A child describes his affinity for all types of bugs — from those that are “spiky spiny,” the ones that “hop and fly and crawl” and even scary, “hang-from-ceiling bugs!” Large, textured illustrations are humorous to complement and extend the animated alliterative language.
I Love Bugs
Gregory draws Sandy the Lion in the sand on the beach day he and his dad share one summer. Gregory’s father tells the child not to go into the water and not to leave Sandy — but Sandy’s tail is a long one, allowing Gregory to safely discover fascinating beach creatures. Realistic, textured illustrations evoke the place and ideally complement the evocative text.
A Beach Tail
Rounded corners and carefully crafted half (or cut) pages introduce and hide various animals that stomp, prowl, stroll and scuttle across the pages of this book. Each animal is endangered though there’s plenty more to engage young readers. Animal facts are included, as are child-accessible activities to help.
Let’s Save the Animals
From morning to nighttime, a small kitten explores a farm. At the end of the day, a tired young cat returns home to rest, sleep, and dream. A simple, rhythmic staccato text and textured collage illustrations are used to convey the pleasure in everyday adventures.
Kitten’s Spring
Though related, crocodiles and alligators are not the same. Learn the similarities and differences between these ancient reptiles as well as their habitats and history. With characteristic thoroughness, Gibbons presents these fascinating creatures through clear illustrations and informative text.
Alligators and Crocodiles
Some U.S. Census workers walk from place to place to count people. Readers are invited to take a walk through the pages of this book to count everything from snails to fire trucks! Straightforward text combines with brilliantly hued, crisp illustrations for an appealing counting (and sorting) game that will be read and examined many times.
How Many Snails? A Counting Book
This poignant parable begins, “Once there was a tree and she loved a little boy.” And because she loves him, she gives her all as both boy and tree grow older. When the boy grows into an old man, he sits on the stump of the tree; once again the tree is happy. Simple line drawings complement this timeless tale.
The Giving Tree
Snow has a different impact on those who experience it. This lyrical celebration of snow and related activities allows readers to experience it in many ways, from seeing trees anew or getting out cavorting in it told in poetic language and evocative illustrations.
Snow
Clearly organized with lucid introductions to each section as well as for select poems, this handsome anthology includes a range of poems and poets for an evocative, informative, and often inspiring look at science and nature.
The Tree that Time Built: A Celebration of Nature, Science and Imagination
Henry David Thoreau moved to Concord, Massachusetts around the same time that the Alcott family did (in 1845). Like the Alcotts, Thoreau had a distinctive philosophy; his involved the conservation of natural places. This handsomely illustrated and informally told glimpse at a particular activity is based on Thoreau’s work to prevent a factory being built in Concord. (Walden Pond (opens in a new window) is now a state park.)
The Trouble with Henry: A Tale of Walden Pond
A dapper brown bear named Henry and his friend decide to visit another town. As Henry hikes, he leisurely soaks in the flora and fauna as he meets a number of his contemporaries (and a sly way to introduce historical figures such as Mrs. Alcott, Mr. Emerson, and Mr. Hawthorne). His friend, however, misses these as he takes the train. Other books about Henry are also inspired by Thoreau and provide a brief introduction to his life and beliefs.
Henry Hikes to Fitchburg
A young owl decides to stay awake during the day and discovers a range of colors, from pink dawn to yellow sun to blue sky. But the small owl decides that the nighttime stars are the most beautiful of all. A color wheel is included and displays the same vibrant colors used throughout the story.
Wow! Said the Owl
A hungry owl sits on a branch to listen for something he might catch for dinner, like a plump little mouse. The predictable pattern, onomatopoeic words, and realistic, highly detailed illustrations combine to make a satisfying story for all except for the still-hungry owl.
Whoo Goes There?
As an Inuit mother and her child paddle home in their boat, they notice other animal mothers and their children preparing for sleep. Attractive, stylized illustrations evoke the Arctic setting as mothers and their young prepare to rest.
Ocean’s Child
Miranda’s day at the beach with her mother is filled with the normal activities, from building castles in the sand to placing a crab in it. The child is disappointed when the day comes to an end but is reassured by her mother that more special days will follow. The joy of sharing a day at the beach is a pleasure all year long.
Miranda’s Beach Day
Though larger animals try to call the sun up on the long, snow-filled winter night, only the song of a small chickadee awakens the day. Told with a storyteller’s voice, this gentle tale is luminously illustrated with limited colors to evoke the depth of a wintery forest and the brilliance of a new day.
The Longest Night
Panda cubs living in China’s Wolong Nature Preserve provide a unique opportunity to observe the animals from birth to the time they join “panda kindergarten.” There, these appealing animals learn skills for survival in the wild. Colorful photography combines with a readable text for an engaging, informative look at these endangered animals.
Panda Kindergarten
Poets have always looked to the sky for inspiration. A range of contemporary and older poets and their exploration of the stars, sky, moon — and more — are presented, illustrated with lush, evocative paintings.
Sky Magic
The lesser known animals in this book have something in common: they are all marsupials with particular habitats, habits, and traits. The amazing animals are presented in crisp, full color illustrations and a highly readable narration from this award-winning photographer and science writer.
Marsupials
A young, injured, Atlantic bottlenose dolphin was rescued and taken to the Clearwater (FL) Marine Aquarium. There the dolphin was treated, named Winter, and was given a prosthetic tail to allow her to swim properly. Full color photographs, an informal text, and additional sources for more information complete this inspiring tale.
Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again
A bug-eyed squirrel is obsessed with acorns. He gathers and hides them until he decides to eat them. Instead of finding his own acorns, he snitches other animals’ snacks — but all ends well for squirrel and the others. Readers will enjoy the repetition of words as they look for clues in the very funny, bold illustrations.
Acorns Everywhere!
The timid 2nd grader is back, this time fearful of an upcoming camping trip with his father. Alvin’s siblings try to help him but actually create a different sort of disaster. Readers will enjoy laughing along with these memorable characters.
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters (Book 2)
The well-known fable about how the smallest creature — a mouse — saves the majestic lion is a tale of kindness returned. Here it is effectively recast as a wordless story in a new setting. Stunning illustrations are expressive and emotive, evoking Africa’s Serengeti while retaining the tale’s power. (2010 Caldecott Medal Winner)
The Lion and the Mouse
Walter Anderson “may be the most famous American artist you’ve never heard of.” But he and his passion for nature on the U.S. Gulf coast are introduced through an evocative text and luminous illustrations. An extensive author’s note provides additional information and several reproductions of Anderson’s work.