What’s in Your Pocket?: Collecting Nature’s Treasures by Heather L. Montgomery (A Book Review)

thenerdyhammy
Aug 27
2 min read

Ages: 6 - 9

Description: Nature Study, Science, Picture Book

Grade Level: 1 - 4

Pages: 48

Published: 2024

Blurb:

“Charles Darwin, George Washington Carver, and Jane Goodall were once curious kids with pockets full of treasures!

When you find something strange and wonderful, do you put it in your pocket? Meet nine scientists who, as kids, explored the great outdoors and collected "treasures": seedpods, fossils, worms, and more. Observing, sorting, and classifying their finds taught these kids scientific skills--and sometimes led to groundbreaking discoveries.”

(Taken from Amazon)

Review:

“Throughout history, kids have found all kinds of strange and wonderful things.”

Want to encourage a child’s wonder and curiosity of the natural world? Get them this book!

Well-researched and beautifully illustrated, this book has several sections that start with a question, such as “When you explore the great outdoors and find something strange and wonderful, do you put it in your pocket?” The question is followed by three anecdotes from the childhoods of famous naturalists from the past and present. Individuals included are George Washington Carver, who discovered 300 ways to use peanuts (among other things), and Margaret Lowman, who found a way to easily study the ecosystems in the tree canopies.

Don’t miss the back content! “More About These (Grown-Up) Kids” features mini bios for each person that appears in the book as well as a recommended read or site for further exploration. “A Note from the Author” shares tips on how to go about making your own collection. Finally, “Field Guides” lists books and sites focused on identifying and collecting such as BugGuide, “A website where you can submit photos to identify insects.”

Note: The book mentions twice that fossils are dated and dinosaurs became extinct “millions of years ago.”

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