Daisy, the protagonist of this picture book, goes all in for her belief in letting nature take its course. She even composts her baby food and prefersDaisy, the protagonist of this picture book, goes all in for her belief in letting nature take its course. She even composts her baby food and prefers a leafy bed to a foam mattress. Not surprisingly, she stops bathing and becomes fertile soil for various vegetation, all of which seems to flourish on and around her. As her efforts at healing the environment succeed, her family and neighbors notice, and the neighborhood becomes a very different place. Her efforts at rewilding are interesting, and this is a topic that is rarely, if ever, covered in children's books. The green-and plant-filled illustrations, created with ink and watercolor, may prompt some readers to follow Daisy's lead. If nothing else, seeing the abundant, healthy plants and animals drawn to Daisy might call for some to adjust their attitudes toward areas that seem messy and not neatly manicured. Perhaps the owners of these yards have decided to join the rewilding movement, which is explained in the back matter. ...more
As one of those conscientious individuals who does her best to separate trash from materials that can be recycled, I knew that I wanted to read this bAs one of those conscientious individuals who does her best to separate trash from materials that can be recycled, I knew that I wanted to read this book as soon as I saw its title and cover. While it didn't address some of my questions or expectations since I thought the author would follow the path of one particular load of trash or the contributions of one community from beginning to end, it did something even more important. In painstaking detail with statistics, interviews, and anecdotes, the book reveals the sordid truth behind trash and its fate. As it turns out, not surprisingly, most of the world's trash, including stuff that is deemed "recyclable," comes from the more affluent countries and ends up being shipped to poorer countries rather than in our cities' back yards. There is money to be made and saved from these efforts, even though how these discards are handled turns out to be more harmful to the environment than some of the fossil fuels being used to heat our buildings or power our cars. And despite what we've been told, plastics really aren't recyclable. They might be broken down into smaller bits, but they never really go away. Filled with humor, anger, and empathy for those who make a living sorting through or burning trash from foreign lands, this expose is a must-read for elected officials across the world and a wake-up call for the rest of us. With some historical background about consumerism, references to Vance Packard and Rachel Carson, the book left me feeling terribly guilty and responsible for my own careless lifestyle while wondering how to avoid plastic in the future, buy fewer items, and solve the problems identified in its pages. It completely answers the question of where all that trash goes. ...more
There are certainly many things that youngsters and adults dream of having or happening. But the dream of the narrator, a young girl, turns out to be There are certainly many things that youngsters and adults dream of having or happening. But the dream of the narrator, a young girl, turns out to be quite big and quite important. The girl awakens to familiar sights and sounds on a farm in west Texas. She checks the tomatoes, only to see that they are withering on the vine due to the drought. In fact, several plants are dying without the much-needed respite that would be brought by rain. The girl's father has told her that horned toads can bring about wishes and that the land once was rich and fertile with a river running through it. She captures a horned toad and makes a wish. The powerful text and moving illustrations, created with pencil and Adobe Photoshop, effectively capture the mingled hope and despair of the family as well as their helplessness to combat the changes caused by others. The father's wish is simple but oh, so moving: "I would wish to change the hearts of the men who ran these rivers dry. I would wish for them to stop thinking about their own dreams and start thinking about yours instead" (unpaged). The father's wish reminds readers that they need to think of the impact of their actions on future generations, and the last lines of this story are filled with hope. How I wish some of our elected officials and the captains of industry would read this book and reconsider their actions. ...more
