Molland, Judy | GET OUT!: 150 EASY WAYS FOR KIDS & GROWN-UPS TO GET INTO NATURE AND BUILD A GREENER FUTURE [chockful of ideas to get families, classrooms, and groups outside learning about nature, experiencing the world in new ways, and taking a hands-on approach to the three r’s (reduce, reuse, recycle). Chapters on being a green consumer and green eater, as well as on choosing an issue and taking a stand, make for a well-rounded yet easy-to-use handbook for making a difference indoors and out. Open to any page to find something to do today.] |
START THE LITTLE ONES GREEN | |
Little Green Books – Green books for green readers. Little Green Books will educate children on what they can do to be more eco-friendly. The books in this line will be made from recycled materials, and the storylines will cover subjects such as improving the environment, learning about endangered animals, recycling, and much more. I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle by Alison Inches (Ages 3-6) [Meet Max the Little Monster. He is a cute, furry green monster who is an environmental nightmare. Among other things, he leaves on all the lights, keeps his computer plugged in, blasts the TV, hoards his old toys and uses so much toilet paper it clogs the toilet until finally, his excessive ways cause a power outage. The Polar Bears’ Home: A Story About Global Warming by Lara Bergen (Ages 4-6) [a little girl and her father and learn all about polar bears! This 8 x 8 storybook shows how global warming affects two baby polar bear cubs and their family. Includes tips for kids on what they can do to help slow down global warming.] |
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Ages 9+ | SCHOLASTIC ATLAS OF WEATHER From terrifying thunderstorms to frigid blizzards, every page has fact boxes and trivia. A unique section at the back of the book provides amazing weather statistics, tricks for predicting the weather and a chance to try some of your own weather related science experiments and activities. |
Ages 8+ | Smithsonian Institution ANIMAL: THE DEFINITIVE VISUAL GUIDE TO THE WORLD’S WILDLIFE – Remarkably breathtaking celebration of over 2000 species of the animal kingdom (vertebrates and invertebrates) compiled by a team of over 70 zoologists, biologists and naturalists, and hundreds of photographers. Highly recommended. [Don E. Wilson (Editor), David Burnie (Editor) DK Publishing, Inc. October 2001] |
Ages 8+ | Dorling Kindersley Animal Encyclopedia [376 pages of wow!] November 2000 |
Ages 7 Up | National Geographic Encyclopedia of Animals by Karen Mcghee, George Phd Mc Kay – This comprehensive volume introduces the entire animal kingdom: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and all kinds of invertebrates, from sea squirts to worms and spiders. October 2006 |
12 up | National Geographic Visual Encyclopedia of Earth by Michael Allaby – This is the single-volume reference every forward-looking library should include. This lively encyclopedia gives kids a rock-solid foundation, reveals the latest research on fragile ecosystems and climate shift, and engages young readers with riveting information, eye-catching illustrations and photography. Kids will find answers to their questions here, as they investigate our world from its core to its cosmic connections. |
Ablow, Gail | A Horse in the House and Other Strange but True Animal Stories [Whoever heard of a horse who lived in a house (while its owners lived next door)? Or two donkeys who had a marriage feast? Or an official spying cat who was wired for sound? These stories and many more — all quite strange, all very true — come from newspaper reports around the world.] |
Adams, Ansel[1902-1984] [Gallery] | Ansel Adams : An Autobiography, by Ansel Adams Ansel Adams at 100 Born Free and Equal America’s Wilderness: The Photographs of Ansel Adams With the Writings of John Muir The Camera (Ansel Adams Photography, Book 1) Yosemite My Camera in the National Parks (1950) Ansel Adams : Classic Images |
Alexander, Sue | Behold the Trees [Trees of Israel – Hebrew] |
Albert, Richard E. | Alejandro’s Gift (Ages 6-8) [ This uplifting story about one man’s gift to the desert and the gift he receives in return has a powerful environmental lesson.] |
Altman, Joyce | Lunch at the Zoo: What Zoo Animals Eat and Why |
Anderson, Margaret J. | Children of Summer: Henri Fabre’s Insects [Jean-Henri Fabre (1823-1915) [Insect Lesson Plans] 9-12 Carl Linnaeus: Father of Classification 11-13 |
Anthony, Joseph | The Dandelion Seed 3-10 In a Nutshell 4-9 |
Appelhof, Mary | Worms Eat My Garbage Compost, By Gosh! (a vermicomposting adventure…converting a storage box to house their new pet; pets with a purpose.) [Classroom Activities] |
APPLES | [Teacher Guide and activities] |
Arnold, Caroline | Australian Animals [forests, grasslands, deserts, and coastal animals] Ages 5 Up [Web Quest and Natural History Units] Birds: Nature’s Magnificent Flying Machines [Introduction to how birds fly: hovering, gliding, diving and how they do it/feather structure/body structure/wing types/mechanics of bird flight] Super Swimmers: Whales, Dolphins, and Other Mammals of the Sea – Ages 4-8 |
Arnosky, Jim | Field Trips: Bug Hunting, Animal Tracking, Bird-Watching, Shore Walking With Jim Arnosky – Ages 8 Up All About Turtles Ages 7-10 All About Frogs Watching Water Birds 6-10 Crinkleroot’s Guide to Knowing Butterflies & Moths All About Owls Following the Coast [explores Atlantic coast salt marshes from Florida’s Banana River to Bombay Hook on the Delaware shore/ wildlife: pelicans, bears, birds, manatees, dolphins, watersnakes,marlin, whales, wildlife and even wild ponies] Ages 7-9 Crocodile Safari [From the author’s green canoe, young readers will travel on an exciting water safari and learn amazing facts about crocodiles, their habitat, and their behavior. And they will also discover how this threatened animal is being successfully protected. Maps showing the North American crocodile range are included. A bonus DVD will show footage of how the author did his research along the briny lower Atlantic coastlines. It will also show him sketching, photographing, and creating his paintings for the book.] (Ages 7-10) |
Aruego, Jose and Ariane Dewey | Weird Friends: Unlikely Allies in the Animal Kingdom – Ages 6-8 |
Aston, Dianna Hutts | A Seed Is Sleepy [2007 Book of Week](gorgeously illustrated by Sylvia Long) An Egg is Quiet [2006 Book of Week](gorgeously illustrated by Sylvia Long) A Butterfly Is Patient (2011 Book of Week)(gorgeously illustrated by Sylvia Long) Loony Little: An Environmental Tale [Chicken Little tale with an environmental theme] Ages 4-7 |
Ayres, Katherine | Up, Down, and Around Big Book [From seeds dropping into soil to corn bursting from its stalks, from children chasing butterflies to ants burrowing underground, everything in this vibrant picture book pulses with life —- in all directions!] Ages 2-4 |
Bailey, Sheila | The Wizard and King Whifflegroan 3-9 |
Bakken, Aimee | UNCOVER A FROG – 6 to Adult – Frogs. They swim, they leap, they hop, and some can even fly. There are poisonous frogs, hairy frogs, singing frogs, albino frogs and even glass frogs with translucent skin you can actually see through! Uncover the secrets of this amazing animal–that’s anuran to you frog specialists–layer by layer, in this new title in the popular Uncover It Series. Young frog fans will love dissecting all the weird and wild facts, cool illustrations and diagrams, and unique 3-D layered model of a frog. With every turn of the page, the frog is deconstructed before their eyes, as the model demonstrates the hidden workings of the frog’s body. Perfect for curious kids. Great gift. Excellent for classrooms. No live frogs need be dissected. |
Baldwin, Robert F. | This is the Sea that Feeds Us 3-9 |
Bang, Molly | Common Ground: The Water, Earth, and Air We Share 4-8 Nobody Particular: One Woman’s Fight to Save the Bays 9-12 My Light [the sun provides the energy that powers everything on Earth, from planets and trees to machines and cities/ follow the light of the sun as it transformed into the energy we use every day in our homes/from windmills and solar cells to fossil fuels and dams/ways we use our natural resources to light up our world.] Ages 6-9 Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring The Earth To Life [shows children, teachers, and parents the remarkable magic of what makes us human.This informative yet dramatic book will mesmerize readers and help further a child’s understanding of the energy we share with all living things in nature. We are all dancing sunlight.] Extensive notes. Highly recommend. Ages 6 and up. Ocean Sunlight: How Tiny Plants Feed the Seas (5-11) [From tiny aquatic plants to the biggest whale or fish, Bang presents a moving, living picture of the miraculous balance sustaining each life cycle and food chain deep within our wondrous oceans. On land or in the deep blue sea, we are all connected–and we are all a part of a grand living landscape. Celebrates the astonishing role our oceans play in human life. |
Banks, Kate | A Gift From the Sea [Learn about Geology] |
Banks, Martin | Conserving Rain Forests |
Barner, Bob | Bug Safari [“I was lost in a bug-infested jungle one hot summer day.” A young boy follows a long line of marching black ants hoping to find his way back to base camp. Illustrated glossary includes definitions of all the bugs found in the story.] |
Barry, Frances | Big Yellow Sunflower (PreK) – A seed is falling to the ground. What will it be? Turn the shaped pages as a mole, a worm, a snail, a bird, a bee, and other creatures watch the seed take root and sprout up through the soil. As each page fans out, revealing a bright splash of yellow, a gigantic sunflower unfolds in a brilliant display. Little Green Frogs (PreK) – Frog eggs are floating in the pond, but how will they grow? Each shaped page shows a different stage: eggs hatching into tadpoles, the appearance of back and front legs in froglets, and finally, disappearing tails. Now the frogs are ready to hop up for air, onto the lily pads formed by the opened book. |
Bateman, Donna M. | Deep in the Swamp [count from one otter pup to ten baby crayfish as they learn about thespecial relationships between the parents and offspring of mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects that make their home in the Okenfenokee Swamp.] |
Bauer, Marion Dane | If Frogs Made Weather [lyrical poem/boy muses on the favorite weather of 10 different animals] Ages 4-8 |
Baylor, Byrd | The Desert Is Theirs [Teacher Guide] |
Beck, Paul | The Field Guide to Safari Animals: Explore Exotic Africa (Ages 8 up ) [Inside this beautifully designed book, kids will discover the 1924 journal of fictional naturalist Rebecca Mayhew. Through her journal entries, they’ll read all about her exciting adventure across exotic Africa—from tracking lions in Nairobi to marveling at the birth of a baby giraffe in Botswana. Each page is filled with stunning photographs, maps, illustrations, and fascinating facts about Africa’s most spectacular animals. Kids can recreate animal scenes by setting up their own stunning display, featuring a cool diorama and 8 different animal models that they can assemble.] |
Berger, Melvin and Gilda | How Do Flies Walk Upside Down? 4-8 Can It Rain Cats and Dogs 4-8 Do Whales Have Belly Buttons? 4-8 Why do Volcanoes Blow Their Tops? 9-12 Do Tarantulas Have Teeth? 9-12 Do All Spiders Spin Webs? 9-12 Do Tornadoes Really Twist? 9-12 Look Out For Turtles Ages 5-9 Do Bears Sleep All Winter? Questions and Answers About Bears Ages 5-9 Dangerous Animals True or False? The mosquito is the most dangerous animal in the world. The great white shark eats more people than any other fish does. The beautiful poison dart frog is not really poisonous. True or False? – contains 22 true or false questions with a full-color photograph of dangerous animals on every page. (Ages 7-10) Storms True or False? Can lightening strike twice? Do hurricanes form over warm water? Are snowflakes white? (Ages 7-10) Birds [Do all birds lay eggs? Can penguins fly? Can owls see in the dark?…and much more.] (Ages 7-10) Mammals [“Do all mammals live on land?” and “Is the mouse the smallest mammal?” Kids will read the question on the right-hand page and then flip it over to find out the answer. (Ages 7-10) Amphibians [Do toads jump like frogs do? Are caecilians worms? Are salamanders fussy eaters? Kids will read the question on the right-hand page and then flip it over to find out the answer. (Ages 7-10) |
Berkes, Marianne | Seashells by the Seashore [collecting seashells/identification tear-out page] Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef – Ages 3-8 [marine life, counting book to the tune of “Over in the Meadow”] Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme [Sing, clap, and count your way among enchanting rainforest animals to the rhythm of the whimsical favorite, “Over in the Meadow.” This rainforest is teeming with monkeys that hoot, ocelots that pounce, parrots that squawk, and boas that squeeze!] Ages 4-8 Going Around The Sun: Some Planetary Fun Ages 4-8 – Our Earth is part of a fascinating planetary family – eight planets and an odd bunch of solar system “cousins” – that spin, roll, tilt, blow and whirl around the Sun. Here, to the tune of “Over in the Meadow,” young ones can get a glimpse of our remarkable neighborhood, and our place in a very big universe. Going Home: The Mystery of Animal Migration (Ages 4-9) – By foot, fin, and wing, many animals migrate home, sometimes over very long distances. They have no maps. They may skip many meals. Why do they do it? How do they find their way? For the migrating animals, their story is one of determination and accomplishment. Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peek [Children learn the ways of forest animals to the rhythm of Over in the Meadow as they leap like a squirrel, dunk like a raccoon, and pounce like a fox. They will also count the babies and search for ten hidden forest animals. Cut paper illustrations add to the fun in this delightful introduction to a woodland habitat.] PreK |
Berkowitz, Jacob | Jurassic Poop: What Dinosaurs (And Others) Left Behind [teaches kids about coprolites—preserved human and animal poop. The breezy style, bathroom humor and surprising scientific facts combine for a very kid-friendly approach to fossils.] Ages 8-12 |
Berne, Jennifer | Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau (Ages 5-8) [Before Jacques Cousteau became an internationally known oceanographer and champion of the seas, he was a curious little boy. In this lovely biography, poetic text and gorgeous paintings combine to create a portrait of Jacques Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring.] A beautiful tribute. |
