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The Nora Notebooks #1
The Nora Notebooks, Book 1: The Trouble with Ants
Science-obsessed fourth grader Nora has ants all figured out—now she just has to try to understand her fellow humans!
The trouble with ants is . . .
. . . people think they’re boring.
. . . they are not cuddly.
. . . who would ever want them for a pet?
Nora Alpers is using her new notebook to record the behavior of ants. Why? Because they are fascinating! Unfortunately, no one agrees with her. Her mom is not happy about them being in the house, and when Nora brings her ant farm to school for show and tell, her classmates are not very impressed. They are more interested in cat videos, basketball practice, or trying to set a Guinness World Record (although Nora wouldn’t mind that).
Mostly they are distracted by the assignment their teacher Coach Joe has given them—to write a persuasive speech and change people’s minds about something. Will Nora convince her friends that ants are as interesting as she thinks they are? Or will everyone still think of ants as nothing but trouble?
With real science facts, a classroom backdrop, an emphasis on friendship, and appealing black-and-white interior illustrations from artist Katie Kath, The Nora Notebooks is perfect for newly independent readers—especially budding scientists like Nora!—and adults who want to encourage awareness of STEM subjects in young readers.
The trouble with ants is . . .
. . . people think they’re boring.
. . . they are not cuddly.
. . . who would ever want them for a pet?
Nora Alpers is using her new notebook to record the behavior of ants. Why? Because they are fascinating! Unfortunately, no one agrees with her. Her mom is not happy about them being in the house, and when Nora brings her ant farm to school for show and tell, her classmates are not very impressed. They are more interested in cat videos, basketball practice, or trying to set a Guinness World Record (although Nora wouldn’t mind that).
Mostly they are distracted by the assignment their teacher Coach Joe has given them—to write a persuasive speech and change people’s minds about something. Will Nora convince her friends that ants are as interesting as she thinks they are? Or will everyone still think of ants as nothing but trouble?
With real science facts, a classroom backdrop, an emphasis on friendship, and appealing black-and-white interior illustrations from artist Katie Kath, The Nora Notebooks is perfect for newly independent readers—especially budding scientists like Nora!—and adults who want to encourage awareness of STEM subjects in young readers.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2015
About the author
Claudia Mills
86 books137 followersClaudia Mills is the author of Nixie Ness, Cooking Star, 7 x 9 = Trouble!, Zero Tolerance, Write This Down, and many other books for children. She was born in New York City in 1954. She received her bachelor's degree from Wellesley College, her master's degree from Princeton University, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from Princeton University. She also received an M.L.S. degree from the University of Maryland, with a concentration in children's literature. She had a second career as a professor of philosophy at the Colorado at Boulder, until leaving that career in 2014 to write full time. She now teaches in the graduate program in children's literature at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia. All of her books have been written between 5 and 7 in the morning while drinking Swiss Miss hot chocolate.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/claudi...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/claudi...
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 2, 2016
Review copy: publisher
Nora has a questioning mind. She wants to know everything about ants. She has a notebook, an ant farm and she can spend hours at a time just watching them do their thing. She is also gets the idea to write an article about her ants for a scientific journal.
I found Nora's enthusiasm for ants to be quite fun. She also likes to kick at the notion of traditional gender roles. She understands why society has such ideas, but she does not believe these beliefs should dictate her behavior or likes and dislikes.
There are plenty of laughs within the story. There are also many facts. Nora shares information about ants throughout the book. Budding scientists and fans of Kate Messner's Marty McGuire will be sure to enjoy Nora and her beloved ants.
Originally posted at Reading Through Life - http://readingtl.blogspot.com/2016/02...
Nora has a questioning mind. She wants to know everything about ants. She has a notebook, an ant farm and she can spend hours at a time just watching them do their thing. She is also gets the idea to write an article about her ants for a scientific journal.
I found Nora's enthusiasm for ants to be quite fun. She also likes to kick at the notion of traditional gender roles. She understands why society has such ideas, but she does not believe these beliefs should dictate her behavior or likes and dislikes.