Sure to be a hit with the middle-grade group, this fascinating look at animal waste products takes a completely different approach to the topic than mSure to be a hit with the middle-grade group, this fascinating look at animal waste products takes a completely different approach to the topic than might be expected. The slightly wry chapter titles and clever writing, which is peppered with word play and vignettes that provide insight into the problem of poop, draws readers in almost immediately. Acknowledging that what goes in must come out and that most living things need to poop, the author takes readers on an interesting journey through the desert, in the ocean, and high in the sky with examples of how scat can actually be helpful in restoring forests or providing clues about the health of a species. The sad story of the end of the passenger pigeon and the consequence of human short-sightedness is eye-opening even while the author puts a positive spin on its end since it served as a wake-up call to environmentalists. While it's clear that there can be too much dung, it clearly has many uses that have often been ignored in the past. And even those loveliest of creatures--butterflies--need the moisture from scat to survive. With several colorful photographs, several of them showing animals in vulnerable positions, and a field guide to scat, the book won't remain on classroom library shelves for long. Part of the Books for a Better Earth series, this is one of those rare titles that actually offers solutions to problems while highlighting something that many might find disgusting. Readers who liked this one might want to check out the author's previous title, The Forest in the Sea. ...more
Oh, what a delightful--and hopeful--read this one [3.5 for me!] is! The success story of the brown pelican, almost wiped out by DDT in the 1950s, is oOh, what a delightful--and hopeful--read this one [3.5 for me!] is! The success story of the brown pelican, almost wiped out by DDT in the 1950s, is one of encouragement as well as a reminder that individuals can make a difference, that science matters and can prompt change, and that the Environmental Protection Agency's work is important and should not be undone. This book's design is eye-catching and clever as some of the words in the text are stacked or positioned so that they resemble the path a pelican, its subject, takes when searching for, spotting, and diving down for its food. The text is just an engaging, drawing readers into the mystery behind the bird's demise as scientists tried to find answers as well as describing the pelicans in such a way that readers can't help but appreciate them. The text also credits Rachel Carson's writing and the support of many individuals who fought for change as contributing to the recovery of this particular species. But as much as it celebrates this success story, the text also points out that other species are under threat and urges youngsters to let their voices be heard and follow the science. The back matter offers additional information about the EPA and the Endangered Species Act and their importance. When reading this, I wondered about the future of both as well as other species like the pelican that are at the tipping point. The gouache and acrylic artwork is stunning, bringing the pelicans and those who cared about them to life and carefully depicting their environment and those nests containing eggs so fragile that they shattered with the birds' weight. The concept of bioaccumulation is particularly strong in one vertical double-page spread, enabling readers to see how much DDT built up inside a penguin's body because of what it ate, which contained DDT. Another double-page spread is haunting and mysterious as it shows a pelican resting on top of a piling as various vessels move across the waters. It needs no words to express the loneliness and despair that bird must have been feeling. Add this one to an elementary or middle-grade science classroom collection. We need more books such as this one to remind us that we are stewards of nature and the planet's living things depend on us to fix what we've messed up. ...more
Originally published in Korea, this wordless picture book may be one of the most exquisite ones I have read in a long time. The artwork, rendered in cOriginally published in Korea, this wordless picture book may be one of the most exquisite ones I have read in a long time. The artwork, rendered in colored pencils and pencil, is filled with delicate sketches, mostly of the woods, but also of an individual tree and the papermill that processes it and others into consumable products. A pencil might seem like a simple object, but as this book shows, step by step, there is so much more to it than meets the eyes. The title page with its slender green unsharpened pencil in the center gives way on the next page to the same pencil, now being sharpened as pencil shavings drip to the bottom of the page artistically, becoming small green buds or leaves on the next page, then part of a tree, and then part of a forest. There's even more to the rest of the story, but I won't spoil it for readers. Suffice to say, this imaginative book will prompt questions and reflection. ...more
