Book picks similar to
Cactus Desert by Donald M. Silver
science
homeschool
nature
desert
Homes in the Wild: Where Baby Animals and Their Parents Live
Lita Judge - 2019
Some live in complex burrows deep underground, others in simple nests high in the treetops. But all homes, regardless of where they are or how they're built, serve the same purpose: providing shelter where a baby can eat, sleep, learn, and stay safe while growing up.Animal lovers will delight in this gorgeously illustrated peek inside the homes—from burrows deep underground to nests high in the trees—where baby animals live and grow.A 2020 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12
If Sharks Disappeared
Lily Williams - 2017
They can be big, like a whale, tiny, like a shrimp, and even scary, like a shark.Even though sharks can be scary, we need them to keep the oceans healthy. Unfortunately, due to overfishing, many shark species are in danger of extinction, and that can cause big problems in the oceans and even on land.What would happen if this continued and sharks disappeared completely?Artist Lily Williams explores how the disappearance would affect other animals across the whole planet in this clever book about the importance of keeping sharks, and our oceans, healthy.
The Great Dinosaur Mystery and the Bible
Paul S. Taylor - 1988
Yet the basic mystery about dinosaurs is easy to solve with thehelp of God's Word. This unusual book presents dinosaurs as a part of God'swonderful creation and uses them to introduce important Biblical concepts concerningCreation, the nature of God, Man's fall to sin, Noah's Flood, Christ's redemption,and God's plan for the restoration of paradise.Many a new dinosaur discoveries are revealed."This is a wonderfully unique book. Children will find it fascinating...adultswill appreciate its unusual new insights...I am glad to recommend it heartilyto young and old alike."—Dr. Henry M. Morris
What Will the Weather Be?
Lynda DeWitt - 1991
WeatherWill it be warm or cold?Should we wear shorts or pants?Shoes or boots?Read and find out why the weather is so difficult to predict.
Thunder Birds: Nature's Flying Predators
Jim Arnosky - 2011
Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky helps birds and imaginations take glorious flight in this breathtaking nonfiction picture book with six giant gatefolds.Arnosky will draw out kids' inner explorer as he explains why there are no feathers on a vulture's head, which bird is the deep-diving champ, what makes an owls's wings perfectly silent in flight, and much more.Readers can use this gorgeously illustrated book to bring the wilderness right into their rooms-or as a guide on their next expedition.
Sequoia
Tony Johnston - 2014
He watches as days, seasons, years pass by. His branches are home to owls and choirs of frogs. Beneath his broad canopy, a world grows.This is his story. Through controlled verse and luscious illustration, Tony Johnston and Wendell Minor do justice to the enormous figure of the sequoia tree. A Neal Porter Book
The Heartbeat of Trees: Embracing Our Ancient Bond with Forests and Nature
Peter Wohlleben - 2019
Where the color green calms us, and the forest sharpens our senses.In The Heartbeat of Trees, renowned forester Peter Wohlleben draws on new scientific discoveries to show how humans are deeply connected to the natural world.In an era of cell phone addiction, climate change, and urban life, many of us fear we've lost our connection to nature--but Peter Wohlleben is convinced that age-old ties linking humans to the forest remain alive and intact.Drawing on science and cutting-edge research, The Heartbeat of Trees reveals the profound interactions humans can have with nature, exploring:the language of the forestthe consciousness of plantsand the eroding boundary between flora and fauna.A perfect book to take with you into the woods,
The Heartbeat of Trees
shares how to see, feel, smell, hear, and even taste the forest.Peter Wohlleben, renowned for his ability to write about trees in an engaging and moving way, reveals a wondrous cosmos where humans are a part of nature, and where conservation and environmental activism is not just about saving trees--it's about saving ourselves, too.Praise for
The Heartbeat of Trees
"As human beings, we're desperate to feel that we're not alone in the universe. And yet we are surrounded by an ongoing conversation that we can sense if, as Peter Wohlleben so movingly prescribes, we listen to the heartbeat of all life." --Richard Louv, author of
Our Wild Calling a
nd
Last Child in the Woods
"Astonishment after astonishment--that is the great gift of The Heartbeat of Trees. It is both a celebration of the wonders of trees, and a howl of outrage at how recklessly we profane them." --Kathleen Dean Moore, author of
Earth's Wild Music
"As Peter Wohlleben reminds us in The Heartbeat of Trees, trees are the vocabulary of nature as forests are the brainbank of a living planet. This was the codex of the ancient world, and it must be the fine focus of our future." --Dr. Diana Beresford-Kroeger, author of
To Speak for the Trees
and
The Global Forest
"Peter Wohlleben knows the battle that lies before us: forging a closer relationship with nature before we destroy it. In The Heartbeat of Trees he takes us deep into the global forest to show us how."--Jim Robbins, author of
The Man Who Planted Trees
How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?