There are plenty of laughs within the story. There are also many facts. Nora shares information about ants throughout the book. Budding scientists and fans of Kate Messner's Marty McGuire will be sure to enjoy Nora and her beloved ants.
Originally posted at Reading Through Life - http://readingtl.blogspot.com/2016/02...
October 10, 2015
The Trouble with Ants is a new middle grade novel that is as rich and layered as a torte. In addition to the main ant science theme, there are themes of boys versus girls, pets, and even excellent pointers for writing. It will likely find a wide audience because many different readers are going to find some of the different aspects relevant.
Layer One: Myrmecology (The Study of Ants) and STEM
Nora, the main character, is a 10-year-old budding myrmecologist with an ant farm and a passion for studying ants. The text is sprinkled with scientific facts about ants and also reveals basics about how scientists work. For example, Nora reveals that her mother specializes in studying only Saturn’s rings, not other planets or even the planet Saturn. In another part, Nora’s dad explains to her how scientists publish their work in scientific journals, something youngsters probably have no inkling about.
Layer Two: Boys Versus Girls
In a fourth grade stereotype, boys and girls tend to keep separate from one another. In this book, the relationships are more realistic. Nora and Amy are platonic friends with Brody and Mason. Dunk is a boy who likes Emma, but shows his interest in immature ways, which leads to conflict. The insights into human behavior are likely to help some readers understand their peers better.
Layer Three: Dealing with Crushed Expectations
At one point Nora has some very high and unrealistic expectations, and without revealing details, her hopes are crushed. How she deals with this blow and some unexpected successes, show that life sometimes takes unexpected directions.
Layer Four: The Persuasive Essay and Writing in General
This book would be an excellent choice for teaching the persuasive essay. It includes full examples of persuasive essays written in the voices of different students.
The book also encourages writing practice. The main character keeps a journal where she writes down her thoughts and facts about ants. Other tips about writing are gently introduced, such as leading an essay with a question to spark interest.
For more details, see our full review at Wrapped in Foil blog.
Layer One: Myrmecology (The Study of Ants) and STEM
Nora, the main character, is a 10-year-old budding myrmecologist with an ant farm and a passion for studying ants. The text is sprinkled with scientific facts about ants and also reveals basics about how scientists work. For example, Nora reveals that her mother specializes in studying only Saturn’s rings, not other planets or even the planet Saturn. In another part, Nora’s dad explains to her how scientists publish their work in scientific journals, something youngsters probably have no inkling about.
Layer Two: Boys Versus Girls
In a fourth grade stereotype, boys and girls tend to keep separate from one another. In this book, the relationships are more realistic. Nora and Amy are platonic friends with Brody and Mason. Dunk is a boy who likes Emma, but shows his interest in immature ways, which leads to conflict. The insights into human behavior are likely to help some readers understand their peers better.
Layer Three: Dealing with Crushed Expectations
At one point Nora has some very high and unrealistic expectations, and without revealing details, her hopes are crushed. How she deals with this blow and some unexpected successes, show that life sometimes takes unexpected directions.
Layer Four: The Persuasive Essay and Writing in General
This book would be an excellent choice for teaching the persuasive essay. It includes full examples of persuasive essays written in the voices of different students.
The book also encourages writing practice. The main character keeps a journal where she writes down her thoughts and facts about ants. Other tips about writing are gently introduced, such as leading an essay with a question to spark interest.
For more details, see our full review at Wrapped in Foil blog.
September 30, 2015
The Trouble with Ants by Claudia Mills – NEW SERIES ALERT!
Realistic Fiction, 3rd grade and up.
“This was a good book”- my son’s voice.