Cento poems were unfamiliar to me until reading this book [3.5 for me!], but I loved how the author incorporated lines or phrases from 38 classic poemCento poems were unfamiliar to me until reading this book [3.5 for me!], but I loved how the author incorporated lines or phrases from 38 classic poems from poets such as Mary Oliver, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, and James Weldon Johnson, among others, structuring them along with some of her own additions into a unique poem that sings a song of praise about forests. For readers or educators familiar with found poems, this technique takes that one several steps further, resulting in an inspiring final product. Readers will surely be swept up by the imagery as well as by the breathtaking, movement-filled gouache illustrations that rely on moody, intense colors to chart one person's journey into the woods. The play of light and dark in several scenes is impressive, capturing what it looks like when moving deep into the forest. There's a helpful note on how to write a cento poem in the back matter as well as background on how the author wrote hers. ...more
I continue to enjoy this series featuring an irrepressible protagonist in third grader Bibsy Cross. As fans of the series know, Bibsy is quite curiousI continue to enjoy this series featuring an irrepressible protagonist in third grader Bibsy Cross. As fans of the series know, Bibsy is quite curious and constantly asks questions in her classroom, annoying her classmates and her teacher, Mrs. Stumper, who tries to be patient but grows weary of having her lessons interrupted by Bibsy. In this book, the third in the series, the third graders are learning about habitats through self-sustaining terrariums. Although Bibsy is pleased that her team's terrarium and its inhabitants are doing fine, she becomes concerned when others' terrariums develop mold and some of the insects are dying. She decides to help by introducing another species, a plan which does not go well. The author cleverly embeds science information and vocabulary within the humorous story while continuing to develop Bibsy as a character with various quirks and sayings. The artwork, created through Photoshop, helps youngsters see Bibsy and her own habitat, both at home and at school. As with the previous books, Bibsy is realistically portrayed, and while she certainly moves to her own beat, she is refreshingly honest and authentic. This title would be a good read aloud, one sure to entertain youngsters and their teachers, who just might have a Bibsy Cross or two in their own classroom. ...more
Educators will want to add this latest picture book from the always reliable Harriet Ziefert to their science classroom collection. Its contents list Educators will want to add this latest picture book from the always reliable Harriet Ziefert to their science classroom collection. Its contents list at least seven reasons for being grateful for plants. Not only would life not be possible if there were no plants, but they also clean the air and provide shelter, comfort, and protection. The rhyming text that almost hums and the colorful digital [I think] artwork are child-friendly, engaging, and somehow manage to distill a complicated topic into easily digestible material. This picture book will fit well with the other two titles in this series, Be Thankful for Trees and Be Thankful for Water. There's so much to be thankful for in the world around us, and books such as this one remind us of how important different aspects of nature are to us. ...more
The fifth in the solid Start Small, Think Big series, this one [3.5 for me!] focuses on water, a raindrop, to be precise. Readers follow one raindrop The fifth in the solid Start Small, Think Big series, this one [3.5 for me!] focuses on water, a raindrop, to be precise. Readers follow one raindrop as it travels through mountains and deltas all the way to the South China Sea before being evaporated and then descending to Earth once again. A fold-out map offers additional information about that long journey as well as highlighting some of the animals found along the journey and presenting reflective comments about how much water is on the planet and how old it is. Considering how much humans and other living things depend on water, it seems foolish to waste it or to pollute it, something most readers will think about as they read this book, which should be in every science classroom library. The engaging text and colorful illustrations add to the book's appeal; even the title entices readers to open the book to learn more about that important raindrop. ...more
The fourth title in the popular In the Garden series, this one was actually the first in the series, first published in Great Britain in 2019. All of The fourth title in the popular In the Garden series, this one was actually the first in the series, first published in Great Britain in 2019. All of the books have the same attractive design and organization although this one is a bit more humorous than the others. Here, a young boy spots a bee, and the chase is in as the boy finds a hiding place in the box from which the bee flew, and the bee plays hide and seek with him. Their relationship expands from one of mutual fear to mutual affection. With its rhyming lines and uncomplicated illustrations, the book offers reading practice for beginning readers while also acknowledging that humans and animals--even bees--can coexist peacefully. Here's hoping that there will be more forthcoming titles in this series, ideal for young readers. ...more
