Books – Trudee Romanek

Squirt! The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read About Blood

Kids Can Press, 2006

Your body’s a lean, mean blood-making machine! By the time you finish reading this sentence, your body will have produced 10 million new blood cells. Good thing, too, since 10 million OLD ones died in those few seconds as well. Your body even recycled parts of those old cells to help make new ones. How’s that for efficient?

Discover how much blood you have, what your heart does, how your organs clean your blood and much more. Open this book to learn all about blood and your amazing circulatory systems — it gives a whole new meaning to “go with the flow”!

Reviews

“…chatty and informal without being condescending… It’s the scientific facts that will enthrall readers. Few science books written for this age level are as successful at making such complicated information comprehensible.”

— Book Links, Chicago (starred review)

Awards

Short-listed for Hackmatack 2007
Nominated for Red Cedar 2008-2009
Short-listed for the Information Book Award 2007
Recommended by the Canadian Toy Testing Council as “Great Book” of 2007
Selected as a “Best Bet” on the Ontario Library Association’s Top 10 Canadian Children’s Books 2006

Switched on, Flushed down, Tossed out

Annick Press, 2005

Casey, who loves a good spy story, wonders about the mysterious, unseen workings of a home. How does tap water get to the top of an apartment building? Where does his garbage go? And how does his friend’s voice come out of the telephone? So begins Casey’s dogged investigation into the hidden (and not-so-hidden) workings of the home. He soon discovers that the only thing more interesting than a mystery is learning the facts.

Reviews

“… there’s plenty of fun in the amazing facts and clear explanations about electricity, water, heat, and how ordinary household things work. The text is lively and colloquial …. The down-to-earth information will grab kids, as will the wonder of how things work”.

— Booklist

“This well-designed science book is perfect for answering those challenging “How does it work?” questions. — 3.5/4 stars Highly Recommended”

— Canadian Materials

Aha! The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read About Intelligence

Kids Can Press, 2004

Hey smarty-pants! That’s right, you with the great big frontal lobe. Think you’re so clever? Well, guess what — you are! Want to know how I know? ‘Cause only someone with brains would be interested in this book.

Get a grasp on the secrets of smarts and discover what intelligence is, how we measure it, the different ways we think, intelligence in other species, computer intelligence and more. Open these pages and explore the insightful way your mind works — you never know what you might learn!

Reviews

“A glimpse into a quirky world, Aha! is a compelling taste that will fascinate children and possibly spur them on to deeper study of the topic.”

— Quill & Quire, February 2004

“For middle-school readers, Aha! is an appealing introduction to the topic.”

— Science Books and Films, August 2004

Awards

Awarded the Red Cedar Non-fiction Prize, 2006-2007
Short-listed for Hackmatack Award 2006
Selected as part of the 2004 list of the Junior Library Guild
Included on ResourceLinks’ Best of 2004 list
Awarded Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) YA Top Forty Non-Fiction, 2004
Honor Book for SSLI’s 2004 Book Awards (Society of School Librarians International)

Wow! The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read About the Five Senses

Kids Can Press, 2004

Dinnertime! Your ears ring with the sound of your mom calling your name. You race into the dining room and see the bright-green salad and deep-red spaghetti sauce. You grab your chair to sit down and feel the smooth, soft fabric. Your nose catches a whiff of spaghetti and, as you dig in, your taste buds zing with the tang of garlic. Wow! You’ve got extraordinary sensory perception!

Get insight into your senses and find out about color-blindness, super-tasters, scent memories, touch sensors and more. Open these pages and explore all your senses — sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. They really are sensational!

Reviews

“Romanek has another sure-fire winner with this seventh book of the “Mysterious You” series… The text is written in kid-friendly language — especially important when Romanek explains more complex scientific concepts. Definitely worthy of purchase!”
4/4 stars Highly Recommended

— Canadian Materials

“This book really deserves the “Wow” in its title.”

— Science Books and Films

Awards

Short-listed for Silver Birch 2005
Included in Resource Links, Best of 2005

Achoo! The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read About Germs

Kids Can Press, 2003

Sniff. Sniff. Oh, excube me. I feel tewwible. You know, sore thwoad, wuddy dose and that achy, tiwed feeling. Fighdig off cold gerbs is no fud at all. Achoo!

Probe into the secrets of sickness and sniff out what germs are, why they sometimes make you ill, how your body battles them, how vaccination protects you from them and so much more. Open these pages and explore the feverish world of germs — you’ll find it’s nothing to sneeze at!

Reviews

“[This book] has to be in my classroom. I want my students to read this book, discuss each topic, and do all the activities. It’s fun, it’s relevant, it’s engaging, and it’s full of good, up-to-date information and scientific methodology.”

— Science Scope

Awards

Short-listed for Silver Birch Non-Fiction Award 2004
Nominated for Science in Society Children’s Book Award, 2003 (Canadian Science Writers’ Association)
Short-listed for Hackmatack 2005
Short-listed for Red Cedar 2005-2006
Society of School Librarians International, 2004 Honor Book

Zzz… The Most Interesting Book You’ll Ever Read About Sleep

Kids Can Press, 2002

It’s late. And it’s dark. You’ve sneaked a flashlight under the covers to read. Three more pages and you’ll know whether the hero escapes — or not! You need to stay awake. But your body wants to sleep. As your eyelids flutter shut, you wonder (yawn) why now…

Uncover the mysteries of sleep and find out why you need to sleep, how your body clock works, the stages of sleep, what happens when you dream and more. Open these pages and explore the mystical “land of Nod” — it’s sure to awaken your interest!

