Book Finder

A portrait of some of the world’s most incredible trees, seen through the eyes of a landscaper who loves them — and his granddaughter who is beginning to understand why. Brimming with exuberance and color, this ode to trees of the world — and the vast knowledge of landscapers and gardeners — offers a feast for the eyes. Back matter includes an author’s note, glossary, and further information on the featured trees. This book is also available in Spanish: Verde Fresco (opens in a new window).

Harjo thinks of “a poem as a pocket or an envelope that can hold dreams, thoughts or anything else …”  Her sophisticated poem calls on us to “Remember the sky that you were born under,/know each of the star’s stories.” It is presented in lushly illustrated picture book format to reflect the indigenous stories from which they derive, calling on all to remember.

Though a whale dies and sinks to the ocean floor, it creates life that is sustained for another 50 years. Illustrations evoke the deep water while introducing the various creatures that come to feed on the carcass over time. Additional information adds depth to the riveting exploration.

Lush illustration in an accessible format demonstrates the wonder of plants. From how they breathe (and help other organisms breathe) to how they cooperate with other creatures, and more is included. A table of contents and glossary (though no additional resources) conclude the brief, attractive, and informative presentation.   

A special bond grew between Lawrence Anthony and the matriarch of the elephant herd he rescued as he patiently helped the elephants after relocating them to the Thula Thula Reserve. Even after Anthony’s death, the elephants remember him. This touching, true story is handsomely illustrated with soft, realistic acrylic painting. Informative back matter and additional resources are included.

Nature has inspired countless designs from the umbrella to space saving and naturally cooled buildings. Short poetry (Japanese tanka) accompanies a handsome illustration of the object that inspired the human invention shown in a photograph on the opposing page. Additional information is carefully presented at the end as are additional resources.

Poetry, photography, and information combine to present a range of fascinating creatures. Though rhymes can feel a bit forced, the combination is a unique introduction to a range of bees, bugs, and other things that crawl and skitter. By the same creative team: Bugs: Exploring the World of Crawly Critters.

The true and truly amazing tale of how Yoshi, a rescued loggerhead turtle, found his way back to his home territory many years after being rehabilitated and housed in an aquarium. Illustrations evoke the water world in which Yoshi was found, lived, and traveled. A final word and a photograph of Yoshi conclude this handsome and engaging look at a phenomenon of nature.

Enjoy the feel of what swimming in a pool, a lake, and the ocean through beautifully rendered watercolors and lyrical text. Endpapers show a girl starting at one end of a swimming pool until she reaches the other side show on the final endpapers. In between, share the water with a range of swimmers of many ages, sizes, and hues.

What would your world look like if you were as small as a bean? Find out from the perspective of Jumper, a small spider that is both prey and hunter. Lush, realistic watercolor illustrations accompanied by engaging and informative text. Fascinating back matter and additional resources conclude this handsome volume.

A variety of big-eyed animals peek out from their abode and declare where they live. From nest to tree dwellers, from burrows to farms, each animal announces their home — concluding with young children cozily ensconced in their beds. This jaunty book is sure to engage and (sort of) inform about animal homes.

Spanish and English are both used to tell the story of a girl and her family making apple treats, following their tree from flower to fruit. Told in a familiar cadence, the poem embeds Spanish words seamlessly to accompany jaunty illustrations. A glossary of Spanish words used and an easy recipe for applesauce are included.

A bright frog face with big googly eyes invites young readers in to witness its transformation from egg to tadpole to full grown frog. Die-cuts are used throughout to enhance the simple drama of the frog’s growth. 

Spare, poetic text and breathtaking pictures invite readers on a journey that gently illuminates the causes of climate change as well as how our individual and collective actions can make the world better. Clear endnotes vetted by a climate expert answer a myriad of questions in simple language. 

Crinkleroot shares the excitement and rewards of birdwatching, in a beginner’s guide that offers tips on identifying more than fifty birds and includes facts about bird anatomy, behavior, life cycles, and more.

Since 2031, Aviary Wonders Inc. has offered bird lovers a unique opportunity: Assemble your own bird from stunningly beautiful and carefully hand-crafted parts. The birds can even be taught to fly and to sing! This slyly satirical crafter’s delight is offered as the perfect antidote to extinction of birds in the wild. Illustrated with oil paintings and filled with laugh-aloud asides as well as sobering facts about extinct species, this mock catalog is a clever send-up of contemporary sales spin and a thought-provoking look into an all-too-possible future.

A look at the fascinating natural world of plants. Real-life photographs of flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves, and more offer a unique “eyewitness” view of the natural history of plant anatomy and growth. See the biggest flower in the world, where a seed develops, what the inside of a plant stem looks like, how a flower attracts insects, what a plant’s reproductive organs look like, how a dandelion spreads its seeds, and much more.

Why do beekeepers use smoke machines when collecting honey? Can a bee really sting only once? Why do bees “dance”? Get an introduction to the life cycle, social organization, and history of one of the world’s most useful insects. Learn how bees make honey, what a beekeeper does, and products that contain beeswax — everything from lipstick to waxes for buffing surfboards. 

A youngNative American boy carves a little canoe with a figure inside and names him Paddle-to-the-Sea. Paddle’s journey, in text and pictures, through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean provides an excellent geographic and historical picture of the region.

Beginning and ending with discussions of the water cycle, Hiscock explains that the three rivers gather water from throughout the middle of the U.S. and form the world’s third largest tidal basin. The book focuses on the 1993 floods in the Midwest, showing how unusual weather patterns affected rainfall, what happened when the rivers overflowed their banks, and how people prepared for the flooding and handled it after it came.

When Ms. Frizzle drives the Magic School Bus full speed ahead into the ocean, the class takes a submarine expedition that’s anything but ordinary. With a well-meaning lifeguard in tow, the class takes a deep breath and learns about hot water vents, coral reefs, plant and animal life on the ocean floor, and more!

This book provides a good introduction to basic science concepts like photosynthesis, gravity, and the sun’s effect on weather in an easy-to-understand format. Science vocabulary such as “nuclear fusion,” “electromagnetic energy,” “photosphere,” are explained in both text and illustrations. The book includes 10 comic-strip-style panels of “Did You Know?” interesting facts.

Plants provide people and animals with food, shelter, and even the air we breathe. Plants help us live and grow, but how does a plant grow? This picture book introduces young readers to a variety of plant types, including ferns, carnivorous plants, mosses, and trees. This fact-filled book explains photosynthesis, different ways that plants reproduce, how seeds germinate and grow, which plants grow in different climates, and much more. 

Created by a naturalist, this colorful explorer journal is loaded with fun, simple ways to use their senses to observe and discover nature’s secrets outside. Dozens of outdoor activities plus a guided Journal for drawings, stories, memories and recording discoveries.