The premise behind this environmentally friendly picture book is an interesting one. A quiet dragon, appropriately named Whisper, notices that the bonThe premise behind this environmentally friendly picture book is an interesting one. A quiet dragon, appropriately named Whisper, notices that the bonfires started by his family are destroying parts of the mountain and harming the animals who live there. Of course, dragons love to start fires, and they do so without even considering the consequences. But when Whisper tries to get them to stop what they're doing, the older dragons ignore him, even patronizing him. Determined to be heard, he turns to his animal friends, and together, they come up with a plan so that even though Whisper's words might be ignored, his message won't. Although the last page of this charming, empowering story is not needed, the book's contents matter. Accompanied by colorful, imaginative renderings of the dragons and other animals, this picture book honors nature's beauty while reminding readers that they can make a difference and that thoughtless actions, even when they are playful, have consequences. ...more
Dreamy, color-saturated watercolor illustrations accompany simple yet evocative text to pay tribute to the forests around us. The picture book [3.5 foDreamy, color-saturated watercolor illustrations accompany simple yet evocative text to pay tribute to the forests around us. The picture book [3.5 for me!] opens with a full-page image of the forest, filled with trees of different shades of green, before moving in closer to focus on several trees, then one, and finally, on the different creatures that live on and near those trees. The woods provide food, shelter, places to hide and rest, but most of all, trees clearly serve as home to many different species. This is a lovely, moving introduction to forests, a gentle reminder of their importance and humans' responsibility to be good stewards. Add this one to a science classroom library and then watch youngsters' eyes light up as they peruse its pages. ...more
Elementary and intermediate science teachers love this particular series, and it's easy to see why. In this new and revised edition of the kid-friendlElementary and intermediate science teachers love this particular series, and it's easy to see why. In this new and revised edition of the kid-friendly book [3.5 for me!], youngsters learn about the importance of various types of frogs, some of the threats they face due to humans, and steps that they can take or that scientists are taking to help them. Since some of them are threatened as their numbers dwindle, this raised awareness is particularly crucial if there are going to be any frogs left on the planet. The text makes it clear that frogs and humans can coexist, but that humans must take action if that is to be the way forward. Some steps are as simple as planting native plants and removing grass that isn't native to the area or creating ponds that flourish only part of the year or even keeping dogs on a leash when hiking through the woods. The endpapers feature maps of North American and the range of nine different types of frogs. The readable text and the luminous, detailed acrylic illustrations highlight frogs in a variety of locations and positions so that the importance of their habitat and how they move is clear. It's hard to think that a species that has been on Earth for 200 million years might disappear because of humans, and this book makes readers care about those frogs. For those educators unfamiliar with author Melissa Stewart's work, this book is a good place to start. ...more
Colorful large format illustrations fill the pages of this lovely picture book whose contents send a positive message to readers. The double-page spreColorful large format illustrations fill the pages of this lovely picture book whose contents send a positive message to readers. The double-page spreads depict a young squirrel who head into the forest where they've buried an acorn. The son is eager to reach the spot where it's buried in order to see what changes have occurred. Mindful of the many animals who depend on acorns for food, the pair has considered the future, and while they know that it will take some time before the acorn turns into a strong, mature tree ready to produce its own acorns, they plan to nurture it, something they do every day. Every page contains abundant greens, browns, and those reddish-orange squirrels with their bushy tails and eager eyes. The details in each illustration are eye-soothing and visually appealing, especially for youngsters, even though older readers will also find them charming. ...more