Margaret McNamara - 2007
"How many seeds are in a pumpkin?" Mr. Tiffin asks his class as they gather around the big, medium, and small pumpkins on his desk. Robert, the biggest kid, guesses that the largest one has a million seeds; Elinor, sounding like she knows what she's talking about, guesses the medium one has 500 seeds; and Anna, who likes even numbers better than odd ones, guesses that the little one has 22. Charlie, the smallest boy in the class, doesn't have a guess. Counting pumpkin seeds is messy business, but once the slimy job is done... well, you'll have to read and find out!
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
Lois Ehlert - 1991
Ehlert blends bold graphics, vibrant colors, and precise details in her watercolor collage alongside found objects like seeds, fabric, wire, and roots in this innovative work of early nonfiction. A special glossary explains how roots absorb nutrients, what photosynthesis is, how sap circulates, how to make a bird treat, and other facts about trees. Children and adults will feel inspired to take a closer look at the nature in their own backyards.
A Fruit Is a Suitcase for Seeds
Jean Richards - 2002
The fruit is like a suitcase for the seeds. It protects them on their trip.
Readers will learn how fruits are designed to protect a plant's seeds and also to help the plant spread its seeds to new places. With prose perfect for read-alouds and gorgeous watercolor illustrations, Fruit is a Suitcase for Seeds delves into the world of seeds, their purpose, and how they grow, perfect for young children. Includes questions and answers at the end to further learning and engagement.
11 Experiments That Failed
Jenny Offill - 2011
Here are 12 "hypotheses," as well as lists of "what you need," "what to do," and "what happened" that are sure to make young readers laugh out loud as they learn how to conduct science experiments (really!). Jenny Offill and Nancy Carpenter—the ingenious pair that brought you 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to Do Anymore—have outdone themselves in this brilliant and outrageously funny book.
A Charm of Goldfinches and Other Collective Nouns
Matt Sewell - 2016
All these and more are portrayed in this enchanting new book by much loved artist Matt Sewell, playing on the theme of collective nouns for animals.Illustrated with Matt’s inimitable watercolours, and imbued with a love of his subjects that will resonate with people everywhere and of all ages, this book is a great gift for nature and art lovers.Accompanying each illustration is a playful, quirky description of each groups' personality that readers cannot help but smile at. Sewell's unique witty take on the subject, and delicately vivid illustrations make for a lovely addition to his collection of pocketable books.
Birds Make Nests
Michael Garland - 2017
Birds make many kinds of nests in many kinds of places, to keep their eggs safe and to raise their chicks.In this colorful picture book, acclaimed artist Michael Garland introduces more than twenty species of birds and the intriguing homes they make, from puffins' burrows to orioles' hanging nests.With simple text, accessible for new readers, this is a perfect introduction to the many ways animals make their homes. The vibrant artwork, created with traditional woodcuts and digital coloring techniques, is labeled with the English common names of each bird shown.A 2018 NSTA-CBC Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12! A Bank Street Best Book of the Year (Outstanding Merit)
Clouds
Anne Rockwell - 2008
How do you know what type of clouds can forecast a change of weather? Read and find out.
A Leaf Can Be...
Laura Purdie Salas - 2012
. .Shade spillerMouth fillerTree topperRain stopperFind out about the many roles leaves play in this poetic exploration of leaves throughout the year.