Marianne D. Wallace - Grades 3 through 5

"In the first section of this introduction to the animals and plants of North American deserts, four-page chapters discuss the major desert habitats, Sonoran, Mojave, Chihuahuan, and Great Basin, as well as two unique regions within those areas, Death Valley and the Colorado Desert. Each chapter features a description of the particular desert biome, a map showing its location, and a double-page spread illustrating the variety of wildlife there. The second section focuses on plants and animals common to North American deserts. Ink drawings appear throughout the book, some with one-color and others with full-color washes. This sturdy paperback is well designed for browsing and equally useful for school units." Carolyn Phelan

Marianne D. Wallace - Grades 3 through 5

Prickly Pear, needlegrass, deer mouse, roadrunner. Where can you find these fascinating plants and animals? In the vast ecosystem of North America's prairies and grasslands! In this guide you will learn about these huge, open areas and unique habitats. Find out how plants survive after wild prairie fires. Learn where to find water sources and when best to view the animals in these habitats. Identify the many different plants and animals in colorful illustrations. Each prairie or grassland region-Tallgrass Prairie, Mixed Grass Prairie, Shortgrass Prairie, Palouse Prairie, California Valley Grassland, and Semi desert Grassland-features full-color illustrations which helps you identify plants and animals. The "hard to find" sections point out unusual finds such as pocket gophers, vernal pools, and the living rock cactus. Maps, a list of common scientific names, and additional resources make America's Prairies and Grasslands a complete guide to North America's prairie habitats.

Patricia Corrigan

Learning about beavers -- the architects in nature -- is fun. Did you know that those big teeth beavers have are orange? It's true. And did you know that some beaver dams are as long as two football fields and twice as tall as a man? Beavers are wonderful builders, and they are perfectly suited to their environment. "Beavers For Kids" is full of fun facts that you'll learn along with Antonio, the 11-year-old narrator of the book

Diane L. Burns - Grades 4 through 7

For use with an adult. The reader will find this attractive book useful for reports or, as the Take Along Guide series title implies, as a nature guide. Each page is devoted to one plant and its fruit. After a brief introduction to berries, nuts, and seeds as the fruit of a plant, Burns looks at specific fruit, one to a page, including raspberries, acorns, pecans, juniper berries, cattails, and thistle blossoms. The format is crisp, and the writing clear; each page features lovely watercolor pictures of the fruit and the plant or tree it comes from and information about what it looks like, where to find it, and who eats it. Interesting activities such as planting a seed garden and making berry watercolors round out a very nice treatment.

Kathy Feeney

There are 8 species of bears in the world. This book focuses on the American black bear, which lives only in North America. Readers will find the answers to many fascinating and fun questions about black bears: Do they swim? How do they get rid of fleas? When are cubs born? How many toes does a bear have? And many more. Author Kathy Feeney explains many mysteries of the bear in the text and "Fun Facts." The full-color illustrations and photographs are excellent. The index makes an easy reference. Readers of all ages can also learn more about bears by referencing the list of internet sites provided. Our Wild World Series: This brand new children's series includes volumes on animal species from around the world. In a fun way, each book brings to life the natural history and life cycle information kids love to read about-like where the animal lives, what it eats, when it sleeps, how it raises its young, and much more. The up-close photographs and detailed illustrations show the animals in their natural habitats. Also included are "Fun Facts," an index, and a list of internet sites for discovering even more about Our Wild World.

Mel Boring

I purchased 5 books of this series for my five year old daughter for Christmas, as she wanted a "field guide" like her older sisters when exploring our 45 acres of woods. After reviewing these books before giving them, we decided to use them as part of our science program for our home school. These books have bright and colorful pictures, short accurate explanations of the animal, their habitat, eating habits, and even some of the popular anecdotes that go along with the animal. (For example, the myth about the stripes on the wooly bear caterpillar in relation to the length of winter) It has the appropriate warning for studying certain animals. What we enjoy most is that many of these animals can be found in our back yard to further study. Each book deals with three types of animal, such as Caterpillars, Bugs, and Butterflies. They are separated into sections dealing with each type. At the end of the section is a wonderful hands-on project the child can basically do on their own within the recommended age group (9-12) or with some assistance for a younger age group like my daughter. My 5 year old begs us to read these books to her and loves the projects. I highly recommend this book and others in the series for those who want their children to learn about nature and how to respect it.

