On Beyond Bugs


Tish Rabe - 1999
    Just wait… and you’ll soon see an insect go by!” With these words Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat sets out to take young readers on a fascinating tour of the insect world – a world teeming with six legged critters from moths to fleas and fireflies. This title forms part of a series of books that takes an off-beat look at natural history through a fun combination of Seussian rhymes and zany illustrations. Aimed at early readers – from four to seven year olds – the books are designed to bridge the gap between concept books written for preschoolers and more formal non fiction titles that require fluent reading skills. By presenting the facts in a lively and rhythmic manner, they provide the critical foundation upon which complex facts and ideas can eventually be built.

Eric Carle's Animals Animals


Eric Carle - 1989
    This celebration of the wonder and variety of earth's animals is "joyous...a book to be shared" (Booklist, starred review).

The Solar System


Emily Bone - 2010
    A simple introduction to the solar system that provides information about the sun, planets, and space exploration.

A Beetle Is Shy


Dianna Hutts Aston - 2016
    From flea beetles to bombardier beetles, an incredible variety of these beloved bugs are showcased here in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this carefully researched and visually striking book is perfect for sparking children's imaginations in both classroom reading circles and home libraries.

Flowers Are Calling


Rita Gray - 2015
    In rhyming poetic form and with luminous artwork, this book shows us the marvel of natural cooperation between plants, animals, and insects as they each play their part in the forest's cycle of life.

Raindrops Roll


April Pulley Sayre - 2015
    They plop. They patter. They spatter. And in the process, they make the whole world feel fresh and new and clean. In this gorgeously photo-illustrated nonfiction picture book, celebrated author April Pulley Sayre sheds new light on the wonders of rain, from the beauty of a raindrop balanced on a leaf to the amazing, never-ending water cycle that keeps our planet in perfect ecological balance.

Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is?


Robert E. Wells - 1993
    Illustrates the concept of big, bigger, and biggest by comparing the physical measurements of such large things as a blue whale, a mountain, a star, and the universe.

From Tadpole to Frog


Wendy Pfeffer - 1994
    Tadpoles are likely tiny fish that breathe underwater through gills. As the tadpole gets older, it loses its fishy tail and its gills and grows legs and develops lungs. The tadpole has become a frog. From Tadpole to Frog is a lovely first look at this amazing metamorphosis.

The Berenstain Bears' Big Book of Science and Nature


Stan Berenstain - 1984
    Chock-full of information about the weather, animals, insects, and plants, including dozens of simple science experiments, this is a reference book that offers fun for the whole family.

The Magic School Bus Plants Seeds: A Book About How Living Things Grow


Bruce Degen - 1995
    Frizzle's class is growing a beautiful garden. But, Phoebe's plot is empty. Her flowers are back at her old school! So, the class climbs aboard the Magic School Bus. And, of course, the kids don't only go back to Phoebe's school, but they go inside one of Phoebe's flowers! Follow the kids' adventure and learn how living things grow.

Children's Encyclopedia


Jane Elliott - 1986
    -- Highly illustrated first reference books-- Topics are arranged thematically and provide in-depth explanations using simple language-- Contains lots of practical experiments

Fall Walk


Virginia Brimhall Snow - 2013
    Take a stroll through the woods and learn to identify 24 different kinds of leaves by their shapes and autumn colors. At the end of the day, learn how to press the gathered leavesand how to make a leaf rubbing.Book includes:• Colorful illustrations of 24 separate leaves• How-to instructions for pressing your own leaves• How-to instructions for rubbing your own leaves• A game matching leaves to trees and names• Fun facts about the trees featured in the book

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder


Mark Cassino - 2009
    Perfect for reading on winter days, the book features photos of real snow crystals in their beautiful diversity. Snowflake-catching instructions are also included.

Winter Bees & Other Poems of the Cold


Joyce Sidman - 2014
    Paired with stunning linoleum print illustrations by Rick Allen, that celebrate nature's beauty and power.

Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt


Kate Messner - 2015
    . . and down in the dirt.Explore the secret world beneath the dirt that brings the world of nature to life: Up in the garden, the world is full of green—leaves and sprouts, growing vegetables, ripening fruit. But down in the dirt exists a busy world—earthworms dig, snakes hunt, skunks burrow—populated by all the animals that make a garden their home. With Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt, you can explore the hidden world and many lives of a garden through the course of a year!• Follow a young girl and her grandmother as they journey through the year planning, planting, and harvesting their garden—and learn about what's happening in the dirt to help make it all happen• The stunning and bright illustrations feature dark earthy tones mixed with beautiful pops of color inspire a love of nature and encourage young minds to explore the world around them• Includes a glossary of animals that live in, around, and under the garden to enrich the reading experienceFans of A Seed is Sleepy, Spring is Here, and A Nest is Noisy will also love the outstanding illustrations and educational storyline in Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt."The harmonious relationships above and below ground, and those between the two, emphasize the complexities of the garden ecosystem, as well as the joys of sustained engagement with the land." —The Horn Book Magazine• Great read-aloud book for families and classrooms• Books for kids ages 5-8• Early elementary school books• Books for kindergarten to 3rd grade