Author Interview Feature Link
Reading this book aloud was quite an entertaining process. I enjoyed reading about scientific inquiry projects and learning how passion for something, like ants, can drive someone to research and learn more. There was a wonderful storyline connected to classroom dynamics where there were social issues, arguments, and report presentations. We loved how both parents were scientists who support and encourage research and passion projects. Also, the main character Nora didn’t care to be told that she couldn’t do something because she was a girl nor did she want to be limited by her age. She had friends who were boys and girls and didn’t tolerate any silly issues that popped up between other friends. I appreciated how she took a risk and wrote an article for a top scientific journal and mailed it off without telling anyone. Also, I appreciated reading about how failure and tragedy didn’t stop her from pursuing her goals. This was a terrific story that would be a fun classroom read aloud which would probably encourage many students to celebrate learning about science, maybe even ants.
Book Talk: Do you like doing experiments? Do you love ants? No worries, you don’t have to love ants to have fun reading this book! Nora Alpers is trying to navigate science, one ant at a time… or is it a group at a time? Nora loves researching ants and is thoroughly disappointed that her friends and classmates don’t find them just as amazing. As she researches, she notices connections to her life, makes new discoveries, and learns how to open herself up to new friends and life experiences.
One scientist who was referenced in the book is actually going to be featured on OPB soon, thought some might enjoy:
E.O. Wilson- Of Ants and Men
http://video.pbs.org/viralplayer/2365...
Realistic Fiction, 3rd grade and up.
“This was a good book”- my son’s voice.
Author Interview Feature Link
Reading this book aloud was quite an entertaining process. I enjoyed reading about scientific inquiry projects and learning how passion for something, like ants, can drive someone to research and learn more. There was a wonderful storyline connected to classroom dynamics where there were social issues, arguments, and report presentations. We loved how both parents were scientists who support and encourage research and passion projects. Also, the main character Nora didn’t care to be told that she couldn’t do something because she was a girl nor did she want to be limited by her age. She had friends who were boys and girls and didn’t tolerate any silly issues that popped up between other friends. I appreciated how she took a risk and wrote an article for a top scientific journal and mailed it off without telling anyone. Also, I appreciated reading about how failure and tragedy didn’t stop her from pursuing her goals. This was a terrific story that would be a fun classroom read aloud which would probably encourage many students to celebrate learning about science, maybe even ants.
Book Talk: Do you like doing experiments? Do you love ants? No worries, you don’t have to love ants to have fun reading this book! Nora Alpers is trying to navigate science, one ant at a time… or is it a group at a time? Nora loves researching ants and is thoroughly disappointed that her friends and classmates don’t find them just as amazing. As she researches, she notices connections to her life, makes new discoveries, and learns how to open herself up to new friends and life experiences.
One scientist who was referenced in the book is actually going to be featured on OPB soon, thought some might enjoy:
E.O. Wilson- Of Ants and Men
http://video.pbs.org/viralplayer/2365...
September 7, 2015
Ten-year-old Nora Alpers is not like the other girls in her fourth grade class. While they spend their time admiring cat videos, especially those featuring Precious Cupcake, a feline belonging to Emma Averill, Nora is intrigued by ants. Her parents, both scientists, support Nora in her ambition to become a scientist even if her mother dislikes ants. As she records her observations and does experiments with the ants in her possession, she decides that she wants to write an article for publication in a science journal. Readers will be impressed by her determination and the fact that she sticks to what she enjoys rather than being influenced by what her classmates think. The author also weaves together other issues such as the students' teacher Coach Joe and the persuasive essays he has them write and a pointless fight between the students who prefer cats to dogs or vice versa. It's encouraging to have a book and a series dedicated to a budding female scientist. I especially enjoyed how the author described how many of the students kept their real thoughts to themselves to avoid ridicule from others, something with which many readers will be able to relate. Plus, the book contains interesting snippets of information about ants, perfect for sharing with friends and family members.
October 27, 2015
This is an absolutely delightful and funny story about a 4th grade scientist who is passionate about studying ants. It brings to mind some of my favorite books from my childhood--Ramona, Anastasia Krupnik, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. It has that classic, comical style and the writing is so sharp and charming. Highly recommend!
January 8, 2016
Age of main character: 4th Grade
Themes: STEM, being yourself, friendship
A perfectly serviceable book for 3rd and 4th graders, especially those interested in science. I like that Mills acknowledges the kinds of social changes and conflicts that arise in late elementary school. It's a quieter read that will work best for those who don't need a lot of action and adventure to enjoy a book.