This futuristic novel might appeal to teen or middle grade readers who think they don't like science fiction. As other reviewers have said, reading itThis futuristic novel might appeal to teen or middle grade readers who think they don't like science fiction. As other reviewers have said, reading it really is downright scary since the events described in it due to climate change or global warming and the poor stewardship of humans seem increasingly likely. Don't be fooled by the book's title. The story is nothing like what most folks will have read before. Tasmania, where the story is set, is in bad shape. The narration shifts between two girls who have never met but have quite a lot in common. Both are about to be displaced, one due to impending ecological disaster and the other one due to bullying and the need to start fresh. Readers won't realize at first that the girls are separated by decades: It's 2093 in Nyx's story, and 2023 in Bea's vows, When Nyx pours out her anguish about the future on a scrap of paper that she hides in a tall pine tree near her home, her words are read by Bea, who responds through a notebook. Improbably, a friendship forms between the two girls, and Bea is determined to somehow help Nyx even though she knows that others will doubt her and make fun of her. For such a short book, this one packs quite an emotional wallop and will make many readers think how close this sort of a future may be. I liked it much more than I expected to....more
This picture book is a 3.5 for me, close to a 4 for me. With illustrations filled with images of a tree and softly-colored nature scenes with trees, tThis picture book is a 3.5 for me, close to a 4 for me. With illustrations filled with images of a tree and softly-colored nature scenes with trees, trees, trees, and created with a pencil and digital Procreate, this picture book demonstrates vividly just how interlinked the natural world is. The text boasts plentiful use of onomatopoeia ["ROARS! / GUSHES! / POURS" (unpaged), and ["FLITTING / and FLAPPING" (unpaged)] and wonderfully apt descriptive writing ["She HOLDS the soil / from WASHING away / and makes us feel COOLER / when the sun, it LICKS / all over with its / HOT tongue" (unpaged), all of which just might make a reader want to plant a tree or go sit under one growing in the back yard. The fact that the artwork and text follow the tree across four seasons adds the book's possible uses in a science lesson. After all, where would any of us be without all that breathing the trees around us do. ...more
While I've heard the term "sustainable" bandied about quite often, I had never really thought much about green or sustainable architecture, which madeWhile I've heard the term "sustainable" bandied about quite often, I had never really thought much about green or sustainable architecture, which made this book enlightening for me. Inside, the author provides 15 examples of sustainable structures from around the world, dividing them into five categories: local materials, adaptability, sustainable construction, clean energy, and optimized space, The incredibly detailed artwork, created with Procreate and Photoshop, enables readers to see the possibilities for each category. Some I like better than others, but all are quite amazing. I'd have loved to have known the cost of the buildings and building process, though, and how financially practical each one is, even though I know that cost isn't the only consideration, especially during these days of dwindling and costly resources. ...more
More than 30 poems celebrate the voices of different types of trees as they speak to each other and to us. The concept here is great, and I'm always hMore than 30 poems celebrate the voices of different types of trees as they speak to each other and to us. The concept here is great, and I'm always happy to sing nature's praises or acknowledge writers who care about the environment, but overall, the poems are rather forgettable, and there's a sameness to them. That's too bad since there are some ["Tree's Storm Song"] that contain great onomatopoeia, and the artwork is quite colorful. Anyone in search of a book that speaks to the importance of biodiversity might want to take a look at this one. ...more
Progress often spells the demise of certain species as the needs of humans seem to come before the needs of animals. And even when caring individuals Progress often spells the demise of certain species as the needs of humans seem to come before the needs of animals. And even when caring individuals try to move those animals to another area in order to save them, those efforts often fail. This fascinating story of one man's clever solution to the conflict between beavers and the burgeoning human population in McCall, Idaho, in 1948 is an example of success. Idaho Fish and Game Warden Elmo Heter knew that the humans and beavers would conflict, and the beavers would lose so he transported 76 of them in boxes attached to parachutes and airlifted them to what would become the River of No Return Wilderness where the beavers flourished. Readers will be amazed at the lengths Heter went to insure the beavers would thrive, trying other modes of transportation, including pack mules, before hitting on the idea of flight. The text is lively, engaging, and just different enough ["Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!"] to intrigue youngsters interested in the environment, and the Adobe Photoshop illustrations lovingly portray this innovative conservationist, the beavers, and the rugged terrain as well as the effects beavers have on wetlands. It's interesting to ponder what those flying beavers thought once they were in their new home. This picture book makes a good read aloud choice as well as an excellent addition to a science classroom library. ...more