Bishop, Nic | Forest Explorer: A Life-Sized Field Guide [Seven different life-size forest habitats, exploring the leaf-litter to the tree-top canopy through all four seasons/lush photographic scenes/”field notes” identify all animals/related intriguing facts about survival in each habitat/forest exploration hints, essential safety information, and a “picture index” for easy reference.] Ages 6-10 SPIDERS – For the first to third grade set, spiders are fascinating and suitably gruesome, especially when looked at in EXTREME close-up. Amazing images show the beauty and otherworldliness of spiders. Simple, engaging text conveys basic information about spiders as well as cool and quirky facts. One stop-action montage shows a spider leaping twenty times its body length! FROGS [frogs are an endless source of fascination, especially when looked at VERY close up. See tiny poison dart frogs and mammoth bullfrogs, as Nic Bishop’s amazing images show the beauty and diversity of frogs from around the globe. And simple, engaging text conveys basic information about frogs — as well as cool and quirky facts.](Ages 6-8). Butterflies And Moths [The simple, engaging text presents both basic information and fun, quirky facts about the insects’ appearance, habits, and life cycle–including a double gatefold spread of a butterfly in flight.] Ages 6-8. See also Butterflies (RL2) Marsupials [Do you know about bettongs and bilbies? Or quolls and quokkas? And potoroos and pademelons? These animals live on the continent of Australia, along with kangaroos, koalas, and many other marsupials. With breathtaking full-page images and engaging text, Bishop introduces the beauty and diversity of these amazing animals. Quirky facts about marsupials’ appearance, habits, life cycle, index and glossary are included.] LIZARDS [With breathtaking full-page images, including a double-gatefold spread, Sibert-Honor photographer Nic Bishop introduces the beauty and diversity of lizards.The simple, engaging text presents both basic information and fun, quirky facts about the appearance, habits, and life cycle of these amazing reptiles. An index and glossary are included.] Ages 6-9 |
Bonner, Hannah | When Fish Got Feet, Sharks Got Teeth, and Bugs Began to Swarm: A Cartoon Prehistory of Life Long Before Dinosaurs [Take a fun, fact-filled trip back to Earth as it was 430 million years ago. Then, watch as continents drift and oceans take shape. Watch out (!) as fish get toothier, plants stretch skywards and bugs get bigger. Soon fish get feet and four-legged creatures stalk the planet. Here’s the story of Earth in conversational text, informative illustrations, and humorous cartoons. Complete with time line, pronunciation guide, glossary and index.] Ages 9 and Up. This book is amazingT! |
Bonnin, Jenny; Kim McKay | True Green Kids: 100 Things You Can Do to Save the Planet (Ages 9-12) [brings the core message that you can make a difference to a younger audience in an engaging, educational way. While primarily aimed at kids, the book also encourages the active involvement of parents, teachers, and other members of the community] |
Bourgeois, Paulette | The Dirt on Dirt (Ages 7-12) – Sunsets and rain couldn’t happen without dirt. Earthworms can be more than 6 m (20 ft.) long. The ground is made of seven giant plates that are in constant motion. African lungfish can hibernate in baked mud shells for as long as four years. A million invisible dust mites are lurking in your bed, feasting on your skin flakes. Read about the many wonders of dirt, such as where dirt comes from, how to make the best dirt and where to dig for buried treasure. And you’ll find a bucketful of fun things to do with dirt, including how to build a bike racetrack in your backyard, bake a yummy mud cake, create fossil footprints and grow a garden playhouse. Dig in! THIS is a good book! |
Branley, Franklyn M. | Sunshine Makes the Seasons – Ages 5-8 (Revised May 2005) |
Brehner, Barbara | One Small Place by the Sea [seashore/recurring formation of tide pools/interdependence of their creatures/observation] Ages 5-8 One Small Place in a Tree [ A tiny hole forms by a bear’s claws. Timber beetles tunnel inside. The hole grows bigger and bigger. The hole transforms into a cozy hollow — home to salamanders, tree frogs, a family of white-footed mice.] Ages 5-8 |
Brown, Ruth | The Old Tree [Cross-species cooperation helps to save a leafy home in an endearing, pastoral tale that features a final pop-up surprise.] |
Brunelle, Lynn | The World Almanac for Kids Puzzler Deck: Science (Ages 5-7) Make learning enjoyable and rewarding at home or in the classroom. World Almanac for Kids Puzzler Deck: Science (Ages 9-11) |
Bulion, Leslie | Hey There, Stink Bug! (Ages 8-11). “This is / an insect world with humans in it. / We’ll seize the day, but they will win it.” Collection of poems and astonishing facts about the bugs who share our homes and gardens] |
Bunting, Eve | Anna’s Table – Ages 6-9 [“In my room against the wall I have a nature table filled with the wonders of the earth and sky and sea. Each one of them a miracle to me.”] |
Burgan, Michael | Not a Drop to Drink: Water for a Thirsty World (Ages 10 up) [Water is one of Earth’s hot environmental topics. The scarcity of clean drinking water will have dramatic consequences for humanity in the 21st century: water disputes could spark regional conflict, while increased desertification and drought could affect world food supplies and the future of farming. A clear message about this precious commodity and our urgent need to conserve it. |
Burleigh, Robert and Ed Young | Tiger of the Snows: Tenzing Norgay: The Boy Whose Dream Was Everest (Ages 7-10) – The story of the Sherpa who reached the top of Everest with Sir Edmund Hilary. [Learn More] |
Burns, Loree Griffin | Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion (Ages 10 up) [Aided by an army of beachcombers, oceanographer Dr. Curtis Ebbesmeyer tracks trash in the name of science. From sneakers to hockey gloves, Curt monitors the watery fate of human-made cargo that has spilled into the ocean. The information he collects is much more than casual news; it is important scientific data. And with careful analysis, Curt, along with a community of scientists, friends, and beachcombers alike, is using his data to understand and protect our ocean. In engaging text and unforgettable images, readers meet the woman who started it all (Curts mother!), the computer program that makes sense of his data (nicknamed OSCURS), and several scientists, both on land and on the sea, who are using Curts discoveries to preserve delicate marine habitats and protect the creatures who live in them.] |
Butterworth, Chris | Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea– ages 5-8 [discover the secrets of the sea horse…. With a head like a horse, a tail like a monkey, and a pouch like a kangaroo, the sea horse acts like a chameleon, changing color to ward off danger or to show that he and his mate are a lifelong pair. Watch their fascinating mating dance, as the two of them twine their tails together and twirl, before she places her eggs in his pouch to be born.] How Did That Get In My Lunchbox?: The Story of Food [The best part of a young child’s day is often opening a lunchbox and diving in. But how did all that delicious food get there? Who made the bread for the sandwich? What about the cheese inside? Who plucked the fruit? And where did the chocolate in that cookie get its start? From planting wheat to mixing flour into dough, climbing trees to machine-squeezing fruit, picking cocoa pods to stirring a vat of melted bliss, here is a clear, engaging look at the steps involved in producing some common foods. Healthy tips and a peek at basic food groups complete the menu.] |
Buxton, Jane H.; Jerry Pinkney, Illustrator | Undersea Animals: A Dramatic Dimensional Visit to Strange Underwater Realms (Ages 4-8) [Each interactive spread encourages readers to explore a particular ocean environment and its cast of characters: an anemone rides a hermit crab, which looms from its shell, claws waving; a goosefish wiggles its lure to entice smaller fish into its umbrella-wide mouth; a coral reef brims with camouflaged creatures; a squid speeds through the water like a jet. Hints in the text direct kids to the harder-to-find pop-ups and the interactive features hidden within the layout, which reflect the way certain sea creatures blend into their seafloor seascape.] |
Cassino, Mark with Jon Nelson | The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder [How do snow crystals form? What shapes can they take? Why do star-shaped snow crystals usually have six arms? Are no two snow crystals alike? These questions and more are answered inside this exploration of the science of snow, featuring photos of real snow crystals in all their beautiful diversity.] (Ages 5-8) |
Cherry, Lynne | Flute’s Journey: The Life of a Wood 4 -8 Thrush 4 – 8 River Ran Wild 4 – 8 [Teacher Guide] The Great Kapok Tree (RainForest) 4 – 8 The Shaman’s Apprentice (RainForest) 4 – 8 How Groundhog’s Garden Grew [stealing/sharing/community/planting a garden] The Sea, The Storm, and The Mangrove Tangle |
Chicola, Nancy A., Eleanor B. English | Discovering World Geography With Books Kids Love [Adult] |
Chin, Jason | REDWOODS [A subway trip is transformed when a young boy happens upon a book about redwood forests. As he reads the information unfolds, and with each new bit of knowledge, he travels–all the way to California to climb into the Redwood canopy. Crammed with interesting and accurate information about these great natural wonders.] (Ages 6-8) |
Chrustowski, Rick | Bright Beetle Ages 6-8 [Ladybug Life Cycle] Blue Sky Bluebird Ages 6-8 |
Cobb, Vicki [more books] | I Face the Wind – Ages 5-7 [discover the science of wind/experiments/fun activities] |
Cole, Joanna | Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor Ages 6-8 [Teachers’ Guide] [Word Search/scramble] [Ocean Animals] Magic School Bus Inside A Hurricane The Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge Ages 7-10 |
Collard, Sneed B. III [books] | Pocket Babies and Other Amazing Marsupials The Deep-Sea Floor Our Wet World BEAKS! (2005) TEETH (2008) WINGS (2008) Leaving Home Butterfly Count – Annual July 4th Butterfly Count. Reign of the Sea Dragons (Mesozoic Era ichthyosaurs, elasmosaurs, and pliosaurs) Science Warriors: The Battle Against Invasive Species LIZARDS (2012) |
Cooper, Kay | Too Many Rabbits and other Fingerplays [About Animals, Nature, Weather, and the Universe] |
Cooper, Wade | Night Creatures (Reading Level 2 – vocabulary and sentence length for beginning readers) [My fur is long and black and white. I walk in gardens late at night. If you scare me, I will spray a stinky smell. So stay away!” Children learn about skunks, owls, moths, bats, foxes, jaguars, bush babies, badgers, and kangaroos. The text is written in easy-to-read rhymes and is illustrated with irresistible photographs. Three pages of fun learning activities are designed to both challenge and entertain new readers.] |
Corbett, Jim | Jungle Lore My India |
Cornell, Joseph | Sharing Nature With Children 9-12 Journey to the Heart of Nature 9- Up Listening To Nature – Adult Ocean Animals 7-Up Rainforest Animals 7-UP |
Cousins, Lucy | Maisy’s Nature Walk A Maisy First Science Book [It’s a beautiful day, and Maisy is setting out on a nature walk. Little readers can pull the tabs to see a yellow flower unfurl, a snail poke out of its shell, a duckling hatch, a frog leap, and more. This Maisy First Science Book also prompts children to find treasures such as a chrysalis and a dragonfly.] Ages 2-5 |
Cowcher, Helen | JAGUAR |
Cowley, Joy | Chameleon, Chameleon (Ages 5-7) [gorgeous photographs/simple text/Did You Know?] |
Cumbaa, Stephen | The Bones Book And Skeleton – The 12-inch, 24-piece skeleton is realistically designed with moving joints, and can be displayed in its clear plastic bell jar. The book is packed with projects, experiments, and facts about all the systems of the human body. The focus, of course, is on the bones—what they are made of, how they grow, how they work. New is an expanded section on paleontology and fossil remains incorporating the latest news from the field, including the newly discovered hobbit-sized humans from the last Ice Age. |
Darian, Shea | Grandpa’s Garden 4-10 Seven Times the Sun : Guiding Your Child Through the Rhythms of the Day -Adult |
David, Laurie and Cambria Gordon | Down-to-Earth Guide To Global Warming [Irreverent and entertaining, DOWN TO EARTH is filled with fact about global warming and its disastrous consequences, loads of photos and illustrations, as well as suggestions for how kids can help combat global warming in their homes, schools, and communities. Engagingly designed, DOWN TO EARTH will educate and empower, leaving readers with the knowledge they need to understand this problem and a sense of hope to inspire them into action.] Ages 9-12 |
Davies, Nicola | Deserts (Ages 8-11) How they form/why they exists/how life adapts/Includes fun and easy projects] Extreme Animals: The Toughest Creatures on Earth (Agaes 6 Up) Animals have adapted to survive in conditions that would kill a human quicker than you can say “coffin”! Discover how they do it in this amazing natural history book. What’s Eating You?: Parasites–The Inside Story [Mites and lice, fleas, ticks, and tapeworms — most living creatures that have a habitat also are a habitat, including you (are you itchy yet?). Unwelcome guests — parasites — are everywhere, from the barnacles hitching a ride on a humpback whale’s head to the tiny flies that control a bee’s brain and make it literally dig its own grave. YUCK! Gross the kids out while they learn. They’ll love it.] (Ages 8-11) READ, LISTEN & WONDER SERIES – All include Read-Aloug CD with Music & Facts (For Ages 5-8) Click Titles for descriptions. Wonderful introduction series. Big Blue Whale Bat Loves the Night Surprising Sharks One Tiny Turtle (Loggerhead turtles) White Owl, Barn Owl (no CD) |
Deacon, Alexis | Slow Loris [lemur][slow-moving, nocturnal prosimian primates.] Ages 4-8 |
DeMunn, Michael | Places of Power |
de Paola, Tomie | The Cloud Book |
DeWitt, Lynda | What Will the Weather Be? – Ages 5-9 |
Dorion, Christiane | How the World Works: A Hands-On Guide to Our Amazing Planet (Ages 7+) – How do the ocean currents move? What is a carbon footprint? Why does it rain? This engaging book introduces the earth’s important cycles and offers an exciting way to learn geography and science. Packed with illustrations and paper fold-outs, flaps, pops, and more to boost interactive learning, it encourages children to think about the impact of human actions on our environment, while engendering respect for the natural world and all its harmonies. How the Weather Works: A Hands-on Guide to Our Changing Climate (Ages 7-11) [What is a tornado? Why does it snow? How is a hurricane created? Find out in this novelty-packed introduction to our planet’s weather. Tackling both normal and extreme scenarios, this is an entertaining and enlightening exploration of the world’s weather. With bright, friendly illustrations, plus pop-ups, pull-tabs, and booklets.] |
Doris, Ellen | Woods, Ponds, & Fields (Real Kids Real Science Books) Published in association with the Children’s School of Science, Woods Hole, Massachusetts |
Dorros, Arthur | Rain Forest Secrets A Tree Is Growing Ant Cities Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean Feel the Wind |
Dowson, Nick | Tigress with Audio: Read, Listen, & Wonder Series (Ages 5-8) [One of nature’s most magical sights emerges from camouflage in this evocative, informative story about a mother tiger in the wild. Moving smooth as a river, her stripy coat bright as fire, a mother tiger runs, then vanishes into the tall grass. With plate-sized paws and a pink nose the size of your fist, she hunts and swims, cares for her cubs, and teaches them all her tiger tricks.] NORTH: The Amazing Story of Arctic Migration [At the top of our world is a huge wild place called the Arctic. In the winter, it is a cold and barren land, where few animals can survive. But when spring comes, it brings with it animals from every corner of the earth. Gray whales, white cranes, wolves, and caribou begin their migrations as the snow melts, gradually making the long journey north. Once they reach their destination, they will raise their young, feast on the lush Arctic tundra, and bask in the sunlight that lasts all summer. Still, this season too must pass, and by the time winter grips the Arctic once again, the visitors have gone—only to return the following year.] Beautifully illustrated by Patrick Benson. |