Reviews

“The writing style is breezy and conversational, but focused enough to be complete and accurate.”

— School Library Journal

“…an appealing mix of research and trivia…[Zzz is] nonfiction writing at its best.”
4/4 stars Highly Recommended

— Canadian Materials

Awards

Short-listed for Silver Birch Award, 2003
Short-listed for Red Cedar 2004-2005
Selected one of the International Reading Association’s “Children’s Choices for 2003”
Society of School Librarians International, 2002 Honor Book
CCBC Our Choice starred selection

The Technology Book for Girls

Kids Can Press, 2001

Think technology is only for astronauts and engineers? Think again. Whether you’re zapping your TV with the remote, scanning bar codes at the store or chatting on the phone, technology is making it happen. Try the fun, interactive activities in this book and discover how everyday technology works. You’ll learn how infrared light opens automatic doors like magic. You’ll discover how light travels through fiber-optic cables. You’ll even test the power of radio waves inside a microwave oven.

“Opening our eyes to exciting new technologies that shape our daily lives, this book is a great discovery for both youth and adults.”

— Dr. Roberta Bondar, Scientist, astronaut, physician, photographer

Reviews

“The Technology Book for Girls and Other Advanced Beings is an important book for any school, public or home library. Brains will be exercised. Exciting new technologies will be discovered. Different career paths in technology or science or engineering just might be explored whether the reader is female, male, young or not-so-young!”
4/4 stars Highly Recommended

— Canadian Materials

Awards

Nominated for Science in Society Children’s Book Award, 2002 (Canadian Science Writers’ Association)
Parent’s Choice “Approved” winner
Listed as an Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, 2002 (National Science Teachers’ Association, USA)
CCBC Our Choice List

EDUCATIONAL MARKET

Life in the Early Islamic World: Government and Law

Crabtree Publishing, 2013

Government and Law in the Early Islamic World looks at how Islamic societies chose their leaders, set up and developed rules and regulations for everyday life, and punished those who committed crimes. Many of the historic systems of government, law and order are used in the Islamic world today.

Reviews

“These beautifully designed 48-page books will keep readers between the ages of 10-13 turning pages… Most important, though, is the text, which records the complex history of the Muslim world over time. Mindful that details can be overwhelming, the writing style is clear.”
4/4 stars Highly Recommended

— Canadian Materials

Splash it! Swimming

Crabtree Publishing, 2012

Splash it! Swimming introduces children to the world of competitive swimming. Simple text and up-close images show readers the four major styles: freestyle swimming, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly stroke. A special section also features today’s champion swimmers.

Reviews

“The 2012 Olympic Games is sure to spark an interest in competitive swimming, and this entry in the Sports Starters series will equip newbies with the information they need to get going in the pool …The simple, direct language will resonate with elementary-age children …Action-packed illustrations show both adults and kids suited up and doing their thing. It won’t be long before aquaphile readers are snapping on their goggles and diving in.”

— Booklist

Life in the Early Islamic World: Science, Medicine and Math

Crabtree Publishing, 2012

Science, Medicine and Math in the Early Islamic World looks at the important ideas, discoveries and inventions made by Muslims and related scholars from the 600s C.E. up to about 1800. It shows how their work influenced other peoples and our everyday lives today.

Reviews

“Science, Medicine, and Math shows how advanced Islamic cultures were in these areas and how much Europe learned from them. Romanek covers both methodologies and notable Islamic names. This useful series is written with respect and appeal; boldfaced introductory paragraphs and plenty of sidebars draw readers in. The books are full of terrific examples of Islamic artwork (along with some contemporary photographs) that heighten and brighten the pages.”

— Booklistonline.com

Great Ideas of the Renaissance

Crabtree Publishing, 2010

Great Ideas of the Renaissance surveys the major advances that were made in art, architecture, sculpture, science, medicine, transportation, and culture. Merchants, monarchs, and religious leaders all promoted and encouraged creativity, and artists, scientists, and great thinkers pushed back the frontiers of philosophy, the arts, mathematics, and technology.

Reviews

“…a very good addition to libraries looking for an entry level overview of the Renaissance world.”
3.5/4 stars Highly Recommended

— Canadian Materials

Life in a Commercial City

Crabtree Publishing, 2010

Few people live in the business district of big modern cities. The area where people live in a big city is usually filled with office buildings, banks, insurance companies, and stores. This book focuses on New York City, and looks at the everyday life of workers in the business district.

Reviews

“These titles will be useful for reports, and even children who live in the places in question will find something new.”

— School Library Journal

“Trudee Romanek sweetly illustrates the duality of competition and collaboration that exists in so many students of improv across the country. She offers a unique glimpse into the world of a high school improv team — a world inhabited by thousands of young Canadians year after year.”

— Al Connors, National Director, Canadian Improv Games