad, Maidah. Muhammad’s Recipe for Remembering. Toronto: Annick Press, 2024.
How do we learn about those who came before us? How do we keep the memories of what happened in the past? In the books that are written about our ancestors? In photographs or momentos handed down from generation to generation? In the stories we are told by relatives? 

In this picture book illustrated by Shruti Prabhu, a little boy looks for a way to share something at an upcoming school assembly being held to honour veterans of war. But while his great-great-grandfather was a soldier in World War I, the family has nothing left from that time. So Muhammad’s father takes him to the mosque to talk to people and write down their stories. The next day, at the assembly, Muhammad shares those stories and shows some roti – the bread soldiers from India made for their comrades who were tired of army rations. Accompanied by a recipe for roti and a two-page note from the author explaining the history of India’s involvement in World Wars I and II, this poignant story is highly recommended as a read-aloud for children 5 to 9 years old.

More stories about World War I

More stories about World War II

More stories about soldiers