We are a family of critter-insect-nature lovers so Stretch to the Sun, the story of how a tiny sprout grew into the tallest tree in the world, was an instant favorite!
The format a lovely lyrical story with tiny bites of facts sprinkled throughout appeals to all ages. The art is alive with interesting details, and best, as befits a tall tree story, Stretch to the Sun features a long fold-out showing all the creaturesāother plants, animals, insects living on and in the tree that keep us looking and talking and coming back to read again.
The tallest known tree on earth is located in Redwood National Park in northern California. More than twelve hundred years old, it is approximately 380 feet tall--and still climbing!
For more than twelve hundred years, a little sprout has grown, survived fires, drought, and logging, and flourished undiscovered. Tall-tree researchers found the tree in 2006 and at more than 380 feet today--and still growing--it's the tallest tree known on earth. A unique, vibrant ecosystem hides high in the coast redwood's canopy: huckleberry bushes, ferns, and mosses grow atop its branches, while salamanders and squirrels scamper from limb to limb, andā¦
I am the author of over fifty books for young readers including the Zapato Power series, the Sofia Martinez series, My Name is Hamburger, Never Say a Mean Word Again, and Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence. On September 11, 2001, I was living in Arlington, Virginia and working as a librarian. Like anyone else who lived through that tragic day, September 11th evokes strong memories for me. Yet I know that subsequent generations have little knowledge of that day, even those who live in Arlington, where the Pentagon is located. By recognizing the wounds of the past, we can help young readers understand the present.
The September 11th terrorist attack is a difficult history to introduce.
Picture books can be a good way to start the conversation, especially with 8 and 9-year-olds. In This Very Tree, Sean Rubin broaches the topic through a remarkable Callery pear tree in the Twin Towers plaza which survived the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
Rubinās poignant artwork conveys both the destruction of that terrible day in New York City and the rebuilding efforts afterwards. Informative and lengthy back matter provides more information to complement the brief illustrated text. This picture book leaves the reader with an ultimately hopeful outlook of resilience and renewal.
A deeply moving story about community and resilience, from the point-of-view of the Callery pear tree that survived the attacks on September 11, from Eisner Award-nominated author-illustrator Sean Rubin.
* "A resonant, beautifully rendered testament to life and renewal." āKirkus, starred review
In the 1970s, nestled between the newly completed Twin Towers in New York City, a Callery pear tree was planted. Over the years, the tree provided shade for people looking for a place to rest and a home for birds, along with the first blooms of spring.
On September 11, 2001, everything changed. The treeās home was destroyed,ā¦
Ever since my parents gave me a copy of Dorothy Aldisā The Secret Place and Other Poems, I have enjoyed a lifelong love of poetry. Now, as a traditionally-published childrenās author, I have had numerous books and poems published over the years, including books that began as poems, like Flashlight Night (Astra Young Readers, 2017) and Once Upon Another Time (Beaming Books, 2021). My poems can be found in various anthologies including The National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry (National Geographic Children's Books, 2015).
Amy has a way of making every poem feel personal, not just in the way the reader connects with the words, but in the way the subjects are presented. The poems are intimate, friendly, surprising, and comforting, whether they are written from a third-person perspective or from the point of view of the animals themselves. Beautiful to read, and beautiful to look at, readers will never look at the forest the same way again.
A spider is a ānever-tangling dangling spinner / knitting angles, trapping dinner.ā A tree frog proposes, āMarry me. Please marry meā¦ / Pick me now. / Make me your choice. / Iām one great frog / with one strong voice.ā VanDerwater lets the denizens of the forest speak for themselves in twenty-six lighthearted, easy-to-read poems. As she observes, āSilence in Forest / never lasts long. / Melody / is everywhere / mixing in / with piney air. / Forest has a song.ā The graceful, appealing watercolor illustrations perfectly suit these charming poems that invite young readers into the woodland worldā¦
It was disappointing comparing the rich diversity of animals on colorful book pages to the reality of forests, where I could only see trees. But as I learned about plants and I became a plant ecologist, I realized that plants have to be extremely tough because they canāt run away from dangers or animals who want to eat them. I studied plants in coastal habitats in California, Central America and Florida, and in forests in the Midwest. I love seeing how they change throughout the season and how they interact. I wish everyone would read as many books about trees as construction trucks!
I love this book because it has everything I want to see in a book about trees: parts of a tree, beautiful illustrations of their root systems and canopies, pictures of animals that live in the trees, and descriptions of how trees defend themselves. It is brimming with science but is written in a friendly way that doesnāt make me feel like Iām sitting in a lecture. The book explains how trees sense the world around them and how animals like monkeys, squirrels and birds disperse tree seeds.
My favorite part is the section on tree habitats, which includes tropical rain forest, temperate rain forest, swamp forest and snow forest, complete with how each habitat is structured and who lives there. I feel like Iām in an immersive museum exhibit when I read this book.
Learn about the amazing natural science of trees in this illustrated nature and science book for kids aged 7-9.
From the highest branch and leaf down to the complex "wood wide web" of roots, it's no wonder every part of a tree plays an important role in its own growth and the habitat of the whole forest or woodland. The Magic & Mystery of Trees is a nature book that takes children on a fascinating journey of exploration, showing them just how special these mighty organisms are.
Did you know that trees can communicate with each other and warn eachā¦
My son thinks this is a lovely and very artistic book themed around animals and nature. He recommends it for both children and adults, as he knows it appeals to both because his mum originally bought it for herself.
He likes it because the illustrations are amazing and detailed. He thinks the verses are well put together.
Beautiful books make unforgettable gifts. This pocket-sized treasure is the perfect gift for fans of nature, language and rich artwork, adult and child alike!
Kindred in spirit to The Lost Words but fresh in its form, The Lost Spells introduces a beautiful new set of natural spell-poems and artwork by beloved creative duo Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris.
Each "spell" conjures an animal, bird, tree or flower -- from Barn Owl to Red Fox, Grey Seal to Silver Birch, Jay to Jackdaw -- with which we share our lives and landscapes. Moving, joyful and funny, The Lost Spells above allā¦
Iāve always enjoyed both gardening and children. As a former Virginia Master Gardener and Homeschool mom, and a current Lancaster National Wildlife Federation Habitat Steward, I now find myself encouraging others to look at gardening in a new light ā not only as a way to decorate their yards, but also as a means to provide habitat for our diminishing wildlife population. I try to show how you can have both beauty and function at the same time and how much fun it is to engage children in this essential activity. I love books that show what a difference one person ā even a young child ā can make in the world.
I am moved by how, in spite of his sadness and grief at the loss of his surrounding natural environment and the animals that lived there, Jadav decides to do something about it. He shows how, by taking one small step at a time, each of us has the ability to make a tremendous impact on improving our natural world. It gives me great hope that young readers will be inspired to care for our common home and restore our troubled planet, one plant at a time.
Children's Book Council Notable Social Studies Book Trade Book 2020 Recipient of the 2019 Eureka! Honors Award Winner - Best of 2019 Kids Books - Most Inspiring Category
As a boy, Jadav Payeng was distressed by the destruction deforestation and erosion was causing on his island home in India's Brahmaputra River. So he began planting trees. What began as a small thicket of bamboo, grew over the years into 1,300 acre forest filled with native plants and animals. The Boy Who Grew a Forest tells the inspiring true story of Payeng--and reminds us all of the difference a single personā¦
It was disappointing comparing the rich diversity of animals on colorful book pages to the reality of forests, where I could only see trees. But as I learned about plants and I became a plant ecologist, I realized that plants have to be extremely tough because they canāt run away from dangers or animals who want to eat them. I studied plants in coastal habitats in California, Central America and Florida, and in forests in the Midwest. I love seeing how they change throughout the season and how they interact. I wish everyone would read as many books about trees as construction trucks!
We think the forest is made up of trees, but this book shows us how some trees are connected underground by mycorrhizal fungi. I love trees, but we have to give the little guys some credit too, and sometimes āthe little guys,ā i.e., underground fungi, are not so little. Fungi to the rescue!
I like how this book shows that in the case of Douglas fir trees and some other species, nutrients can travel between trees and support new tree seedlings as they grow in the shadow of giant neighboring trees, waiting for their turn to soak up the sunlight. I think of this book as a childrenās version of Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard.
This captivating book explores the real connection and communication that runs underground between trees in the forest. The well-researched details about trees' own social network will help readers see that the natural world's survival depends on staying connected and helping others-just like us! The fascinating mycorrhizal fungi network runs underground through the roots of trees in the forest allowing for connection and communication. Readers will discover that trees have their own social network to help each other survive and thrive. Listen to the Language of the Trees captures the magic of talking trees that take care of their neighbors (notā¦
Iāve always been fascinated by nature, even from a young age. My parents would set up easels for my sister and me to paint outdoors, and I havenāt stopped drawing since. I tend to focus on flora and fauna, making illustrations with subdued colors and intricate details. I love to create illustrations for books, and occasionally, Iāll write them, too. Often reflective of history, mythology, and folklore, my work captures an old-world feeling and a love of nature. In my spare time, you can find me in my garden or out walking my dog, Molly.
If you want a big book of florals, look no further than Botanicum. Everything from algae to orchids is covered in this illustrated encyclopedia, featuring Katie Scottās artwork paired with Professor Kathy Willisā writing. Iām drawn to the fine lines in Scottās work, with her illustrations of parasitic and carnivorous plants being my absolute favorite pages. Fascinating for both children and adults, Iād highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys getting lost in the details of fantastic florals.
The 2016 offering from Big Picture Press's Welcome to the Museum series, Botanicum is a stunningly curated guide to plant life. With artwork from Katie Scott of Animalium fame, Botanicum gives readers the experience of a fascinating exhibition from the pages of a beautiful book.
From perennials to bulbs to tropical exotica, Botanicum is a wonderful feast of botanical knowledge complete with superb cross sections of how plants work.
I fell in love with reading as a child and have carried that sense of magic and possibility with me ever since. As an adult and a writer, I believe passionately in the power of story to foster empathy, understanding, and greater human connection ā and I still turn to childrenās literature whenever I need reminding of all that we are capable of becoming and doing as human beings. This list has a strong environmental bent to it ā partly because Wildoak is a book about caring for the natural world, and partly because I believe that stories shape our sense of purpose.
This book is by one of my favourite nature writers of all time, Robert Macfarlane. Itās a picture book that is for humans of all ages, truly. His poetry makes for a beautiful read aloud, the illustrations by Jackie Morris are stunning and the size of it makes for an immersive experience. I absolutely loved reading it with my kids when they were a little younger and we all piled into my bed. I also believe that it worksā¦ the poems are āspellsā designed to bring certain words back into use since they were cut from the Junior Oxford English Dictionary. Words like acornā¦ kingfisher, and otterā¦. Please read and share this book!
Penguin presents the CD edition of The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane, read by Edith Bowman, Guy Garvey, Cerys Matthews and Benjamin Zephaniah.
All over the country, there are words disappearing from children's lives. Words like Dandelion, Otter, Bramble, Acorn and Lark represent the natural world of childhood, a rich landscape of discovery and imagination that is fading from children's minds.
The Lost Words stands against the disappearance of wild childhood. It is a joyful celebration of the poetry of nature words and the living glory of our distinctive, British countryside. With acrostic spell-poems by peerless wordsmith Robert Macfarlane thisā¦
Wildoak is the story of a young girl, Maggie, finding her voice despite a stutter.
As someone who struggled with a stutter for many years, I found this book to be especially endearing, honest, and moving. Maggie is the kind of hero I needed. I taught 8th grade for many years, and this is the kind of book I would have rushed to put in any studentās hands.
An endangered forest. An abandoned snow leopard. A child who only feels comfortable talking to animals. When fates collide, the unbelievable can happen ... 'Put me in mind of Dodi Smith and Gerald Durrell at their very best - enchanting and thrilling in equal measure.' Piers Torday
'Reads like a classic. I loved it.' Pam Munoz Ryan
Maggie's stutter makes going to school hard. She will do almost anything to avoid speaking in class - even if that leads to trouble.
Sent to stay in the depths of Cornwall with a grandfather she barely knows, Maggie discovers an abandoned snowā¦