Themes: STEM, being yourself, friendship
A perfectly serviceable book for 3rd and 4th graders, especially those interested in science. I like that Mills acknowledges the kinds of social changes and conflicts that arise in late elementary school. It's a quieter read that will work best for those who don't need a lot of action and adventure to enjoy a book.
November 18, 2015
Great book for young girls! What a motivator to get girls interested in science.
June 20, 2017
Children's chapter book about a pragmatic science-loving girl who studies ants. Nora is an interesting character and the scenes of the book are tied together using the ants. But the story isn't organized around a central conflict, which lessens the impact somewhat. Near the end, all the ants in Nora's ant farm die, which is a downer. Despite these shortcomings, this chapter book is an enjoyable read, especially for kids who like nature, biology, animals and/or insects. Insets with interesting ant facts appear throughout the book.
May 23, 2019
Sign me up for fourth grade in Coach Joe's class with Nora and her classmates! I want to write a persuasive essay and be in a huddle.
Claudia Mills does a great job of writing kids realistically with a dose of fun. I especially love the subplots. Books this size are usually tightly plotted and edited but this has lots of asides that make it a rich read. Great mentor text for handling lots of characters.
Claudia Mills does a great job of writing kids realistically with a dose of fun. I especially love the subplots. Books this size are usually tightly plotted and edited but this has lots of asides that make it a rich read. Great mentor text for handling lots of characters.
December 20, 2020
First in a trilogy for elementary. Short, with a few illustrations. I love this book's use of the scientific method, and again a type of child that certain kids really identify with--who aren't typically represented. The science lover.
July 1, 2017
Fun science information and a cute main character.
December 21, 2016
Cute book! I liked the messages about trying again, doing your best, and getting girls interested in science. Nora is a wonderful character, and the other characters were fairly well-rounded, but I felt like there were too many of them. I wasn't completely convinced by some of the dialogue, or by Emma, but overall enjoyed this quick read.
October 12, 2015
Nora Alpers likes making observations and collecting facts, particularly about the ants in her ant farm. As a budding scientist, she knows that facts can be used to draw logical conclusions. Nora is happy to help her friends take care of their dog or watch her classmate’s cat videos, but she’d really like to get more people interested in ants.
Ants aren’t the only things Nora is good at observing. She notices that two of her classmates argue a lot but seem to secretly like each other. She sees that some girls in her fourth-grade class are more interested in boys, clothes, and tea parties than others. And she learns from a school assignment that persuasive arguments can get people to change their minds.
Claudia Mills has created an inspiring heroine in her debut book for The Nora Notebooks series, The Trouble With Ants. Nora is thoughtful, inquisitive, creative, and she is engaged with people and the world around her. She’s a good friend, even when her friends are into things that don’t interest her. Nora’s love of science, and her observations about girls and women in science, are good issues to discuss. They may also inspire girls to look at science a little differently than they did before.
The Trouble With Ants is a great start for a promising series. I highly recommend it for readers aged 8 to 12.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Ants aren’t the only things Nora is good at observing. She notices that two of her classmates argue a lot but seem to secretly like each other. She sees that some girls in her fourth-grade class are more interested in boys, clothes, and tea parties than others. And she learns from a school assignment that persuasive arguments can get people to change their minds.
Claudia Mills has created an inspiring heroine in her debut book for The Nora Notebooks series, The Trouble With Ants. Nora is thoughtful, inquisitive, creative, and she is engaged with people and the world around her. She’s a good friend, even when her friends are into things that don’t interest her. Nora’s love of science, and her observations about girls and women in science, are good issues to discuss. They may also inspire girls to look at science a little differently than they did before.
The Trouble With Ants is a great start for a promising series. I highly recommend it for readers aged 8 to 12.