Duensing, Edward | Talking to Fireflies, Shrinking the Moon. Nature Activities for all Ages. |
Dunlap, Julie, and Marybeth Lorbiecki | John Muir and Stickeen: An Icy Adventure with a No-Good Dog – Ages 6-9 [Excellent introduction to an extraordinary conservationist/Glacier Bay] [Learn More] |
Dunphy, Madeliene | Here Is the Tropical Rain Forest 4-8 |
Dyer, Sarah | Five Little Fiends 4-8 – Five Fiends realize that the world is better when they share. |
Ehlert, Lois | Planting a Rainbow 4-8 Growing Vegetable Soup– Preschool Waiting for Wings 3 Up [Butterfly metamorphosis] Pie in the Sky Nuts to You! Leaf Man [Teacher Guide] |
Elliott, David | In the Wild [From the lion standing alone on the African savannah to the panda in a bamboo forest, from the rhinoceros with its boot-like face to the Arctic polar bear disappearing in the snow, the earth is full of curious and wonderful animals, each more extraordinary than the next. David Elliott’s pithy, lyrical verse and Holly Meade’s stunning woodcut and watercolor illustrations reveal a world of remarkable beauty and wonder.] (Ages 6-8) |
Elwell, Peter | Adios Oscar!: A Butterfly Fable [When Oscar the caterpillar discovers that he will one day become a butterfly, he’s overjoyed. To prepare, Oscar learns Spanish and dreams of flying through the purple Sierra Madre Mountains. But when Oscar emerges from his cocoon as a moth his dreams are dashed. There will be no trip to Mexico for Oscar — or will there? |
Facklam, Margery | Creepy, Crawly Caterpillars 8-11 Spiders and Their Web Sites 8-11 Lizards Weird and Wonderful 7-12 |
Faidley, Warren (“Cyclone Cowboy”) | Wild Weather [Explore the world’s most extreme environments in this innovative new book. Visit Tornado Alley in the United States and take a close-up look at how these deadly twisters form. Find out from Warren what it”s like to be a storm-chaser, and learn about monsoons, tsunamis, blizzards, mirages, and the effects of weather phenomena like El Niño.] Ages 9 Up |
Fern, Tracey E. | Buffalo Music (Ages 5-8) [The story of how one woman helped save the buffalo, inspired by pioneer Mary Ann Goodnight. A story of determination, conservation, and the ability of one person to make a difference. Authors note, bibliography.] |
Fisher, Aileen; Mique Moriuchi, Illustrator | The Story Goes On – Ages: 4-8 [ongoing cycle of life. A seed sprouts and is quickly devoured by a bug. Then a bright green frog appears and makes a meal of the bug. And the story goes on…from bug to snake to hawk to hunter…until a seed begins to sprout.] |
Fleisher, Paul | Webs of Life Series: Each book focuses on ways in which plants and animals interact and affect one another in a specific community. Ages 8-11 Oak Tree Tide Pool Coral Reef Salt Marsh Pond Mountain Stream |
Fleming, Denise | Where Once There Was a Wood Ages 4-8 Time To Sleep [Seasons: Transition to Autumn] |
Florian, Douglas | Insectlopedia 4-8 [see also] Zoo’s Who (2005) [Entire Collection] |
Forsythe, Adrian | How Monkeys Make Chocolate:Foods and Medicines from the Rainforests 9-12 |
Fox, Karen C. | Older Than the Stars by Karen C. Fox – Ages 5-8 – Stunning illustrations and lively verse tell the story of the cosmic connections that tie human beings to the beginning of the universe. Simple, informative prose provides additional facts. |
Fradin, Judith & Dennis | Witness to Disaster: Volcanoes [A farmer’s field in Mexico is about to become the birthplace of the 2,000-foot high volcano known as Paracutin. Volcanoes brings you the shocking first-person reports of those who have witnessed the violent rage of a volcanic eruption. Why do volcanoes erupt? What strange, changed landscapes do they leave behind? How can scientists predict future volcanic activity? And where were the deadliest eruptions in history? (Ages 9 and up) Witness to Disaster: Hurricanes [Follow the action, from the first news reports of a hurricane called Katrina gathering out at sea, to eyewitness accounts of those who survive the epic devastation she finally wreaks along the Gulf Coast.Then look back at the history of these catastrophic storms and examine the science of hurricanes. How do they form? Why do they rage through the same regions? Which were the deadliest hurricanes in history? And how can scientists predict their landfall? All the answers are here. Witness to Disaster: Droughts (Ages 8-11) [You’re a farmer in 1930s Oklahoma and you never thought you’d see this day. Your fields have literally turned to dust. This Depression the radio folks were talking about just reached the heartland. The epic disaster of the Dust Bowl brings home the cruel consequences of drought. The calamity that struck Depression-era America was startling for its far-reaching effects across our country, teaching us much about the nature of droughts and their dreadful devastation. The science section of this book examines the lessons from the Dust Bowl droughts for farmers, including the importance of topsoil. The history of droughts around the world compares impacts on a wide variety of societies. The final chapter looks at the latest tools and technologies developed to help us survive future droughts. The ample back matter will help students find sources to write informed and compelling reports on this subject. Tornado!: The Story Behind These Twisting, Turning, Spinning, and Spiraling Storms [Through riveting narrative and eyewitness stories, young readers learn what it’s really like to be caught in a monster tornado. Captivating first-person accounts and news reports detail survivors’ experiences of the most destructive tornadoes ever to occur in the United States. And thrill-seekers’ reports add to the drama and suspense. Historical perspectives on the human experience of tornadoes and scientific perspectives on why twisters happen and how to keep people safe add to the intrigue of this fascinating topic. Ample back matter will help students find sources to write well-informed and compelling reports.] Ages 9 and up |
Franco, Betsy | Pond Circle [One summer night by a small pond, mayflies dart, beetles dive, frogs spring, skunks shuffle, and owls swoop. As a young girl watches, the circle of life unfolds. In the fashion of “This is the house that Jack built…” Food chain.] (Ages 6-9) |
Frasier, Debra | Out of the Ocean 4-8 [Classroom Support] [Create a photo booth] The Incredible Water Show 4-8 [a neighborhood performance starring the world’s most astounding combination of atoms—H2O!] [Curriculum Guides] |
Fredericks, Anthony D. | Exploring the Oceans 9-12 Exploring the Universe 9-12 Exploring the Rainforest 9-12 Slugs 4-8 From Butterflies to Thunderbolts: Discovering Science With Books Kids Love [Teachers Resource] Around One Cactus: Owls, Bats and Leaping Rats Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs In One Tidepool: Crabs, Snails and Salty Tails Near One Cattail: Turles, Logs and Leaping Frogs 4-8 On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks And a Few More Icks |
French, Vivian | Growing Frogs with Audio: Read, Listen, & Wonder Series (Ages 5-8) [each stage of frog’s growth] Caterpillar Caterpillar (Ages 5-8) [stages of growth, explains how caterpillars shed their skins as they grow/emerges from pupa to butterfly] Yucky Worms [find out where worms live, see how they move, and understand why gardeners consider them friends with the help of this humorous and informative look at an unappreciated — and fascinating — creature.] (Ages 4-8) |
Nan Froman | What’s That Bug?: Everyday Insects And Their Really Cool Cousins |
Helen Frost | Monarch and Milkweed (Ages 4-7) [The milkweed provides the perfect protection as the caterpillar turns into one of nature’s wonders, a chrysalis, before transforming into an even greater wonder: a monarch butterfly. Life cycle/ migration] |
Fuhler, Carol J. | Discovering Geography of North America With Books Kids Love [investigate books that explore themes of geography in relationship to specific regions of the US, Canada, Mexica] (Educators/parents for children grades 3-6) |
Fullman, Joe | 3-D Explorer: Rain Forest: A Journey from the River to the Treetops [Rain forests are literally bursting with life! Covering just 6% of the earth’s surface, rain forests are home to over 60% of all known animal species! From the riverbed to the treetops, explore the many fascinating layers of the rain forest. This amazing book gives kids a close-up view of the plants and animals that inhabit dense jungles. (Ages 7 and up). Highly recommend. |
Gaff, Jackie | I Wonder Why Pine Trees have Needles: and Other Questions About Forests (Ages:8-12) [Which forests have the tallest trees? Why are rainforest trees like umbrellas? Where do koalas live? What are people doing to save forests? Find out the answers to these and many more questions about forests and the animals, plants, and people who live in them. |
Galbraith, Kathryn O. | Arbor Day Square (Ages 4-8) – Frontier days on the prairie. Trains bring more people and more lumber to build houses, fences, and barns. New buildings are erected: a church with a steeple, a store with glass windows, even a schoolhouse with desks for seventeen children. But one thing is missing: trees. |
George, Kristine O’Connell | Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems Little Dog Poems The Great Frog Race and Other Poems Old Elm Speaks: Tree Poems |
George, Jean Craighead | One Day in the Tropical Rainforest 9-12 |
George, Lindsay Barrett | Around the World : Who’s Been Here Around the Pond : Who’s Been Here? |
Gershator, Phillis | When It Starts to Snow [Seasons: Transition Winter] |
Gibbons, Gail | Tell Me, Tree: All about Trees for Kids [parts of trees, function, fruits, photosynthesis, how to create a tree identification book] Weather Forecasting – 4-8 Weather Words and What They Mean – 4-8 Recycle! – Ages 4-8 The Reasons for Seasons Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea 4-8 Nature’s Green Umbrella:Tropical Rain Forrests 4-8 The Honey Makers The Milk Makers Owl 6-9 [from egg to owlet to fierce bird of prey, this book offers and insightful look at 21 types of owls believed to be living in North America.] The Planets (Revised Edition 2008) – Ages 5-8 [explores our solar system’s planets in this absolutely up-to-date edition that includes Pluto’s new status as a dwarf planet.] Ice Cream: The Full Scoop (Ages 4-8) – details the many firsts in ice cream history, from the earliest ice cream crank to the original waffle cone. Galaxies, Galaxies! (Ages 4-8) [How many galaxies are there in the universe? For years astronomers thought that the Milky Way was the universe. Now we know that there are billions of them.] Coral Reefs [This active environment is home to about 20,000 kinds of brilliantly coloured corals, plants, and animals-more sea creatures than are found anywhere else in the world. What is life like in a coral reef? What do corals eat? Why are corals more colourful at nighttime? Informative text and clear, detailed illustrations on this journey into the unique lives of coral reefs.] SNAKES [There are about 3,000 kinds of snakes. Here is information about the different functions of these cold-blooded animals’ physical characteristics. One also learns how they live, how they give birth (most lay eggs, some give birth to live babies), and how they eat (they swallow their prey whole, sometimes while it is still alive).] CORN (Ages 8-12) [Popcorn, corn on the cob, corn dogs, cornflakes–corn is used in many children’s favorite foods. This book offers a cornucopia of information about the history of corn as well as details concerning planting, cultivation, harvesting, and its many uses.] Elephants of Africa [important facts about these mesmerizing animals, describing elephant behavior, habitats, diet, and more!] Ages 4-8 Tornadoes [what tornadoes are, how they form, the scale used for classifying them, and what to do in case one should be near you.] Ages 5-8 Hurricanes! [Learn how hurricanes are formed, how they are named and classified, and what to do if a dangerous storm is on the way.] (Ages 5-8) Ladybugs [Ladybugs are a type of beetle that live on six of the seven continents. 5,000 different types of beetles? Includes descriptions of their characteristics, their four stages of development from egg to adult, and how they live. Did you know that Ladybugs eat insects that damage plants and are an important part of our environment? |
Gibson, Amy | Around the World on Eighty Legs (Ages 7-9) [Awake with the HOWLER MONKEYS, twist into a pretzel like a QUETZAL, hang with a SLOTH, be will-nilly like a CHINCHILLA. Squawk with an AUK, bump your rump like a CAMEL, be silly with a BILBY, and drift off to sleep in the deep of the OUTBACK. Fun-filled and fact-packed.] Illustrated world map and a helpful “menagerie of facts” included. |
Gill, Shelley | Big Blue [Swimming with a Blue Whale. Based on true story.] Ages 6-8 |
Glaser, Linda | Compost! Growing Gardens from Your Garbage Ages 4-8 |
Goodall, Jane | The Chimpanzees I Love: Saving Their World and Ours – Ages 9 Up |
Goodman,Susan | Bats, Bugs, and Biodiversity : Adventures in the Amazonian Rain Forest 9-12 |
Gordon, David George | Uncover a Dolphin (Ages 8 and up) [Did you know that there are 37 different species of dolphins? Or that dolphins drink milk? That they take naps? Or that some scientists believe that the dolphin’s ancestors once walked upright on land? Here, 3-D, layered models let children look through a dolphin’s insides while they encounter interesting facts and vivid illustrations along the way.] |
Gove, Doris | My Mother Talks to Trees – Ages: 6-9 [tree identification] |
Green, Jen | 3-D Explorer: Oceans: A Journey from the Surface to the Seafloor (Ages 8 and up) – Did you know that an estimated 80% of all life on earth is found in the ocean? Dive in and discover all of the amazing secrets of the world’s oceans.. Five spectacular 3-D pop-up panoramas feature clever transparent layers, revealing each ocean zone from the surface to the seafloor. Highly recommend. |
Greenaway, Theresa | Jungle 9-12 |
Grindley, Sally | Why Is The Sky Blue? 4-8 |
Grupper, Jonathan | Destination: Rain Forest |
Guiberson, Brenda Z. | Into the Sea [Sea Turtles] The Emperor Lays an Egg [Penguins] Spoonbill Swamp [spoonbill and an alligator] Moon Bear – Moon Bear is the true story about the Asian Black Bear, an endangered species so stunning and unique that these huge, majestic creatures seem like imaginary creations. (Rudyard Kipling called the Moon Bear “the most bizarre of the ursine species.”) Illustrated by Ed Young, this book captures the natural cycles of these ever-hungry omnivores, who hibernate, sleep, or just nap when they’re not foraging for food. Author’s notes and actual pictures included. |
Gomel, Luc | The Ant: Energetic Worker (Face-To-Face) Ages 4 -8 [Includes Quiz at end of book] |
Guiberson, Brenda Z. | Rain, Rain, Rainforest Ages 6 Up [beautiful tour and creatures of the tropical rainforest] |
Haas, Irene | A Summertime Song (Ages 4-8) If your 4-8 year old loves frogs, and turtles and lizards, parties, summer and happy endings, this is the book. |