Schim Schimmel

Healing for young and old alike happens with the sharing of this book. The pictures and verse, speak the ancient truth of all things being related. This is one that should be in every class room and home around the globe. It reminds us as elders, and teaches the small ones that we all depend on one another.

Patricia Corrigan

These solitary big cats live only in North America. Cougars are very secretive. This book explains some of the mysteries about cougars, such as: Why do cougars have two layers of fur? How do they keep their claws sharp? Why do males mark their territory? When do kittens leave their mother? The author does a great job of telling the cougar's story in the text and "Fun Facts." The accompanying detailed illustrations and up-close photographs are excellent. The index makes an easy reference. Readers will also learn more about cougars from the list of internet sites. This book is ideal material for children ages 7-10.

Carol Whelihan-Scherer

In this enchanting storybook, all the creatures of the desert gather to hear a magical story. The coyotes sing in praise of Nature and how we all must nurture life in the land. Beautiful art enhances this lovely message that will be appreciated by children and adults alike. Ideal for reading aloud to children at bedtime. 15 illustrations

Schim Schimmel

"Dear Children of the Earth" begins a remarkable letter from Mother Earth asking for help from children everywhere. She writes to express her love for each and every child and asks for their love and appreciation in return. In her own words, and with all of her heart, Mother Earth enfolds children with love and entrusts them with her protection. Hers is a message for today and forever.

Julia Vogel

There are nearly 35 species of dolphins swimming the oceans of the world. This fun book explores the similarities and the differences among the species. Readers learn things like: What do dolphins eat? How fast can they swim? Where do they live? When are calves born? And much more. This book features beautiful color photos and illustrations of animals in their natural habitat.

Laura Evert

Michael J. Caduto - Grades 5 through 8

The theme of this impressive collection of 48 traditional tales from around the world is respect for the natural world. Logically arranged into 10 sections that explore the earth and humankind's relationship to it, the stories within each section are also strongly connected. For instance, a Polynesian Maui yarn that explains the nature of the "sky" is followed by an Inuit story about the creation of the sun, a Navajo tale that introduces the origin of the Milky Way, and an Aboriginal story that looks at how the Pleiades was formed. This book is the first place many of these eloquent tales have been adapted for children; two of them, the Australian legend "The Seven Sisters" and the French folktale "Earth Words," are gems. For both children and adults, the one-page discussion of lessons at the end of each section and the general activities in the back of the book are unobtrusive. There are also extensive scholarly notes, as well as title, culture, and country and geographical indexes.
Julie Corsaro - From Booklist

This fun and educational story helps young readers enjoy learning all about elephants, how many kinds there are, where they live, what they eat, why they have a trunk and much more. The newest addition to the Wildlife for Kids series of books, Elephants for Kids explores when they eat, why they have the colouring they do and how baby elephants are raised. Contains great colour photos and illustrations.
 

Fredericks

Fredericks

With practical, unique science activities focused on the rain forest, readers will be able to take a magical journey deep into the heart of the world's rain forests and learn firsthand about this incredible ecosystem. Full of hands-on activities, unbelievable facts, amazing discoveries, extraordinary adventures and fantastic experiments, this book makes any young person's journey into this mystical world all the more delightful.

Fredericks

A small shoe-box sized vehicle slowly crawls across the rust-colored surface of a distance planet, testing the soil and analyzing rocks billions of years old. More than 190 million miles away, its driver guides the vehicle with computer commands. What was once science fiction, is now a common event. Anyone curious about the universe we inhabit will find this an irresistible resource. This third book in the Exploring series offers invaluable information about the universe and is loaded with fun, easy-to-do activities.

Schimmel - (Ages 4 to 8)

Lions live in a world of grassy plains. To dolphins, the world is water. Lush green trees make up gorillas' world. And yet, all these animals share the same world. This is the point artist Schim Schimmel makes over and over and over in The Family of Earth: "The earth may look different to each of us, but we share only one earth." Through his surrealistic acrylic paintings of leopards, penguins, hippos, and gorillas, each in their appropriate landscape (or floating in space with the moon and stars and planet Earth hovering nearby), the author-illustrator expresses his beliefs about planetary interdependence. Schimmel describes his paintings as Environmental Visionary Surrealism, and hopes to change the way readers see the world, with intriguing lines like, "Leopards do not swim with dolphins. They have never seen a penguin." Although heavy-handed, The Family of Earth will appeal to devotees of Schimmel's earlier environmental picture books, Dear Children of the Earth, Children of the Earth... Remember.