The author provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
December 19, 2016
Nora Alpers loves science, and she loves her ant farm. Unfortunately, no one else shares her enthusiasm for these amazing insects, and she is forced to endure boring conversations about everything from sports to cat videos instead. But when she is given an assignment to write a persuasive speech, Nora knows just what she will do. She will give a speech convincing her classmates to love ants as much as she does. In the meantime, she also decides to submit some of her ant research to a professional science journal like the ones which publish her dad's work. I have said many times that no one writes school stories better than Claudia Mills. I love all of her books, but this one struck me as exceptional because it's a notebook novel that is not about writing. There are so many books about girls who like to read and write, and a fair amount about girls who love sports, but very few about girls who love science this much, and take it this seriously. Nora is very much her own person, marching to the beat of her own drummer, and I think readers will find that refreshing. This book will satisfy adults looking for more STEM-themed reading material, but even if the book is not promoted in connection with a specific agenda, it should find many readers just because Nora is such a real and believable character.
January 9, 2016
There's a lot to like in this book about a scientific-leaning 4th grade girl. The things I really liked:
1. While it explores the dynamics of friendships, and there is one girl who is the "queen bee," there's no mean girl. The girls are definitely friends--with lots of different interests, and those interests are respected pretty well. We see Nora going out of her comfort zone to be a good friend, and we also see other characters growing and learning to be good friends to Nora. Just a really nice look at the complexities of female friendships in elementary school.
2. Nora loves science and thinks like a scientist, but she also feels believably like an elementary school kid.
3. The teacher is a caring, supportive teacher who pays attention to his class and is involved with it. I get tired of the clueless teacher trope in a lot of kids books--it was nice to see an involved, thoughtful teacher in this one!
This would be a great pick for 3rd and 4th graders. Also, the author is a local author for me, and talks about a famous local tea room in one chapter, which I think will make it especially exciting for Colorado kid readers.
1. While it explores the dynamics of friendships, and there is one girl who is the "queen bee," there's no mean girl. The girls are definitely friends--with lots of different interests, and those interests are respected pretty well. We see Nora going out of her comfort zone to be a good friend, and we also see other characters growing and learning to be good friends to Nora. Just a really nice look at the complexities of female friendships in elementary school.
2. Nora loves science and thinks like a scientist, but she also feels believably like an elementary school kid.
3. The teacher is a caring, supportive teacher who pays attention to his class and is involved with it. I get tired of the clueless teacher trope in a lot of kids books--it was nice to see an involved, thoughtful teacher in this one!
This would be a great pick for 3rd and 4th graders. Also, the author is a local author for me, and talks about a famous local tea room in one chapter, which I think will make it especially exciting for Colorado kid readers.
August 18, 2016
There are several things that I really liked about this book. First, I appreciated how comfortable Nora is in her own shoes. Often children who like something that is not particularly popular, like ants, hesitate to share that interest for fear of being rejected. But it is not her peer´s rejection that disappoints Nora. She sets out to break a Guinness World Record by being the first 10-year old to publish an article in a peer-reviewed journal. Nora figures that doing experiments with her ants will be more than enough to write an article. And with both parents working as scientists, Nora gets plenty of encouragement from home. Second, I appreciated the fact that Nora hangs out with the girls at school, but has two good friends that are boys. Thirdly, Nora is very logical, it is refreshing to see a girl who is not overly emotional. I am always amazed with authors who write school stories that teach as well as entertain. In the course of events, Nora learns about the power of persuasion and I enjoyed reading about the different topics the kids picked. I am definitely interested in seeing what else Nora gets up to in the future.
January 4, 2016
*I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*
I really enjoyed this book. Although I appreciate books that feature characters of many abilities, it was refreshing to read a story about a kid who is smart and interested in an unusual subject while also being developmentally average. Nora is the youngest member of a family of very intelligent people (her parents are both professors, her older sister is a geologist, and her older brother is an engineering student at MIT). She also has two best friends, firmly grasps the social expectations in fourth grade, plays basketball, and holds a serious love for the study of ants. Although she does seem more mature than her classmates, she is able to connect with them.
