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Aisulu’s brother, Serik, wants to become an eagle hunter but ill health prevents it. When Serik is diagnosed with cancer, Aisulu finds the orphaned eaglet and becomes a rare female eagle hunter and competes to win money to pay for Serik’s treatment. Sophisticated readers are likely to enjoy the fast-paced action set in contemporary Western Mongolia.

When things come to an end by various means (natural or induced such as roadkill), they decompose. Young readers may just revel in the gleeful grossness in well researched narrative and lighthearted illustrations. A glossary and bibliography conclude this enlightening but entertaining informational book.

Iris is the only Deaf student in her class. Though sometimes frustrated, she reads lips though prefers to use American Sign Language (ASL). She’s also most comfortable when working with old radios and their components. When she learns about a unique whale, Blue 55, that is not part of a pod she becomes convinced that it, too, is deaf and thus separate from others. And unlikely but riveting adventure with her grandmother leads to healing and a satisfying conclusion.

Jess runs Sunnyside Stables where Chloe is going to spend a week learning how to jump a horse. But will she be able to learn anything with the horse named Cookie?  Not only does Chloe learn to trust and enjoy Cookie, she learns a great deal about herself and her expectations. Like others in the Pony Camp series, this is told as though written in Chloe’s diary. Line illustrations are sprinkled throughout.

Join two curious polar bear cubs as they prepare to live and thrive in an extremely harsh environment, presented as a comic book. Fact and fiction combine in this informative but engaging and entertaining look at climate change and the impact on these animals. Back matter includes a glossary, bibliography, and source notes.

Readers may have to change their opinion of spotted hyenas after meeting them as they are studied in the wild. Fluid prose and stunning photographs combine insight into the field scientists and information about the animals they study. While they remain formidable carnivores, hyenas are surprisingly brave and social animals and appealing in appearance. Thoroughly resourced and documented, this is narrative nonfiction at its best.

As Bat’s year in third grade nears its end, he begins to worry about releasing his skunk kit into the wild; he worries that his best friend will forget him during his summer away, and more. But Bixby Alexander Tam (Bat for short) still looks forward to working with his veterinarian mom and time with his sister. This is the third book about Bat (who is likely on the autism spectrum and first introduced in A Boy Called Bat (opens in a new window)) but this book stands alone.

Velma Bronn Johnson, nicknamed Wild Horse Annie, was born in Nevada. In spite of having polio, Annie was able to ride horses again. Later, when she saw hundreds of wild horses killed to make room for cattle, Annie became an activist. She worked to pass the 1971 law protecting mustangs on federal land. Conversational text is accompanied by loose, swirling illustrations to present an overview of one woman’s fight to save a piece of the Wild West.

A young soldier narrates the story of how he met a podgy pudgy dog soon named Stubby. Stubby and Corporal Conroy soon became inseparable friends and more; Stubby was adopted into Conroy’s regiment to become a heroic soldier in his own right. This true story of World War I is illustrated in light hues with gentle lines, accompanied by a straightforward text. An afterward includes a photo of Stubby and provides a bit of additional information.

Two friends, Fox and Chick, are quite different. But they find common ground to enjoy a boat ride, chocolate cake, and even the sunrise, in three short, generously, gently illustrated chapters. As with their first adventure, The Party: and Other Stories (opens in a new window), Fox and Chick star in short tales presented in easy graphic novel style just right for readers just starting longer chapter books.

If you travel to the sea, consider the varied animals and sea creatures that live in the world’s oceans. Glimpse some of them on the oversized pages of this informative, beautifully illustrated emporium — a diverse undersea world teaming with life. If you take that trip to the sea, you might come across seashells. Have you ever wondered why there are so many different shapes? Explore this and find out who the shells’ residents may be in Seashells: More than a Home (opens in a new window) by Melissa Stewart, realistically illustrated by Sarah Brannen.

Short, readable entries each with a date, chronicle the first year of a bluebird as told by the newly hatched narrator. Information about bluebirds’ range appears on front endpapers while a glossary is placed on back endpapers. Dramatic illustrations show the dangers faced by the young bluebirds until the following June when A. Bluebird shows off the “my beautiful chicks!”

McTavish knew he’d chosen the right family to rescue when he met the Peachey family although the family thought that they had saved a shelter dog. With a little help from young Betty, McTavish straightens out the family after Mum quit being mum. Wry, understated humor in crisp prose from both human and canine perspectives is complemented by clever drawings.

There are approximately 5000 species found world over (with the exception of Antarctica), in different sizes, many shapes and in various colors. Open the pages of this lushly illustrated book to meet some of the frogs from around the world, many of which are now threatened. Handsomely crafted and presented, dip in or read cover-to-cover, these frogs will remain with readers long after the covers are closed.

A boy insists that they not leave until the whale accidentally caught in their fishing net is extricated. No words are needed as the tale is revealed in dramatic illustrations from various perspectives. The author cautions readers that this is more fable rather than a realistic portrait but effectively conveys the whale’s struggle and one child’s empathetic response to it.

The sea turtle, pufferfish, octopus and other sea creatures do what they do; crab bakes cakes. One day, however, there’s a huge splash and sunshine no longer reaches the bottom; crab bakes a cake. Fortified by cake, the sea critters turn the tide on polluters in a droll, dramatic, and effective tale told with visual elements of a graphic novel. Final resources include links to information about oceans and pollution.

Words and image combine on open pages encouraging readers to voice thirteen poems in two voices while learning about the critters introduced. Familiar animals populate each handsome, realistically illustrated page with color-coded poems (to facilitate reading together). “Nature’s Notes” are included for additional factual information about animals and their sounds.

Bespectacled Sweety was different from others, even other naked mole rats. Sweety’s Aunt Ruth helps her niece discover what she  most enjoys and develop the confidence to share it. An understated text and comical line and wash illustrations present an awkward but endearing group of rodents sure to dance their way into readers’ hearts and thoughts.

Not all of the residents on Deckawoo Drive were thrilled when a small piglet wound up on their street. Happily, however, this small creature found the way into the hearts of the Watsons and became the toast-eating toast of Deckawoo Drive. How Mercy Watson came to become part of the family and community is a worthy prequel to those who have read or will read the early chapter books by the same author/illustrator team. Nonetheless, t is strong, handsomely illustrated tale in its own right.

Soon after a small pig starts a bath (“oink!”), there’s an insistent “knock, knock” on the door. Gradually, poor pig is joined by sheep (“Maa!}, cow (“Moo!”) and more. Then one-by-one all of the animals leave pig alone for a peaceful bath. The humor in this nearly wordless book is conveyed by understated line and wash illustrations sure to elicit laughs and language from readers.

Rich, active verbs challenge readers to swoop, scoop, “dip your dewlap”, and more just like the lizards of varying sizes and colors that are depicted. Text swirls throughout each attractive, informative page. Additional information about the lizards presented concludes the book, sure to inspire movement, language, and further investigation of reptiles.

Paul plants and waters his crops but despairs when the rain doesn’t come. “But Paul is not alone.” A cow, donkey, and mole who have also watched Paul’s hard work bring buckets and barrels just before the rain begins resulting in lush crops and a jubilant Paul. Dramatic illustrations are naïve and extremely effective in conveying a range of emotions.

Cyril is the only squirrel in Lake Park; that is until he meets Pat. Pat has a different kind of tail and looks a bit scruffy but the duo enjoy each other’s company until one of the  park’s other inhabitants informs Cyril that Pat is a rat and no squirrel can befriend one. The rhyming saga is illustrated in Gravett’s signature style to complement and extend the droll telling.

Watching birds requires practice, patience and an eagle eye. Young birders may want to practice on the pages of this book as the gentle, rhyming text provides clues and encouragement. Find the chickadee, wren and bluebird in the lush natural environments shown in realistic watercolors. Additional notes about birds and birding concludes this handsome introduction.