Haas, Robert B. | African Cirtters (Ages 6-11) [Dramatic first-person narrative and close-up photography that brings kids into the thick of the action, Rare glimpse into the struggles for survival in the African wilderness. Stories and photographs that portray actual events: leopard cubs coming out of their cave to play; charged by protective adult elephants who surround a new-born; side-by-side with a clan of wild dogs as they hunt impalas. All the stories in the book are intimate, engaging, and true.] |
Halls, Kelly Milner | Mysteries of the Mummy Kids [Some of the most shocking discoveries ever found were children—frozen in time, wrapped in splendor, preserved in dark bogs. Find out how children around the world lived, died, and were preserved—on purpose or by accident.] (Ages 10-14) In Search of Sasquatch: An Exercise in Zoological Evidence [Sasquatch, also known as Bigfoot, is a cryptid—a creature of cryptozoology. Cryptozoology is the study of creatures not recognized by traditional science, and it is the quest to understand things that cannot be proven via ordinary channels. Kelly Milner Halls interviews cryptozoologists, linguistics experts, anthropologists, biologists, and regular people like us who have seen, heard, or maybe stumbled across evidence leading them to believe that Sasquatch is real. Serious Sasquatch seekers are as skeptical as unbelievers. They are not out to collect great stories. They are out to put together facts. The difference is, they are willing to keep an open mind. Do you believe in Sasquatch?] (Ages 9-12) |
Hammerslough, Jane | Owl Puke: Book and Owl Pellet – All Ages – What is an owl pellet? It’s the football-shaped object regurgitated twice a day by owls, which contains the skeleton of at least one owl meal, be it a mouse, vole, shrew, or small bird. Used in elementary schools to teach the food web–but virtually unavailable at retail–a professionally collected, heat-sterilized owl pellet is now married to a lively, two-color illustrated book filled with facts and related activities about these most amazing birds. And what a story the Owl Puke Book tells–of the food chain, animal anatomy, life in the forest; of a bird that could read the bottom line of an eye chart from one mile away; and of a fierce hunter that swallows its prey headfirst and digests everything but the bones, which it spits back up in a pellet. As for the story the pellet tells, kids need only a toothpick to find out. The package includes a tray to hold the bones and a chart to help identify the pellet’s contents. |
Harley, Avis | African Acrostics: A Word in Edgeways [The wild animals of Africa spring to life in clever, lighthearted poems and compelling, evocative photographs. Inclues ature notes with fascinating facts.] Ages 7-10 |
Harper, Jamie | Miss Mingo and the First Day of School – Ages 5-8 [From the enormous Hippo to the teeny Ant, each member of Miss Mingo’s class is certainly unique. Do you have any idea how long Giraffe’s tongue is? Or how much water Pelican’s pouch can hold? Visit Miss Mingo’s classroom for just one day and meet a delightfully diverse group of students] |
Harris, Caroline | Whales and Dolphins |
Harris, Linda D. | Whales and Dolphins (Ages: 6-9) [Includes fun and easy projects] |
Harrison, David L. | Glaciers: Nature’s Icy Caps (Ages 6-8) BUGS (poems about creeping things) [good read aloud] – Ages 4-8 |
Harshman, Marc | Red Are the Apples Ages 3-7 [autumn colors/food/garden] |
Harshman, Terry Webb | Does a Sea Cow Say Moo? (Ages 4-6) [Can you wish on a starfish? And saddle a sea horse? Does a Sea Cow say moo? What about a clown fish? What’s a bed doing in the sea? Starfish? Read about them all (and the silly facts at the back of the book] |
Hasler, Eveline | In My Dreams I Can Fly (Ages 4 up) [Winter is on its way. Below the ground, five friends — a grub, a beetle, two worms, and a caterpillar –are settling in for the winter. But what will they do all winter long? What will they eat? What will they dream of?] |
Hatkoff, Juliana et al | Looking for Miza: The True Story of an Orphaned Baby Gorilla (Ages 8-12) [In a magical place called the Congo, in the beautiful forests and jungles of Virunga National Park, lives a young female mountain gorilla named Miza. One day, when Miza and her mother were out searching for food, Miza’s mother disappeared, leaving her baby alone and frightened. Miza’s father, a fierce silverback named Kabirizi and the leader of Virunga’s largest family of mountain gorillas, set out to find Miza. The Congolese rangers, who dedicate their lives to protecting the gorillas, were searching for Miza, too. Everyone was worried about her. Then something amazing happened: Kabirizi found Miza and brought her back to live with her family.] Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned To Swim Again [Winter is a dolphin. Just over two years ago, when she was a baby, she was rescued from a crab trap, her tail seriously damaged. Winter was rushed to Clearwater Marine Aquarium, a marine animal hospital. It wasn’t clear that she would survive. She did, but eventually the tail fell off and Winter compensated by swimming more like a fish than a dolphin which was seriously damaging her spine.But Winter has been learning how to use a prosthetic tail.] Leo, The Snow Leopard [About one little snow leopard who inspired an international community to help save him.] |
Hawes, Judy | Why Frogs Are Wet Ages 5-9 |
Herkert, Barbara | Birds in your Backyard – Ages 4-10 [Describes the physical characteristics, habits, and natural environment of various North American birds/provides tips for observing backyard birds/learn how to attract birds/identify common backyard birds/distinctive behaviors of different species/ how to make a nest box, official state and provincial birds in the U.S. and Canada] |
Hickman, Pamela | Animals And Their Mates: How Animals Attract, Fight For and Protect Each Other (Animal Behavior) [from brilliantly colored birds to slimy slugs and smelly seals, learn how and where animals mate, and much more] [Ages 7-11] Animals Hibernating: How Animals Survive Extreme Conditions [Ages 7-11] It’s Moving Day [Ages 5-7] – Tucked away beneath a big tree on the edge of a field lies a home a small burrow for many. In every season, a different creature makes its home here and then moves on, making room for the next occupant. Engaging and informative introduction to woodland animals in their habitat. |
Hill, Julia “Butterfly” | The Legacy of Luna : The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods |
Hillman, Ben | How Big Is It? (What’s the Big Idea?) – This BIG title removes the confusion of the abstract by teaching size through eye-catching juxtaposition in “oh wow!” images. For instance, any idea about the size of the mysterious Giant Squid of the deep? Sure, you could read that it’s 59.5 ft. long. While that sounds impressive enough, it’s a little abstract. However, when you see a full-color illustration of a Giant Squid placed in front of the entire length of a farmhouse, you get a real idea of what 59.5 feet means! |
Himmelman, John | Frog in a Bog [What is a Bog? What Lives in a Bog? Life in a Bog.] Mouse in a Meadow – Ages: PreK-6 years [From spiders to weasels, spittlebugs to beetles, take an up-close look at life in a typical North American meadow.] |
Hoberman, Mary Ann | Whose Garden Is It? (Ages 3-7) – The gardener believes it belongs to him, but the insects and animals, and even the tiny seeds stake a claim. |
Hodge, Deborah | Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals (Ages 3-7) – Defines the Rain Forest. Informative look at characteristics and habitats of nine animals. Parent/Teacher section. Kids will enjoy and pick up on their own. Who Lives Here? Polar Animals (Ages 3-7) – Defines the Polar Region. Informative look at characteristics and habitats of nine animals. Parent/Teacher section. Kids will enjoy and pick up on their own. Up We Grow!: A Year in the Life of a Small, Local Farm [an informative and inspiring book highlighting the importance of small, local farms. Heartwarming photos invite children into the world of a small, co-operative farm over four seasons. Readers will get to know the hardworking farmers who plow, plant, compost, mulch, harvest and market fruits and vegetables, and care for animals.] Ages 4-7. Excellent resource for the annual field trip to the farm for Pre-schoolers. |
Hoose, Phillip | The Race to Save the Lord God Bird – Ages 12 Up [The tragedy of extinction is explained through the dramatic story of a legendary bird, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, and of those who tried to possess it, paint it, shoot it, sell it, and, in a last-ditch effort, save it.] |
Horacek, Petr | Butterfly Butterfly: A Book of Colors – Ages 3-5 – Lucy sees a beautiful butterfly in the garden, along with a bright green beetle, a brilliant blue dragonfly, some red ladybugs, and many more flying and crawling things. But when will the radiant butterfly appear again? Colorful look at insect critters through die-cuts and a final pop-up surprise. |
Horsfall, Jacqueline | Play Lightly on the Earth 3-9 |
Howker, Janni | Walk with a Wolf with Audio: Read, Listen, & Wonder Series (Ages 5-8) [a journey to the far, wild north as she hunts, howls to her pack and greets her cubs and black-furred mate.] |
Ireland, Karin | Wonderful Nature, Wonderful You 9-12 |
Iverson,Diane | Discover the Seasons 3-Up I Celebrate Nature4-8 My Favorite Tree: Terrific Trees of North America |
Jackson, Ellen | Earth Mother (Illustrated by Leo and Diane Dillon) [The circle of life turns in unexpected ways.Earth Mother awakes with the dawn. As she walks the land, swims the seas, and climbs the mountains, nurturing all of creation, she comes across Man, Frog, and Mosquito. They each give her thanks for nature’s bounty, yet can’t help but give her advice about making their lives better. |
Jarrett, Clare | Arabella Miller’s Tiny Caterpillar [When Arabella Miller finds a tiny caterpillar, she brings him home and feeds him lots and lots of leaves. Soon the not-so-tiny caterpillar sheds his skin and disappears inside his chrysalis. Arabella misses her friend, but when he finally emerges, she is filled with wonder at the beautiful creature he has become. Clare Jarrett’s sweet story and vibrant illustrations weave details about a caterpillar’s transformation into this elaboration on the song “Little Arabella Miller.”] Ages 4-6 |
Jauck, Andrea and Larry Points | Assateague Island of the Wild Ponies Ribbons of Sand : Exploring Atlantic Beaches |
Jenike, David and Mark | A Walk through a Rain Forest: Life in the Ituri Forest of Zaire 4-8 |
Jenkins, Martin | APE [With compelling illustrations and a conservationist slant, this look at four rare great apes — and one very familiar one — is a book to go ape over. Gorgeous illustrations.] (Ages 5-9) The Emperor’s Egg with Audio: Read, Listen, & Wonder Series (Ages 5-8) [Fabulous facts about nature’s most devoted dad. Can you imagine spending the winter outdoors in Antarctica without anything at all to eat? That’s just what the male Emperor penguin does. While his mate is off swimming in the ocean and catching loads of fish, he stands around in the freezing cold with an egg on his feet for two whole months, keeping it warm and waiting for it to hatch.] Can We Save the Tiger? (Ages 5-7) [Tigers are pretty special — and so are ground iguanas and partula snails and even white-rumped vultures. But these and many other animals are in danger of disappearing altogether, joining the dodo, the marsupial wolf, the great auk, and countless other animals we will never see again. Using the experiences of a few endangered species as examples, Martin Jenkins highlights the ways human behavior can either threaten or conserve the amazing animals that share our planet.] |
Jenkins, Steve and Robin Page | How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly? (Ages 5-10) [Flies are fast! They can hover, walk upside down, and use their lightning-quick reflexes to escape predators. But rainbow trout, slender lorises, and assassin bugs can catch them. Chimney swifts can, too. How do such diverse creatures manage to capture the same prey? Similar in structure to What Do You Do with a Tail Like This?, this eye-popping picture book introduces readers to a menagerie of animals that approach the same challenges in very different ways.] Time for a Bath (Ages 4-8) [Find out which animals soak, lick, bake, or spray their dirt away. Very well done.] Time to Eat (Ages 4-8) [Which animals eat bamboo, can gulp down a whole deer, or swallow rocks to help them eat?] Also very well done. Just a Second: A Different Way to Look at Time by Steve Jenkins. [This book works on so many levels: Concepts / Counting & Numbers, Animals/ Science and Nature] Ages 5-9 The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins – Ages 5-12 [From the goliath beetle that weighs one fourth of a pound to the nine inch long titan beetle, Jenkins presents a fascinating array of these intriguing insects and the many amazing adaptations they have made to survive. This is an amazing book! Sisters and Brothers: Sibling Relationships in the Animal World [Did you know that anteaters are always only children and nine-banded armadillos are always born as identical quadruplets? Cut-and-torn collages and amazing biology make this a winner.] Dogs and Cats (Jenkins) [Are you a cat lover? A dog person? Read about how your favorite companion came to be a pet and how its body works. Then, flip the book over and find out about the other kind. An amazing book filled with great information, visual facts, and lots of animal history.] |
Johnson, Jinny | Animal Tracks and Signs: Track Over 400 Animals From Big Cats to Backyard Birds (Ages 12 up) [Learn about animals in a whole new way: from the signs they leave behind. What does a row of tracks signify? What can we tell from an accumulation of twigs left behind in the crook of a tree? What are those squiggly marks in the sand? Tracks and footprints; feeding signs; droppings and pellets; animal dens, nests, and hiding places; and other specific signs of animal behavior. |
Johnston, Tony | The Whole Green World [A rhyming story about planting some seeds./lyrical/lovely decorated-paper collages/illustrations] |
Jonas, Ann | Bird Talk |
Kajikawa, Kimiko | Tsunami! – When an elder villager sees a monster wave pulling away from the beach, he knows it’s a Tsunami! But the villagers below can’t see the danger. Will he risk everything he has to save them? Illustrated in stunning collage by Ed Young, this is the unforgettable story of how one man’s simple sacrifice saved hundreds of lives. An extraordinary celebration of both the power of nature and the power each of us holds within. Based on a true story. (Ages 5-8) |
Kaner, Etta | Animals Migrating [How, When, Where and Why Animals Migrate] Ages 7-11 (April 2005) Who Likes the Wind? {Answers questions about wind, sun, rain and snow with simple scientific concepts.] Ages PreK-7 |
Karwoski, Gail Langer | TSUNAMI: The True Story of an April Fools’ Day Disaster [Hawaiin beach, April 1, 1946/historical perspective/cause of this disaster/variety of viewpoints/other significant historic tsunamis] (Ages 9-12) |
Kessler, Cristina | Jubela [based on a real-life experience of an orphaned rhino] |
King-Smith, Dick | All Pigs are Beautiful with Audio: Read, Listen, & Wonder Series (Ages 5-8) [Do you know that a pig can get sunburn? Do you know what pigs use for suncreen? Everything you ever wanted to know about pigs] |
Kneidel, Sally | Classroom Critters and the Scientific Method [Home or Classroom Experiments] Slugs, Bugs and Salamanders: Discovering Animals in Your Garden |
Klutz Editors | Mother Nature Goes Nuts!:Amazing Natural Disasters [Tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and volcanoes each get their own sections, including the global warming trend.] Ages 8 up |
Koch, Maryjo | Pond Lake River Sea All Ages Bird Egg Feather Nest Seed Leaf Flower Fruit |
Kogan Ray, Deborah | The Flower Hunter: William Bartram, America’s First Naturalist Ages 8-11 Dinosaur Mountain: Digging into the Jurassic Age Ages 8 and Up (2010) |
Kooser, Ted | Bag in the Wind (Ages 5 and up) – Follow a plastic bag on its capricious journey from a landfill into a series of townspeople’s lives— a can-collecting girl, a homeless man, a store owner. Includes an author’s note on recycling plastic bags.] |
Kondonassis, Yolanda | Our House Is Round: A Kid’s Book About Why Protecting Our Earth Matters (Ages 5-8) [ gently guides young readers through a smartly narrated conversation illuminating the concept of global connection and environmental cause and effect. This book teaches the “whys” behind earth conservation in a colorful, positive way that encourages maturity, responsibility, and problem-solving discussion. Author Yolanda Kondonassis encourages children to answer questions about their planet and discusses the issues of global warming, recycling, energy conservation, planting trees, and more.] Learn More |
Kraul, Walter | Earth, Water, Fire and Air: Playful Explorations in the 4 Elements – [Guide for Adults of children 6 to 12] |
Kroll, Virginia | With Love, to Earth’s Endangered People 9-12 Mother Love Preschool |
Kudlinski, Kathleen V. | The Sunset Switch (Ages 4-8) [the time of day when daytime animals go to sleep and nighttime animals take over.] |
Landau, Elaine | Tropical Forest Mammals 4-8 |
Lauber, Patricia | Snakes Are Hunters – 5-9 |
Lasky, Kathryn | She’s Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head 4-8 The Most Beautiful Roof in the World: Exploring the Rainforest Canopy 9-12 Pond Year Shadows in the Dawn:The Lemurs of Madagascar John Muir: America’s First Environmentalist [Life story of the man who, moved by a commitment to wilderness everywhere, founded the Sierra Club in 1892, a conservation group that carries on his crucial work to this day. Liberal quotes from John Muir’s own diaries.] Interrupted Journey: Saving Endangered Sea Turtles (Ages 8-11) One Beetle Too Many: The Extraordinary Adventures of Charles Darwin [Describes the life and work of the renowned nineteenth-century biologist who transformed conventional Western thought with his theory of natural evolution.] Highly accessible. (Ages 7-12) Silk and Venom: Searching for a Dangerous Spider (Ages 9 and up) [In search of the elusive Loxosceles — the deadly recluse spider — whose venom may hold in its DNA the answer to many scientific questions. We see firsthand the fearless search (sometimes enlisting the help of local schoolchildren), through outdoor markets, garbage dumps, and the desertlike interior of the Dominican Republic. A lively, informative narrative and intimate photos of everything from careful venom-milking in a lab to multicolored spiders in shimmering webs.] |
Lawton, Caroline | Bugs A to Z (Ages 4 and up) [The perfect book for all kids who are fascinated with bugs. Simple text from A to Z provides buggy facts and figures. Larger than life full-color photographs of creepy crawlies include locusts, caterpillars, beetles, flies, grasshoppers, ants, praying mantis, and more!] |
Lee, Dora | Biomimicry: Inventions Inspired by Nature (Ages 8-12) [Biomimicry examines the extraordinary innovations of the natural world and the human inventions they have inspired. Readers will learn about marvels such as high-performance swimsuits modeled after sharkskin and the sleek front ends of Japanese bullet trains based on the long, streamlined beak of the kingfisher. There’s also plenty about what glimmers on the horizon: A Brazilian beetle may be key to developing computers that run on light, and the gecko’s humble foot may hold the secret to revolutionizing the way surgical wounds are closed. Best of all, nature’s inventions are lean, green machines that are self-sustaining and generate zero waste — yet another cue humans are taking from the natural world. Astounding facts, easy-to-understand prose and luminous illustrations bring the wonders of nature into the science lab.] |
Lerner, Carol | My Indoor Garden My Backyard Garden On the Wings: American Birds in Migration – Ages 8 and up Butterflies in the Garden 7-9 – Lure butterflies to your garden. |
Lessem, Don | Dinosaurs to Dodos: An Encyclopedia of Extinct Animals Inside the Amazing Amazon |
Levinson, Nancy Smiler | Rain Forests (RL2, Ages 6-8) [Thousands of different kinds of animals and plants live in each of the two types of rain forests (tropical and temperate). Fascinating facts teach beginning readers about rain forests from all over the world.] |
Lewin, Betsy | Gorilla Walk Elephant Quest Walk a Green Path |
Lewin, Ted | Gorilla Walk Elephant Quest Tooth and Claw (2003) |
Lewington, Anna | Antonio’s Rain Forest |
Lewis, J. Patrick | Earth & Us Series Ages 5-10 Earth & Us Continuous: Nature’s Past & Future [The Earth is a house, and its roof is the…Sky…Creatures of every species depend upon the careless ribbons of sky that blow the breath of life] [major land formations/ecosystems/global awareness] Earth & You: A Closer View: Nature’s Features [free verse/terrestrial features and habitats/continuity] Earth and Me, Our Family Tree: Nature’s Creatures [poetic conversations between pairs of creatures in each major habitat] |
Llewellyn, Claire | The Best Book of Sharks (Ages 4-8) Ask Dr. K. Fisher About Planet Earth (Ages 5-8) – Dr. K. sympathetically responds on the subject of planet earth—about earthquakes, tides, climate, and all the things the animals observe about their surroundings. With a removable letter to readers, engaging artwork, and plenty of core knowledge, Ask Dr. K. Fisher is a hilarious and innovative approach to learning the Earth’s geography. |
Locker, Thomas | Sky Tree: Seeing Science Through Art 4-8 Water Dance Cloud Dance Mountain Dance Walking With Henry: Based on the Life and Works of Henry David Thoreau |
London, Jonathan | Flamingo Sunset (Ages 5-8) – The life cycle of flamingos. Includes Author’s Notes. |
Lourie, Peter | THE MYSTERY OF THE MAYA: Uncovering the Lost City of Palenque MISSISSIPPI RIVER: A Journey Down the Father of Waters AMAZON: A Young Reader’s Look at the Last Frontier Lost Treasure of the Inca Erie Canal: Canoeing America’s Great Waterway Hudson River: Adventure from the Mountains to the Sea The Lost Treasure of Captain Kidd Rio Grande: From the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of Mexico The Polar Bear Scientiests (2012) |
Loy, Jessica | Follow the Trail: A Young Person’s Guide to the Great Outdoors – Ages 7-11 – [Basic camping activities that include: identifing trees, wildflowers, animal tracks, facts about weather, lay a trail for fellow campers, learn to tie knots, identify constellations, rainy day suggestions, and most importantly instructions for building a campfire. |
Lumry, Amanda | Dolphins In Danger (Adventures of Riley) (Ages 7-10) [true-to-life, authentic descriptions of tracking animals in the wild! There’s lots to absorb and learn in this book] Safari In South Africa (Adventures of Riley) (Ages 7-10) [Mission: to study baby wild animals and predator/prey relationships. Accompanied by local guides, they encounter cheetahs, lions, elephants, wild dogs, baboons, giraffes, and a rare black rhino.] Riddle Of The Reef (Adventures of Riley) [Australia’s Great Barrier Reef] |
Maass, Robert | Garbage |
Malnor, Bruce and Carol | Earth Heroes: Champions of the Wilderness [The Earth Heroes books feature the youth, careers and lasting contributions of some of the world s greatest naturalists and environmentalists. This volume includes eight historic and contemporary greats: Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold instrumental in creating the world s first wilderness preserve; Richard St. Barbe Baker, who spearheaded the first major international reforestation campaign; Mardy Murie who worked to preserving huge wilderness tracts in Alaska; David Suzuki, eminent Canadian scientist and broadcaster; and Wangari Maathai, a Kenyan woman who focused on the social impact of the environment.] (Ages 10-14) Earth Heroes: Champions of Wild Animals [features the youth and careers of eight of the world s greatest environmentalists who championed the protection of wildlife. It includes the historic and contemporary figures of William Hornaday (saved the bison from extinction), Ding Darling (A Duck s Best Friend), Rachel Carson (author of Silent Spring), Roger Tory Peterson (Inventor of the Modern Field Guide), R.D. Lawrence (Storyteller for Wolves), E.O. Wilson (Lord of the Ants), Jane Goodall (Champion for Chimps), and Ian and Saba Douglas-Hamilton (Saving the Elephants. (Ages 10-14) |
Malnor, Carol L. and Trina L. Hunner | Molly’s Organic Farm [Whoosh . . . the wind blows open a creaky gate. Inquisitive and mischievous, a homeless little cat scampers through—and suddenly finds herself in the wondrous world of an organic farm! Affectionately named “Molly” by the farmers who discover her, she romps, naps, and hunts among the vegetables. Seen through Molly’s eyes, the reader discovers the interplay of nature that grows wholesome food. But what will happen to Molly when winter comes? Based on a true story, Molly will touch children’s hearts while introducing them to plants and the key elements of growing food organically. Standards-based science concepts and activities at the end of the book expand the message of the story.] [different visions of modern environmentally conscious farm life] (Ages 4-7) |
Malnor, Carol and Sandy F. Fuller | The BLUES Go Birding Across America (Ages 5-9) – In a synchronistic blend of caricature and realism, five adorable cartoon bluebirds – a band in search of a different song for their upcoming concert – go birdwatching (and bird-listening) across the continent. Along the way they see remarkable (real) birds from the bald eagle in Alaska to mallard ducks in Boston, and discover the joys of birdwatching. The book is chock full of information about the birds, in the form of “field guide” pages, journal entries by the BLUES, and birding tips. The BLUES Go Birding at Wild America’s Shores [five adorable cartoon bluebirds go on another bird watching adventure. This time they follow in the footsteps of the famed Roger Tory Peterson, and see birds on every coastline of America. Filled with both information and fun, the BLUES are a delightful introduction to birdwatching and the major shorebird species.] |
Manning, Mick | YUCK! (Ages: 3-5) [With a funny and rhythmic text perfect for reading aloud, this fun “gross-out” information book for young children is about animal babies — a crow, lizard, osprey, toad, and owl -and the foods they like to eat — a worm tugged out of the ground, a stinky rotten egg, a spider with eight hairy legs, a whole raw fish, a crunchy beetle, and a furry rat. The authors’ colorful artwork and natural history background make this book both lively and educational.] |
Markle, Sandra | Outside and Inside Giant Squid (Ages 9-12) [Explore the eerie world of giant squid, a creature never yet seen alive! Marvelous presentation for budding biologists] Little Lost Bat (Ages 7-9) A tender story of sorrow and hope. A baby Mexican free-tailed bat clings to the ceiling of a crowded noisy cave, waiting for his mother to return from her daily hunting trip. After three days of searching and waiting, he is rescued by a bat that is in a strangely similar circumstance. A surprising story of adoption in the animal kingdom based on current research. Finding Home Ages 7-9 – A remarkable story of survival chronicles the challenges faced by a mother koala: protecting herself and her joey from a raging bushfire, and finding food and a new home after their home range is destroyed. Based on a true story. Back matter includes facts about koalas, an author’s note about Cinders, the real-life koala that survived two bushfires, and resources for learning more about koalas and their habitat. Animals Robert Scott Saw: An Adventure in Antartica (Ages 7-10) – November 1901, Scott made his first trip to Antarctica and spent two years studying the land the wildlife. Animals Christopher Columbus Saw: An Adventure in the New World (Ages 7-10) Insects: Biggest! Littlest! [How does it help one kind of insect to be huge? How does it help another kind to be tiny? Still others have really large or small features. Find the answers to these and many other questions about creeping, crawling insects of all sizes.] Beautiful photographs. (Ages 6-10) Animals Marco Polo Saw: An Adventure on the Silk Road [exotic animals Marco Polo encountered during his explorations in Asia how the animals sometimes affected the outcome of the journey and even helped the explorer survive!] (Ages 7-10) Animals Charles Darwin Saw [features the many distinct creatures Darwin encountered during his worldwide voyage as a ship’s naturalist. Readers will learn how the animals Darwin studied have had a dramatic effect on life today.] (Ages 7-10) Hip-Pocket Papa [An up-close look at the miniature world of the male Australian hip-pocket frog. Papa is no bigger than an adult human’s thumbnail and cares for his children as they grow from tadpoles to young froglets inside the pouches on his legs.](Ages 6-9) |
Martin, Ruth | A Kaleidopops Book: BUGS (Ages 5-8) [incredible pop-ups reveal the shimmering colors of the insect kingdom. Pull back the undergrowth to see dazzling dragonflies darting over the water, beautiful butterflies basking in the sunlight, and a magnificent mantis eyeing its prey. Certainly will intrigue kids] A Kaleidopops Book: OCEANS (Ages 5-8) [incredible pop-ups that reveal the amazing colors that exist beneath the waves. Watch ocean life change colors for hunting, defense, and communication. Discover a gian squid, dodge a box fish and spot an octopus as it shows off to atrract a mate.] |
Marx, Trish | Everglades Forever: Restoring America’s Great Wetland (Ages 8-12) [Every year the students in Mrs. Stone’s fifth grade class at Avocado Elementary School in Homestead, Florida, study the Everglades, culminating with a field trip. They explore two different regions and learn about the unique habitats, plants, and animals of the Everglades as well as the causes of the current-day problems, which began in the 1920s when industrial and residential development began encroaching on the southern part of Florida, polluting and draining the Everglades water and disrupting its natural flow. They also learn about the 30-year, 8 billion dollar Everglades Restoration Project that is underway to restore the natural water flow and clean up the pollution, thus preserving the unique forms of life that depend on Everglades water.] |
Mason, Adrienne | Owls [How owls hunt is just one of fourteen topics in this clearly written look at the two main groups of owls—typical owls and barn owls. You’ll find out where owls live, what they eat, how youg owls learn and more.] [Ages 7-11] |
Matsen, Brad | Go Wild in New York City – Don’t let the title scare you away from this book. This could be almost any city. Back of book includes resources, an index, additional information and websites, a complete map of New York City, and information on the missions of the organizations involved whose mission is to bring attention to the need for sustainable development in urban environments. Kid friendly book with lots of science adventure in the “real” world. |
Markle, Sandra | Slippery, Slimy Baby Frogs (Ages 6-8) – [Baby frogs begin their lives in all kinds of surprising places — in foam nests, in pouches in their father’s legs, and hidden under wet moss. Some must fend for themselves from birth, while others are protected by parents with unique survival tactics. Brilliant color photographs reveal how tadpoles change from smooth, legless swimmers into colorful, air-breathing jumpers.] |
Martin, Ruth | A Kaleidopops Book: Oceans (Ages 5-8) [From giant squids that glow in the dark to the rainbow of hues cast by tropical reefs, budding marine biologists learn how color plays an important role in hunting, attracting mates, and hiding from predators. Sixteen incredible lenticular images literally leap off the pages and shimmer in the light, bringing the ocean to life in truly spectacular fashion. Complementing the pop-up thrills are gorgeous full-color illustrations and fascinating facts about marine life.] |
Marzollo, Jean | I Am A Rock 4-8 I’m A Seed I Am an Apple I Am Water I Am a Caterpillar |
Mc Carthy, Meghan | City Hawk: The Story of Pale Male [a red-tailed hawk is spotted flying over Fifth Avenue (NY), and decides to settle down on the ledge of one of the Big Apple’s swankiest apartment buildings.] Ages 4-8 |
McClements, George | Dinosaur Woods: Can Seven Clever Critters Save Their Forest Home? [Rojo and his pals have a problem: The forest where they live is about to be torn down and replaced with a Plas-Tic Trees factory. Have these crafty critters got what it takes to save their leafy home? Includes instructions for Build Your Own Dinosaur (no power tools necessary!) Environmental issues. Cooperation. Nature Preserve. (Ages 3-6) |
McLimans, David | Gone Wild: An Endangered Animal Alphabet (Caldecott Honor Book 2007) [Feast your eyes on these amazing creatures before they disappear. This stampede of wild animals, from Chinese Alligator to Grevy’s Zebra, are so rare, they’re all endangered. David McLiman’s bold and playful illustrations transform each letter into a work of art, graphically rendered with animal characteristics. Scales, horns, even insect wings transform the alphabet into animated life.] (Ages 6-10) Gone Fishing: Ocean Life by the Numbers [Dive down to the depths of our planet’s oceans and see the stunning variety of creatures that call this watery environment home. These incredible marine animals and their ocean habitats are among our most precious and endangered resources. David McLimans uses fins, flippers, and tentacles to create numerical masterpieces. From the smallest tiger tail sea horse to the giant humpback whale, this aquatic menagerie will captivate readers of all ages as they count up to ten and back down again. McLimans also explores the powers of ten to showcase amazing ocean facts from one to one billion! ] (Ages 6-10) |
McMillan, Beverly and John A. Musick | Sharks (Insiders Series, July 2008) (Ages 8-12) [brings sharks and their relatives to life, with the most up-to-date information and state-of-the-art 3-D illustrations that practically leap off every page.] |
McCully, Emily Arnold | Squirrel and John Muir – Ages 6-8 [historical fiction/Floy “Squirrel” Hutchings and John Muir Yosemite 1868] [See Authors notes about Floy Hutchings] |
Miles, Victoria | Old Mother Bear [Through the seasons and over years, Old Mother Bear’s story unfolds. We watch her dig a winter den, give birth to three cubs, hunt for food, and defend her cubs against another bear. And we witness the cubs growing up, a bear growing old, and the imprint of her life upon the land. Includes substantial factual information on grizzly bears in an afterword.] Ages 6-9 |
Miller, Debbie S. | A Caribou Journey 7-9 [Learn More: Caribou & Reindeer] Survival at 40 Below 7-10 [As temperatures drop and the snow deepens, the animals that make the tundra home must ready themselves for survival. Follow the arctic ground squirrel as it begins the cycle of sleeping, supercooling, and warming that will occur at least a dozen times before spring arrives. See how the wood frog partially freezes itself in hibernation beneath layers of snow, or how the woolly bear caterpillars makes it through the winter months with a special antifreeze substance that prevents ice from forming in their bodies. Author’s note, glossary, map, additional sources.] |
Miller, Edward | The Tooth Book: A Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums [Everything you need to know about keeping your pearly whites. Have a reluctant brusher? This is the book.] |
Miller, Heather | This is Your Life Cycle with special guest Dahlia the dragonfly (Ages 7-9) [In this hilarious and inventive picture book, your host, Bob Beetle, takes special guest Dahlia Dragonfly down memory lane, highlighting the most influential creatures and experiences during her time as a nymph. You’ll meet three mystery guests, who’ll share their personal stories about Dahlia, and along the way you’ll find out about the different stages of a dragonfly’s life, the various predators they face, what they eat, and other amazing facts. Filled with fun and humor, this book is as entertaining as it is informative.] |
Moffett, Mark W. | Face to Face with Frogs (National Geographic. Ages 7-11) You’re two inches away from a poison dart frog. You’re lying on the rainforest floor as she hops toward you, utterly fearless. This deadly terribilis frog has nothing to fear; your fear is that any accidental contact with your skin could mean death! Get the expert view on our amphibian friends, from metamorphosis to diet, from habitat to distinctive features; and learn why we urgently need to foster a healthier planet for these sensitive creatures. |
Mortensen, Lori | In The Trees, Honeybees! [This inside-the-hive view of a wild colony of honeybees offers close-up views of the queen, the cells, even bee eggs. The reader is left with admiration for the remarkable lives of honeybees, whether in the hive or in the field.] (Ages 4-8) |
Moss, Miriam | Jungle Song – Ages 6-8 [A little Tapir is woken by Spider and led deep inside the jungle following the beat of Spider’s song. Monkeys, firebirds, snakes, and insects all add their own rhythms to the music/lively rhyming text/endnote by David Bellamy talks about the importance of tropical rain forests. [Rain Forest: Resources/Lesson Plan/Activities] |
Muir, John | Stickeen: John Muir an the Brave Little Dog Links to the John Muir Exhibit – Sierra Club John Muir Education Project |
Murawski, Darlyne A. | Face to Face with Caterpillars (Ages 9 and Up) [National Geographic] [encourages an active study of this intriguing insect: How to find caterpillars, how to raise a monarch, how to help preserve their habitats, how to photograph the caterpillar, and how to learn more; it’s all in this stunning and fun book.] |
Murphy, Stuart | Earth Day—Hooray! [great school math project/collect and recycle 5,000 aluminum cans/counting by/place value] Level 3, Ages 7 Up |
Murrie, Steve and Matthew | Every Minute On Earth – In the time it could take you to read this, the Earth will be hit by 6,000 lightning strikes; 2,137 pounds of popcorn will be eaten; 10,000 pieces of skin will be lost from your body; 21,000 pizzas will be baked; 954 camera phones will be sold worldwide; the International Space Station will travel 289 miles in its orbit around the Earth; and 750,000 gallons of water will tumble over Niagara Falls. |
Muther, Connie | My Monarch Journal – Student Edition My Monarch Journal – Parent/Teacher Edition [will guide parent/teacher/young scientists in raising Monarchs, witnessing the amazing changes that occur, and then setting them free.] |
National Audubon Society 8-Up |
Amphibians (First Field Guides) Night Sky (First Field Guides) Rocks and Minerals (First Field Guides) Wildflowers (First Field Guides) Birds (First Field Guides) Insects (First Field Guides) Shells (First Field Guides) |
Nicklin, Flip and Linda | Face to Face with Dolphins [Learn the difference between an orca and a bottlenose. Witness a dophin baby nursed with mother’s milk. Discover how these social mammals echolocate and communicate.] Ages 9-12 |
Nirgiotis, Nicholas | Killer Ants [This intriguingly written and intricately ilustrated picture book about the varied appearances, development processes, habitats, social behavior, and hunting behavior of killer ants will make readers shudder deliciously with fear as they marvel at the ants’ extraordinary lives.] (Ages 8-12) |
Nivola, Claire A. | Planting the Trees of Kenya: The Story of Wangari Maathai (Ages 5-8) – With glowing watercolor illustrations and lyrical prose, Claire Nivola tells the remarkable story of one woman’s effort to change the fate of her land by teaching many to care for it. An author’s note provides further information about Wangari Maathai and the Green Belt Movement. In keeping with the theme of the story, the book is printed on recycled paper. {Learn more: Arbor Day Tree Lesson Plans] |
Nguyen, Nam | Kingdom: Savage Safari (Ages 7-10) – Africa is home to some of the animal kingdom’s most ferocious hunters and savages. Whether screeching through the rainforests, prowling the wide savannas, or lurking along rivers, these brutes make short shrift out of all who dare cross their paths. To dominate their realms and evade attackers, some beasts use massive strength and vicious claws while others rely on impressive speed and cunning tricks. What equipment and skills would you need to survive? Kingdom: Micro Monsters (Ages 7-10) – Focus your eyes on the world of micro monsters, a realm teeming with creepy creatures that you never knew existed. From tiny insects feasting on plant matter to the nearly invisible beasts that infiltrate our bodies, there are more small criters living on Earth than all other types of animals combined. What does it take to survive in this strife-ridden realm, where cannibalism is common and enemies are indestructible? |
Nye, Bill | Big Blue Ocean 9-12 |
O’Brian, Patrick | Joseph Banks: A Life [The Life and Works of Sir Joseph Banks, naturalist] |
Olmstead, Adrienne | My Nature Journal: Personal Nature Guide for Young People 9-12 |
O’Meara, Donna | Into the Volcano – Ages 9-12 [Author’s typical day as a volcano researcher/treacherous journey/photos/fascinating facts/glossary] |
Osborne, Will and Mary Pope Osborne | Rain Forests (Magic Tree House Research Guide) 7-9 Afternoon on the Amazon |
Pallotta, Jerry | The Skull Alphabet Book – Ages 9 Up [Skulls of animals from A to Z and science facts] The Beetle Alphabet Book (2004) [T is for Tiger Beetle… U is for Underwater Beetle… V is for Violin Beetle. Interesting facts and vivid descriptions of the most diverse species on earth from A to Z] Ocean Counting: Odd Numbers – Ages: 4-8 [Count from zero to 49 using odd numbers. Along the way, learn about fish and other animals from the Atlantic Ocean.] |
Patent, Dorothy Hinshaw | Animals on the Trail with Lewis and Clark 9 to 12 – animals recorded for the first time during the expedition of Lewis and Clark. The Bald Eagle Returns 9 to 12 – The successful conservation effort to save the Bald Eagle. Garden of the Spirit Bear: Life in the Great Northern Rainforest 7-10 – The Pacific coast of Canada’s garden of the bears is vanishing. Big Cats (Ages 8 up) Facts about all big cats, from where they live to what they hunt to how they are threatened by humans. When the Wolves Returned: Restoring Nature’s Balance in Yellowstone 6-10 – After the U.S. support of the extermination of wolves, by 1926 the wolves were gone from Yellowstone. More than a decade after scientists realized the wolves’ essential role and returned them to Yellowstone, the park’s natural balance is gradually being restored. |
Pedersen, Janet | Houdini the Amazing Caterpillar [Not just a book about the stages of a monarch butterfly’s metamorphosis, but a magical story about discovering the magic inside yourself.] |
Patten, Brian | The Blue & Green Ark: An alphabet for Planet Earth 4-8 |
Pericoli, Matteo | The True Story of Stellina [Pericoli’s all-true story of how he and his wife, Holly, came to rescue and raise a little finch, Stellina, in the middle of New York City.] |
Perry, Phyllis | Sea Stars & Dragons The Fiddlehoppers The Snow Cats The Crocodilians: Reminders Of The Days Of Dinosaurs Armor To Venom Hide And Seek Bats: The Amazing Upside-Downers Freshwater Giants |
Peters, Lisa Westberg | Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story [includes illustrated timeline and glossary] |
Petersson, Cris | Clarabelle [Everyone knows that cows produce milk, which is great for drinking and also is made into cheese, butter, ice cream, and yogurt. But also electricity, fertilizer, and compost for animal stalls? Yes, cows produce these too! A cow is in fact an amazing organism that transforms foods such as hay, corn, and soybean meal into all sorts of other useful products.] Ages 6 and up. |
Pfeffer, Wendy | A Log’s Life – Ages 4-8 [Oak tree falls in the forest. Decaying log provides food and shelter for …] 2000 Giverny Award Winner Dolphin Talk: Whistles, Clicks, and Clapping Jaws – Ages 5-9 [Describes how dolphins communicate with each other in squeaks, whistles, and pops.] Wiggling Worms at Work – Ages 5-9 [How worms help us as they wiggle their way underground] |
Pimm, Nancy Roe | The Heart of the Beast: Eight Great Gorilla Stories [enter th elives of eight famour gorillas with true-life stories that will take you to the heart of these often misunderstood and fascinating creatures.] (Ages 8-11) |
Pirotta, Saviour | Turtle Bay [based on true story/protected beach in Japan/Sea Turtles/ |
Platt, Richard | The Vanishing Rainforest – Ages 6-10 [Why is the Brazilian rainforest vanishing so fast? And why is it essential not only to the people and animals within it but to the whole world?] |
Pomeroy, Diana | One Potato: A Counting Book of Potato Prints Wildflower ABC: An Alphabet of Potato Prints |
Post, Hans | Creepy Crawlies [a young cat explores nature with fascinating details on the many creatures the cat encounters indoors and out.] |
Prap, Lila (Lilijana Praprotnik) | Why? [Why do some monkeys have tails? Why do camels have humps? Sound familiar? Distinctive and captivating art combines with silly questions, and some very, very silly answers (along with the serious ones), to make this the perfect book for your sometimes-ridiculous, ever-curious, loveable, maddening, why-afflicted zoologist.] Ages 3-6 |
Pratt-Serafini, Kristin Joy | A Swim Through the Sea 4-12 A Walk in the Rainforest 9-12 & 6-9 Board Book A Fly in the Sky 3-Up Salamander Rain: A Lake and Pond Journal – Any Age The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure |
Pringle, Laurence | A Dragon in the Sky: The Story of a Green Darner Dragonfly (Ages 8-11) An Extraordinary Life: The Story of a Monarch Butterfly (Ages 8-11) Alligators and Crocodiles!: Strange and Wonderful (Ages 7-10) [Do you know the differences?] Frogs! Strange and Wonderful (Ages 7-9) |
Prosek, James | Bird, Butterfly, Eel (Ages 5-8) [Change is all around us. From the first buds of springtime to the first autumn frost, nature shows us that change is all around us and that the world has its own way of beginning anew. Bird, Butterfly, and Eel spend their summers on the same coastal farm, but in the fall they go to very distant and different places. Their journeys to the far reaches of land and sea make them remarkable creatures.] |
Quackenbush, Robert M. | Here a Plant, There a Plant, Everywhere a Plant, Plant: A Story of Luther Burbank [Teacher Guide] |
Quattlebaum, Mary | Jo MacDonald Had a Garden [Sing along with young Jo MacDonald as she grows healthy food for people and wild creatures. E-I-E-I-O! Find out how butterflies, bumblebees, and birds help a garden to thrive – and how you can help them too. And keep an eye on one mysterious plant. What will it become? Youngsters learn about garden ecosystems and stewardship through this playful adaptation of Old MacDonald Had a Farm.] (Ages 3-7) |
Rammell, S. Kelly | City Beats: A Hip-hoppy Pigeon Poem (Ages 5-7) From a pigeon’s-eye view, a city is a marvelous place, full of adventure and surprise! See and feel a pulsing city from the unique perspective of a pigeon! In the process, the reader gains a new appreciation for this special bird that has chosen to live in urban canyons all over the world. |
Ray, Mary Lny | Welcome, Brown Bird (Ages 4-7) [wood thrush migration between New England and Central America] |
Reed-Jones, Carol | The Tree in the Ancient Forest 4-8 |
Reynolds, Cynthia Furlong | The Far-Flung Adventures of Homer the Hummer – Ages 5 Up. Sometimes the smallest creatures have the biggest and most extraordinary adventures. Homer, a ruby-throated hummingbird no bigger than your index finger, journeys from the lush, tropical rain forests of Costa Rica to an artist’s garden in Michigan. His journey and his life are full of danger, distance, and delightful friendships. Renowned wildlife artist Catherine McClung and award-winning writer Cynthia Reynolds bring Homer’s journey to life. Why would a tiny fellow like Homer risk such a long and perilous flight? What adventures await him on his journey and what brings him home to the same spot each summer? Take flight with Homer and find out! |
Reynolds, Peter H. | Charlie and Kiwi: An Evolutionary Adventure [Presented by Peter Reynolds and FableVision and supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, this is an easy to understand scientific adventure. Charlie and Kiwi (with help from great, great, great, great, great Grandpa Charles Darwin) take you on a journey through time and through a huge scientific principle. The story of evolution—and that strange little Kiwi bird—reminds us that sometimes what seems like a raw deal (a bird that can’t fly) turns out to be just perfect!] (Ages 4-8) |
Ride, Sally and Tam O’Shaughnessy | Mission: Planet Earth [A compelling introduction to the changes taking place in Earth’s climate. Describes how water, air, and other climate systems shape our world, and how a disruption in one part of the system can spread through the entire planet.] (Ages 11-14) Mission : Save the Planet: 10 Steps Any Kid Can Take to Help Save the Planet [“Switch. Conserve. Make some noise.” A how-to companion packed with simple things kids can do to have an impact. From simple measures like turning off the water while you brush your teeth, to bigger challenges like MAKING SOME NOISE in the larger community, this simple guide helps lay a conceptual foundation for kids to become responsible energy consumers in the years to come.] (Ages 9-11) |
Rinehart, Susie Caldwell | Eliza and the Dragonfly [transformation from nymph to a dragonfly/metaphor for life/wetland habitat/observation skills/Includes lifecycle of dragonflies and a resource section] Ages 5-10 |
Rice, David | Lifetimes (4-8) [“No Matter how short,/no matter how long,/No matter how big,/how smart or how strong,/All Life has a place,/a purpose and worth,/All life is important/on our planet earth.” Signed, The plants and animals of Lifetimes |
Richardson, Justin | And Tango Makes Three (Ages 4-8) [true story of two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo that decided that they were a couple and nurtured an egg.] |
Riedman, Marianne Ph.D. | The Adventures of Phokey The Sea Otter Based on a True Story |
Rockwell, Anne | Bugs are Insects – Ages 3-6 [simple concepts] Honey in a Hive – Ages 5-9 [Buzzing from flower to flower, honeybees are busy gathering nectar and pollen. The nectar will be made into honey, and the pollen will feed their queen bee and her offspring back in the hive. Like people, bees form societies with leaders — the queen — and workers, and like people, their survival depends on every bee doing its part] Wiggling Worms at Work – Ages 5-8 [Deep underground and on the surface, worms are hard at work! Worms work like little plows, burrowing through soil by swallowing it. As they make their way through the dirt, worms loosen the soil so roots can spread and grow. Worms eat the bits of leaves and plants mixed with the dirt and leave behind castings that feed the plants.] |
Rohmer, Harriet | Heroes of the Environment: True Stories of People Who Are Helping to Protect Our Planet (Ages 7-13) – This inspiring book presents the true stories of 12 people from across North America who have done great things for the environment. Heroes include a teenage girl who figured out how to remove an industrial pollutant from the Ohio River, a Mexican superstar wrestler who works to protect turtles and whales, and a teenage boy from Rhode Island who helped his community and his state develop effective e-waste recycling programs. Plenty of photographs and illustrations bring each compelling story vividly to life. |
Rose, Deborah Lee | Ocean Babies [beautifully illustrated/excellent for PreK- Age 6 introduction to ocean life/detailed endnotes and web links] |
Rosing, Norbert | Face to Face with Polar Bears [The ferocious, snarling beast closing in on you fast has a toothache. In the white wastelands of the Arctic, there is nowhere to hide. Where is that helicopter? Despite surviving this nightmare, award-winning photographer Norbert Rosing loves the charming, playful side of the polar bear. Yes, they slashed his tires, but mankind is now ruining their climate and environment. Surely the bears’ anger is understandable. Rosing’s book connects children with the consequences of global warming, and gives practical advice on how to help save our white-furred friends. Ages 9-12 |
Roth, Susan L. | Great Big Guinea Pigs – Ages 5 Up – About 8 million years ago, guinea pigs weren’t sweet, cute, or little. During a bedtime story, one little guinea pig learns all about his very big ancestors, and how guinea pigs evolved into the lovable pets we have today. Fun and factual picture book brings to life the story of the great, big, prehistoric guinea pig. |
Rusch, Elizabeth | Will It Blow?: Become a Volcano Detective at Mount St. Helens (Ages 7 and up) [Mount St. Helens is a master of disguises, adept at sending out false clues. Can anyone figure out what’s going on with this active volcano in Washington State? This illustrated book presents a wealth of easily digested information – covering underground gases, earthquakes, infrared measurements, bumps on earth’s surface, and other factors – to help the budding Sherlock Holmes crack the case. With sidebars about the latest gadgets and gizmos, youngsters learn about volcanology while having fun.] |
Ryan, Emma | Animal Disguises (Level 2) {Did you know animals play hide-and-seek? Learn how animals from isects to lions use their natural disguises to hide in plain sight!] |
Ryan-Herndon, Lisa | Wild Amazon (RL3/Grades 2/3-longer sentences/some assistance needed) [Climb with monkeys. Swim with dolphins. Take a ride through the incredible Amazon!] |
Sartore, Joel | Face to Face with Grizzlies (Ages 9 and Up) [National Geographic] [Through stunning photography and engaging storytelling, this National Geographic expert takes you into the bears’ world. Witness a mother bear charge a human intruder. Watch male bears battle. Find out the grizzly’s idea of a fast-food take-out.] |
Sayre, April Pulley | Army Ant Parade – Ages 6-8 [Panamanian rain forest] The Bumblebee Queen – Ages 6-8 [life cycle of the bumblebee, an important native pollinator of North America/follow one queen as she finds a nest, gathers nectar, lays eggs, and tends her colony through spring, summer, and fall.] Stars Beneath Your Bed: The Surprising Story of Dust [fascinating introduction to dust, how it travels, whose is it? And how long has it been around?] Trout Are Made of Trees [How can a leaf become a fish? Join two young children and their dads to find out, as they observe life in and around a stream. Energetic collage art and simple, lyrical text depict the ways plants and animals are connected in the food web. Back matter provides information about the trout life cycle as well as conservation efforts that kids can do themselves.] Ages 5-8 Trout Are Made of Trees Ages 5-7 [An interesting introduction to the food web.] Turtle, Turtle, Watch Out! Ages 6-8 [From before the time she hatches until she returns to the same beach to lay eggs of her own, a sea turtle is helped to escape from danger many times by different human hands.] |
Schaefer, Lola M. | This is the Rain – PreK Up Arrowhawk (Ages 6-9) [courageous story of Arrowhawk, an endangered bird of prey that survives 8 weeks after a poacher’s arrow pierces his body.] An Island Grows – PreK Up [the story of the birth of an island, from the first red-hot glow of magma at the bottom of the ocean, to the flowing lava that hardens and builds up higher and higher until, finally, it breaks through the water’s surface. And then, life comes to the island. First come the small plants and animals, and later, people.] Just One Bite [Life-sized introduction to what animals eat, how they eat it, and how much they eat in a single bite is full of compelling facts and images. From the tiny sand-grain-sized bite of earth that the earthworm takes to the double-gatefold spread of a sperm whale sucking a whole giant squid down in just one bite, this book and the eleven animals in it are EXACTLY as large as life!] (Ages PreS-Age 6) |
Schimmel, Schim | The Family of Earth – All Ages Children of the Earth…Remember 4-8 Dear Children of the Earth : A Letter from Home The Butterfly’s Treasure |
Schuch, Steve | A Symphony of Whales – Ages 6-9 [Based on the actual events of the 1984/85 freeing of nearly 3,000 whales trapped in the Straits of Siberia.] |
Schulman, Janet | Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City – The birdwatchers of Central Park were buzzing–a young red-tailed hawk had been spotted, would he stay? The bird they dubbed Pale Male not only stayed, he became one of New York City’s most famous residents. Pale Male and his mate built their nest near the top of one of Fifth Avenue’s swankiest apartment buildings. Nine years and 23 chicks later, Pale Male’s fame had grown so large that a CBS newsman named him Father of the Year! But Pale Male was less beloved by the residents of the building, and in 2004 the owners suddenly removed the nest–setting off an international outcry on behalf of the birds. Ages 6-12 |
Schur, Maxine Rose | There’s a Babirusa in my Bathtub: Fact and Fancy about Curious Creatures [Humorous rhymes and magical illustrations illuminate the lives and careers of little-known animals. There’s a loris in your chorus? He’s quite a singer! Care to play bingo with a dingo? Watch out, he’s a sharp one. A babirusa in your bathtub? Better leave him there – he loves water! ] (Ages 7-10) |
Schwartz, David, and Yael Schy | Where Else in the Wild? (Ages 4-8) [Each of the camouflaged creatures on these pages, from chickadees to crayfish, is disguised for a reason. Some are on the prowl for prey, while others hide from hungry predators. Discover why geckos have a spooky reputation; why it pays for a mouse to have a dark-colored back and light-colored belly; and why you wouldn’t want to be fooled by a scorpion fish. Great fun for kids.] |
Seidensticker, John and Susan Lumpkin | Predators (Ages 9-13) INsiders brings predators to life, with the most up-to-date information and state-of-the-art 3-D illustrations that practically leap off every page, stimulating minds and imaginations in a whole new way. How does a scorpion sense its next meal? Why does an adaptable diet threaten the bear? How many animal groups can feast on one kill in the plains? Visually stimulating and compelling. |
Serafini, Frank [Learning Resources] |
Looking Closely around the Pond [Look closely. Look very closely. Is it … a leaf? A net? Just turn the page and, lo and behold, it’s a dragonfly’s wing. Children will learn about dragonflies and many other creatures in this interactive book that encourages imagination and instills a respect for the natural environment.] Ages 4-7 Looking Closely in the Rain Forest [Look very closely. Is it … chestnuts? Sea coral? Just turn the page and, lo and behold, it’s a zebra tarantula. Children will learn about a variety of animals and plants in this interactive book that encourages imagination and instills a respect for the natural environment.] Ages 4-7 |
Seuss, Dr. | The Lorax |
Shaw McKinney, Barbara | A Drop Around the World 4-8 Teacher Guide |
Sidman, Joyce | Swirl by Swirl: Spirals in Nature (Ages 5-8) [A Celebration of the beauty and value of spirals.What makes the tiny snail shell so beautiful? Why does that shape occur in nature over and over again—in rushing rivers, in a flower bud, even inside your ear? Krommes and Sidman not only reveal the many spirals in nature—from fiddleheads to elephant tusks, from crashing waves to spiraling galaxies—but also celebrate the beauty and usefulness of this fascinating shape.] |
Sill, Cathryn | About Mollusks (Ages 3-7) [reflects diversity of mollusk population from 16ft. Giant Pacific Octopus to an 8 in. Banana Slug/natural habitats/afterword provides details on mollusks features.] About Marsupials (Ages 3-8) [Easy-to-understand language to each what marsupials are, how they look, how they move, what they eat, and where they live.] About Arachnids (Ages 5-8) [basic introduction to eight-legged creatures.] About Rodents [what rodents are, how they look, how they move, what they eat, and where they live. Introduces readers to a variety of rodents, from the tiny Eurasian Harvest Mouse to the hefty Capybara of South America. An afterword provides details on the animals featured. (Ages 5-8) About Habitats: Oceans [a first glimpse into ocean habitats. In simple, easy-to-understand language, this guide teaches children what oceans are and what kinds of animals and plants live there. A glossary and afterword provide readers with further fascinating details.] (Ages 5-8) |
Simon, Seymour | Gorillas [How gorillas find good, communicate and play] [Lesson Plan: Animal Communication] SPIDERS – Ages 6-10 [introduction to the physical characteristics, behavior, and life cycle of different kinds of spiders/awesome photographs] Penguins [explore a penguin’s world by finding out how they can swim so fast, what they eat, and why people need to protect their habitats.] |
Singer, Marilyn | Venom [Nature has given creatures many different ways to protect themselves and to capture prey so they can stay alive. Poisonous and venomous animals have some very effective methods: biting, stinging, spraying, or just oozing the toxic stuff. And these toxic critters can be found almost anywhere: in the oceans, in the woods, in the desert, in the rainforests, in the grass, and even in your house!] ( Ages 10-14) What Stinks? [Uncovers the secrets of smelliness. What makes us hold our noses in disgust? Why do dogs like poop? How does nature use smell to attract and repel? Kid-friendly, but with a strong science emphasis.] (Ages 9-11) EGGS [Explains the varieties, functions, and characteristics of the eggs of a multitude of creatures, including insects, birds, and reptiles.] Gorgeous book. Caterpillars – Explore the dazzling diversity of the world’s caterpillars illustrated in hundreds of four-color photos. The charm of these larval forms of moths and butterflies is captured in verse and easy-to-follow narrative text. Discover caterpillars with bright colors and fake faces. See why their amazing patterns help caterpillars blend in with surroundings. Marvel at species that travel great distances in herds in search of food, and others that live alone. Learn why caterpillars are hungrier than teenagers, storing food energy for their transformation into butterflies and moths during metamorphosis, and why some birds and insects view caterpillars as the tastiest of treats. Includes glossary, index, and interactive quizzes. |
Sirch, Willow Ann | Eco-Women: Protectors of the Earth Ages 9-12 Careers With Animals Ages 9 and Up |
Siy, Alexandraand Dennis Kunkel | Mosquito Bite [As children play hide-and-seek on a hot summer night, a mosquito, Culex, hides and seeks as well. She must find food–blood–to nourish the eggs in her body. black-and-white photos relate the children’s hide-and-seek story line, while astonishing colorized photographs taken with an electron microscope give close-up views of Culex and her world.] Awesome book! |
Sklansky, Amy E. | Where Do Chicks Come From? Ages 4-8 [Get your incubators ready. This is a marvelous introduction to chicken/egg. Clear, accurate, simple text/fertilization to dry, fluffy baby chick/21 day incubation/suggested activities/full color drawings.] |
Slavin, Bill | Transformed: How Everyday Things Are Made [Discover how nature is transformed into more than sixty things we eat, drink, play with, wear or use every day. Includes a glossary, index and further resources to help children, parents and teachers.] (Ages 8-12) |
Smith, Marie and Roland | Z Is For Zookeeper: A Zoo Alphabet (Ages: 4-10) [fact-and fun-filled journey through cages, nurseries and zoo grounds/simple text for younger children; advance text and descriptions for older children] |
Sobol, Richard | The Life of Rice: From Seedling to Supper (Ages 7-10)[Follow a photographer to Thailand as he documents the life of rice—from planting ceremony to eating. This is a firsthand account of one of the world’s most valuable and important crops. |
Sourd, Christine | The Orangutan: Forest Acrobat Ages 5-9 [excellent photographs] |
Spinelli, Eileen | Songs for the Whooping Crane Ages 4-8 [endangered species/migration] Polar Bear, Arctic Hare [collection of curious facts about each creature in a beautiful collection of poetry and pictures.] Rise the Moon [Enchanting scenes of a moonlit night grace the pages of this ode to moon’s spell and splendor…. a tomcat yowling atop a fence, newly hatched turtles scuttling out to sea, a dancer performing a rooftop recital, and a young mother rocking her baby while bathed in moonlight.] |
Stevens, Don and Donny Young | The Adventures of Bruce Trail Enviro P.I.: “It Just Takes a Hand to Put the Trash in the Can” [The 3 Rs-Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Become a Friend of Bruce] |
Stewart, Melissa | Under the Snow (Ages 4-8) – A cozy look at the ways animals behave on a snowy day and a beautiful portrait of the quiet life beneath our feet. Voles burrowing through the snow, carp swimming lazily beneath the ice, and the turles hiding in the mud are some examples of the animals that come to life in this book. A Place for Butterflies (Ages 6-10) – This fact-filled, colorful look at the amazing world of butterflies includes a call to action to protect these beautiful insects. Earthquakes and Volcanoes FYI (Ages 8-12) – Where do earthquakes happen? What was the biggest volcanic eruption? What causes these natural disasters? Can scientists predict when they’ll occur? A Place for Frogs (Ages 6-10) – Shows how human activities can hurt or help frogs and other creatures that share our world. A Place for Fish [introduces young readers to ways human action or inaction can affect fish populations and opens kids minds to a wide range of environmental issues. Describing various examples from Florida s spotted trunkfish to the Atlantic salmon the text provides an intriguing look at fish, at the ecosystems that support their survival, and at the efforts of some people to save them. At the end of the book, the author offers readers a list of things they can do to help protect these special creatures in their own communities.] Ages 5-7 A Place for BATS [introduces young readers to ways human action or inaction can affect bat populations and opens kids minds to a wide range of environmental issues. Describing various examples, the text provides an intriguing look at bats, at the ecosystems that support their survival, and at the efforts of some people to save them. At the end of the book, the author offers readers a list of things they can do to help protect these special creatures in their own communities.] (Ages 6-9) |
Stillinger, Doug | The Solor Car Book (2010) – Ages 8+ – complete kit for making a cook solar race car. Everything is included: wheels, axles, pulley, motors, wires and a genuine one-volt solar cell. Build the car today and it will last forever thanks to that big battery in the sky. Go green! |
Strauss, Rochelle | Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth [A family tree for all living things. If every known species on Earth were a leaf on a tree, the tree would have 1,750,000 leaves. Humans count for just one. Learn about the wonderful—and sometimes fragile—forms of life on its five branches.] [Ages 9 Up] ONE WELL: The Story of Water on Earth – presents the concept that all water on earth is interconnected and finite–in billions of years, the amount of water on our “blue planet” hasn’t changed. Examines: water cycle, relationship of plants and animals to wwater, the nature of watery habitats, and effects of human use. |
Swinburne, Stephen R. | Safe, Warm, and Snug – Ages 3-7 [poetry] [camouflage,adaptation,difference] Wings of Light: The Migration of the Yellow Butterfly (Ages 7-9) Ocean Soup: A Book of Tide Pool Poems – Ages 7-9 – Playful poems introduce readers to ten salty tide-pool creatures–from a self-satisfied anemone that brags about its home to barnacles that perform a rap about their feeding technique. |
Tatham, Betty | Penguin Chick – Age 5-9 |
Taylor, Geraldine | What Are Clouds Made Of? And Other Questions About The World Around Us (PreK) [“What do trees eat?” “Why is the sky blue?” “What do the birds say when they sing?” The first step in caring about the world around us is to understand what makes it so special. To find out the answers: flaps, tabs, and wheels reveal the answers in a way sure to engage children. |
Taylor, Taylor | The Frog House [a frog makes his home in an apple-shaped tree house and birds and animals try to move in. Based on true story.] |
Thimmesh, Catherine | Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships [What makes a camel friends with a Vietnamese pig? Or a wild polar bear pals with a sled dog? In this young preschool book, Catherine Thimmesh makes us wonder at the truth and mystery of unlikely animal friendships. Because the stories behind these friendships are true, not contrived, captured by photographers in many countries ranging from Siberia to Japan, they not only give readers insight into animals but challenge preconceived notions about compatibility. This book also expresses tolerance of differences and makes us look at the kindness of animals—and humans—a little differently.] (Ages 6-9) |
Thomas, Peggy | For the Birds: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson [Roger Tory Peterson revolutionized the way we look at and appreciate birds, animals, and plants. Some kids called him “Professor Nuts Peterson” because of his dedication to his craft; yet he went on to create the immensely popular Peterson Guides, which have sold more than seven million copies, and which birders everywhere appreciate for their simple text and exquisite illustrations.] Ages 8 and up. |
Thornhill, Jan | This Is My Planet: The Kids’ Guide to Global Warming [What can I do? Jan Thornhill gives young readers the tools they need to live their own lives more ecologically — and ultimately, to improve the life of the planet.] Ages 6 and up. |
Tokuda, Yukihisa | I’m a Pill Bug – Age 3-7 [It’s rare to find a book about pill bugs for kids. This is a real treat.] |
Toft, Kim Michelle | One Less Fish The World That We Want |
Tomecek, Steve | MOON A moonstruck cat and his firefly pal give the reader the real scoop about the moon—huge craters, moon dust, rocks, footprints and great views. Make your own craters from instructions on the experiment page. Visually inviting. A great way to learn science. Ages: 4-8 |
Tait, Noel | Insects & Spiders (Insider Series, July 2008) (Ages 8-12) [most up-tp-date and state-of-the art 3D illustractions that literally leap off the page. Wow.] |
Turner, Pamela S. | The Frog Scientist (Ages 10-13) Discover how one boy’s interest in backyard science inspired a career in scientific discovery. Tyrone Hayes didn’t worry about pesticides. He just liked to collect frogs, and later found his calling in an amphibian research lab. While scientists around the globe discovered frogs were dying of habitat loss and disease, Tyrone learned the most commonly used pesticide in the United States, atrazine, might also play a role. When he tested it in his Berkeley lab, it caused some of the males to mutate into half-male, half-female frogs. He wanted to know what was happening and why, so he traveled America to do the research and find out. |
Van Zandt, Steve | River Song: With the Banana Slug String Band (picture book and CD) Ages 4-8 [from the trickle of snowmelt to the burble of a full-flowing stream, here the famed children’s musical ensemble, the Banana Slug String Band, celebrates rivers as a fascinating, ever-changing source of life and joy.] |
Vern, Alex | Where Do Frogs Come From? (Green Light Readers Level 2) Ages 6-8 |
Voake, Charlotte | Insect Detective [Right now, all around us, thousands of insects are doing strange and wonderful things: wasps are building nests, ants are collecting food, and dragonflies are readying for the hunt. But it’s not always easy to catch sight of these six-legged creatures: you have to know where to look. Guided by this book, readers will happily become insect detectives and find out just what those bugs are up to.] Ages 5-8 |
Vogel, Carole G. | Nature’s Fury: Eyewitness Reports of Natural Disasters Ages 9 Up |
Wadsworth, Ginger | Up, Up, and Away [One spider’s search for a home of her own. Remember how at the end of Charlotte’s Web, all of Charlotte’s babies said goodbye to Wilbur and blew away in the breeze? Did you ever wonder what happened to all those spider babies? Now you can find out. Follow Spider as she spills out from an egg sac on a warm spring day and begins her struggle to survive. She must escape the dangers of predators—including her own siblings!] Ages 4-7 |
Wallace, Karen | Gentle Giant Octopus with Audio: Read, Listen, & Wonder Series (Ages 5-8) [Follow a goggle-eyed octopus as she jets through the shadows, long tentacles flying like ribbons behind her. In rhythmic, silky verse that perfectly matches this creature’s graceful movements, Wallace explores the mysterious underwater world of the octopus.] |
Wallace, Nancy Elizabth | Fly! Monarch, Fly! (Ages 4-8) [Join a family as they meet Bert the Butterfly Man, hunt for monarch butterfly eggs and caterpillars, and see the amazing change from pupa to adult monarch butterfly. Includes: advice for planting a butterfly garden, instructions for making a monarch magnet, and to learn more about monarchs.] They learn all about monarchs and milkweed, metamorphosis, and monarch migration. |
Walsh, Ellen Stoll | Dot & Jabber and the Great Acorn Mystery Ages 3-7 Dot and Jabber and the Mystery of the Missing Stream Dot & Jabber and the Big Bug Mystery |
Walsh, Melanie | 10 Things I Can Do to Help My World: Fun and Easy Eco-Tips (Ages 3-7) [Do you remember to turn off the tap while you brush your teeth? How about using both sides of the paper when writing and drawing? Or planting seeds and nurturing the new plants as they grow? Bold, child-friendly illustrations and die-cut pages will draw even the youngest listeners to this gentle reminder of the easy, everyday ways we can be kinder to the earth.] |
Waring, Geoff | START WITH SCIENCE BOOKS – Ages 4 and Up Just enough fun and facts to get them started. “Thinking about…” section in back of book. Fun illustrations, too. Oscar and the Moth: A Book About Light and Dark Oscar and the Frog: A Book About Growing Oscar and the Cricket: A Book About Moving and Rolling Oscar and the Bat: A Book About Sound |
Webb, Sophie | Far from Shore: Chronicles of an Open Ocean Voyage (Ages 9-12)[In extremely deep waters (two miles deep), the vast sea appears empty. But as naturalist and artist Sophie Webb shows us, it is full of fascinating—yet difficult to study—life. Together with her shipmates, Sophie counts and collects samples of life in the deep ocean, from seabirds to dolphins, from winged fish to whales. Only their long-term field work can really help scientists determine the health of these remarkable creatures who need the clean deep ocean to survive.] Should be in every school library. |
Winchester, Simon | The Day the World Exploded: The Earthshaking Catastrophe at Krakatoa (Ages 11 up) [ Eruptions. Explosions. Shock waves. Tsunamis. The almighty explosion that destroyed the volcano island of Krakatoa was followed by an immense tsunami that killed more than thirty thousand people. The effects of the waves were felt as far away as France, and bodies were washed up in Zanzibar. The colossal explosion is brought to vivid life from the ominous warnings leading up to the eruption to the wave of killings it provoked. |
Winer, Yvonne | Birds Build Nests [Nest Identification Guide in back] [poetry] Frogs Sing Songs [Frog Identification Guide in back] [poetry] “Frogs sing their songs,/ But polluted dark streams/ Threaten their future/ And our wilderness dreams./ That’s why frogs sing songs” |
Wines, Jacquie | You Can Save The Planet: 50 Ways You Can Make A Differnece (All Ages) [This book is a call to action for children everywhere. The effects of pollution, global warming, and the destruction of our planet have never been so visible or measurable. The book introduces and explains massive global problems that need to be addressed now.] |
Wolf, Sallie | Robin Makes a Laughing Sound: A Birder’s Journal (Ages 8-12) – Poetry, sketches, and watercolors capture bird identification, behavior, and appearance throughout the four seasons. At first glance this is a book about bird identification and behavior. But look more carefully: journaling helps us observe, think, evaluate, record, and create. |
Wood, Lily | BATS [A basic introduction to bats: where they live, what they eat, how they find prey by using echolocation, how they are different from birds, when they hibernate, when they migrate, how they help people, and how people can help them.] Level 1 reader. Skeletons (Level 2) [There are over 200 bones in your body, and you need every one of them! Learn all about your skeleton in this book full of facts and photos.] |
Zoehfeld, Kathleen Weidner | From Tadpole To Frog (RL1) [full of facts and photos] |
Zolotow,Charlotte | When The Wind Stops 4-8 The Storm Book |