I do think that it is important for kids to read about all kinds of people to develop empathy, but it is also important for kids to have books that feature people they can connect with. I love that this is a story of a girl who is smart and quirky, but is not made to feel like an outsider.
I really enjoyed this book. Although I appreciate books that feature characters of many abilities, it was refreshing to read a story about a kid who is smart and interested in an unusual subject while also being developmentally average. Nora is the youngest member of a family of very intelligent people (her parents are both professors, her older sister is a geologist, and her older brother is an engineering student at MIT). She also has two best friends, firmly grasps the social expectations in fourth grade, plays basketball, and holds a serious love for the study of ants. Although she does seem more mature than her classmates, she is able to connect with them.
I do think that it is important for kids to read about all kinds of people to develop empathy, but it is also important for kids to have books that feature people they can connect with. I love that this is a story of a girl who is smart and quirky, but is not made to feel like an outsider.
April 7, 2016
In the first installment of the Nora Notebooks, Nora has a little trouble with ants. How hard can it be to raise an ant farm? Nora finds out that it is not as easy as it first seems. When she brings her ant farm to school she does not get the response that she is hoping for. Coach Joe has asked all of the students to write a persuasive speech and change people's minds about something. Nora decides her ants are just the thing! This is a very humorous story about a girl who thinks outside of the box and shows others that this is a good thing. The author does a great job of keeping the story moving along at a steady pace and the reader will want to find out what other adventures Nora can get herself into in the next book. I would recommend this for any collection looking for a story that is both humorous and engaging for any fourth grader to enjoy.
October 20, 2015
Full review at: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=7872
I love books that promote girls being smart and doing well in school. This book goes even further and promotes girls finding a love in science and, specifically, insects. Nora is a girl that I hope that lots of readers find a connection with and strive to be like. She is a role model for all kids. She is smart, doesn’t mind being a bit different, and has great friends and family. I also love that she is at the heart of it a normal girl who just happens to be smart and like science. The story is more than just her science and ants. It is about growing up. There is so much you will love in this book: Nora, her parents, her teacher, her friends, and, of course, Precious Cupcake.
I love books that promote girls being smart and doing well in school. This book goes even further and promotes girls finding a love in science and, specifically, insects. Nora is a girl that I hope that lots of readers find a connection with and strive to be like. She is a role model for all kids. She is smart, doesn’t mind being a bit different, and has great friends and family. I also love that she is at the heart of it a normal girl who just happens to be smart and like science. The story is more than just her science and ants. It is about growing up. There is so much you will love in this book: Nora, her parents, her teacher, her friends, and, of course, Precious Cupcake.
August 2, 2015
Yay for Nora! Ten-year-old Nora Alpers is self-possessed, observant, practical and mad about science - ants in particular. Ever since reading about an eleven-year-old who earned a world record as the youngest ever published scientist, Nora has been thinking about beating that record. This engaging upper-elementary/ middle grade novel features not only tons of ant facts and a girl-scientist, but authentic fourth grade drama, dialogue and social situations. It's a series starter that's sure to please.
July 7, 2016
This book is the first in a series, and I liked it enough to consider reading the next book. While it won't be the first book I recommend to students, I will recommend it to our 3rd-4th grade teachers. I like how the author promotes science, getting along with others, and has just enough quirkiness to get kids talking about the characters. Definitely like that the protagonist is a girl ( Nora) with a mind of her own.
August 3, 2015
Hooray for girls that like science! This is sure to be a hit with students in middle grades.
December 9, 2015
Nora is a budding scientist trying to find common ground with the girls in her class. Why do cats videos inspire oohs and aahs while ant farms inspire shrieks?
November 30, 2015
No nonsense Nora lives science and her ants. Perfect 4th grade book.
December 11, 2015
What started off as a nice little book about a girl who wants to be an ant scientist,turns into a bit too heavy handed book to get more girls into science and out of pink puffy things.
January 21, 2016
4.5 stars
March 2, 2016
Good book
July 30, 2017
A cute new series starter about a girl who wants to be a scientist and who loves studying ants. Great STEM connection.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews