Book picks similar to
Tough Beginnings: How Baby Animals Survive by Marilyn Singer


children-s-books
childrens-books
nature
read-aloud-for-teenagers

Enchantress of Crumbledown


Donald R. Marshall - 1990
    It looked sadly neglected and tumbledown: some of the windows were boarded, some were partly broken out, and the weathered door hung crookedly from a single hinge. Still, it was the closest thing to a picture-book cottage that the three children had ever seen. For a second they stood there breathless. In their hearts, they all knew it. 'This ..., ' Ashley whispered half aloud. 'This is where we're going to live!'"--Back of dust-jacket.

The Hidden Life of a Toad


Doug Wechsler - 2017
    To get these images, Wechsler sat in a pond wearing waders, went out night after night in search of toads, and cut his own glass to make a home aquarium. The resulting photos reveal metamorphosis in extreme close-up as readers have never seen it before.Budding naturalists will be transfixed by this unprecedented peek into the secrets of tadpole transformation. DemystifyingA book that encourages observation and conservation and may start some young biologists off on their own lifelong quests to understand animals -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review A fascinating look at toad development -- Booklist, starred reviewSuitable for libraries needing to bolster their early nonfiction collections -- School Library JournalA remarkable visual chronicle of an easily overlooked creature -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's BooksChicago Public Library's 2017 Best of the Best Books selection

Prickly Hedgehogs!


Jane McGuinness - 2018
    She's out and about, snuffling through layers of leaves and twigs as she searches for bugs and other things to eat. Young animal lovers will enjoy following Hedgehog and her little hoglets through towns and gardens, parks and woodland, as they sniff-sniff-sniff for food. The facts threaded throughout this inviting story augment the charming illustrations and will satisfy the most inquisitive of readers.

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.

Small Wonders: Jean-Henri Fabre and His World of Insects


Matthew Clark Smith - 2015
    A wasp that hunts beetles nearly twice its size. The lives of fascinating creatures such as these were unknown until one man introduced them to the world.Meet Jean-Henri Fabre, one of the most important naturalists of all time. As a boy in the French countryside, Henri spent hours watching insects. He dreamed of observing them in a new way: in their own habitats. What he discovered in pursuing that dream was shocking; these small, seemingly insignificant creatures led secret lives—lives of great drama!With its lively, lyrical text and richly detailed illustrations, this intriguing picture-book biography introduces the man who would forever change the way we look at insects, bringing to life the fascinating world of dazzling beetles, ferocious wasps, and other amazing small wonders that exist all around us.

Crow Smarts: Inside the Brain of the World's Brightest Bird


Pamela S. Turner - 2016
    Why do crows have this ability? What does the crow know and what does it tell us about brain size, the evolution of intelligence, and just who is the smartest creature on the planet? In the latest addition to the Scientists in the Field series, the creators of The Frog Scientist take us to a beautiful Pacific island, where a lively cast of both crows and scientists is waiting to amuse and enlighten us.

The Fantastic Undersea Life of Jacques Cousteau


Dan Yaccarino - 2009
    His popular TV series brought whales, otters, and dolphins right into people s living rooms. Now, in this exciting picturebook biography, Dan Yaccarino introduces young readers to the man behind the snorkel. From the first moment he got a glimpse of what lived under the ocean s waves, Cousteau was hooked. And so he set sail aboard the Calypso to see the sea. He and his team of scientists invented diving equipment and waterproof cameras. They made films and televisions shows and wrote books so they could share what they learned. The oceans were a vast unexplored world, and Cousteau became our guide. And when he saw that pollution was taking its toll on the seas, Cousteau became our guide in how to protect the oceans as well."

Beewitched


Julia Dweck - 2013
    Beetrice is an ordinary girl with one simple wish: she dreams of bee-coming a bee. Beetrice reads about bees, acts like a bee, dresses like a bee, and is even a B-student in school. Then one day, a mysterious hive, with the word "Bee-ware," beckons her near with one golden drop of honey. This is a bee-witching tale full of excitement and fun. Enter its pages to bee-gin the adventure.

All Thirteen: The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys' Soccer Team


Christina Soontornvat - 2020
    But when they turn to leave, rising floodwaters block their path out. The boys are trapped! Before long, news of the missing team spreads, launching a seventeen-day rescue operation involving thousands of rescuers from around the globe. As the world sits vigil, people begin to wonder: how long can a group of ordinary kids survive in complete darkness, with no food or clean water? Combining firsthand interviews of rescue workers with in-depth science and details of the region's culture and religion, author Christina Soontornvat--shows how both the complex engineering operation above ground and the mental struggles of the thirteen young people below proved critical in the life-or-death mission.

The Cloud Book


Tomie dePaola - 1975
    Tomie dePaola--best-selling author of Strega Nona, Quiet, and many others--knows a lot about clouds. He also knows a lot about what people think of them.Some people see animals and pictures in clouds. The ancient Greeks believed that Hermes, the messenger of the gods, once stole the sun's cattle, which were clouds.In this unique picture book, Tomie introduces some of the most common types of clouds, as well as the myths and legends inspired by their shapes. Simple, whimsical illustrations show the variations in shape and color that herald changes in the weather.This book will tell you many things about clouds we bet you didn't know. Filled with his signature humor and gentle illustrations, Tomie dePaola's approach to nonfiction is like no other.A Reading Rainbow book.

Seashells: More Than a Home


Melissa Stewart - 2019
    Dual-layered text highlights how shells provide more than a protective home in this expository nonfiction exploration. The informative secondary text underscores characteristics specific to each shell. Elegant watercolor illustrations create a scrapbook feel, depicting children from around the world observing and sketching seashells across shores.

The Tarantula in My Purse and 172 Other Wild Pets: True-Life Stories to Read Aloud


Jean Craighead George - 1996
    From bestselling nature writer and Newbery Medal winner Jean Craighead George comes an autobiographical story about how wild it can be living in a house full of animal fans.Imagine living with a skunk in your closet, a bat in your refrigerator, and a tarantula in your purse!In this hilarious autobiographical account, Newbery Medal–winning author and acclaimed naturalist Jean Craighead George describes her adventures in a house full of wildlife enthusiasts—and the amazing animals themselves.

Sing a Song of Seasons: A Nature Poem for Each Day of the Year


Fiona Waters - 2018
    Filled with familiar favorites and new discoveries written by a wide variety of poets, including William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, John Updike, Langston Hughes, N. M. Bodecker, Okamoto Kanoko, and many more, this is the perfect book for children (and grown-ups!) to share at the beginning or the end of the day.

Moby Dick (Great Illustrated Classics)


Shirley Bogart - 1979
    They have delighted in the romance of Jane Austen, thrilled at the adventures of Jules Verne, and pondered the lessons of Aesop. Introduce young readers to these familiar volumes with Great Illustrated Classics. In this series, literary masterworks have been adapted for young scholars. Large, easy-to-read type and charming pen-and-ink drawings enhance the text. Students are sure to enjoy becoming acquainted with traditional literature through these well-loved classics.

The Fox and the Star


Coralie Bickford-Smith - 2015
    Illuminated by Star’s rays, Fox forages for food, runs with the rabbits, and dances in the rain—until Star suddenly goes out and life changes, leaving Fox huddling for warmth in the unfamiliar dark. To find his missing Star, Fox must embark on a wondrous journey beyond the world he knows—a journey lit by courage, newfound friends, and just maybe, a star-filled new sky. Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement and the art of William Blake, The Fox and the Star is a heartwarming, hopeful tale which comes alive through Bickford-Smith’s beloved illustrations, guiding readers both young and grown to “look up beyond your ears.”