Tag Archives: Nature

Toshi’s Little Treasures

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In this search-and–find information book, young Toshi and his grandmother explore six of their favorite places – the riverbank, the city, the forest, the country, the park, and the beach. Toshi finds treasures to add to his growing collection in his new backpack. He finds a pussy willow branch, a dog whistle, a partridge feather, a glittery rock, a coin, and much more. Each scene is featured in a double-page spread, followed by matching activity pages where readers can identify Toshi’s treasures and match them to related items. Answers at the back of the book give additional interesting facts. The animals they find are also presented. Charming, delicate watercolor art adds to the fun. mjw

Title: Toshi’s Little Treasures Author: Nadine Robert Illustrator: Aki Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2016 Original Language: French Translator: Yvette Ghione Original Title: Le grand livre des petits trésors Original Publisher: Comme des Geants, Inc. Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-1-77138-573-2 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 3-7 Genre: Picture Book, Information Book Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Montreal, Quebec Illustrator’s ethnicity: French Illustrator’s residence: Paris, France Subjects: Grandmothers, Habitats, Nature, Natural history

Snow

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Walter de la Mare’s gentle poem has illustrations of a family preparing for Christmas, done in screen prints with a limited, muted palette.  The family decorates their home, goes to bed, and waits for Santa Claus to arrive.  The children wake up to presents, going sledding, and making a snowman.  The text is perfect for the illustrations.  The book makes a beautiful winter bedtime story. mjw

Title: Snow Author: Walter de la Mare (1873-1956) Illustrator: Carolina Rabei Publisher: Faber & Faber Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Faber & Faber, Bloomsbury House. London Original Copyright: 2014.  The poem “Snow” was first published in Peacock and Pie in 1924 ISBN: 978-0-571-31219-1 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 5 up Genre: Poetry Author’s ethnicity: British Illustrator’s ethnicity: Moldova Illustrator’s residence: England Subjects: Christmas, Santa Claus, Snow, Weather

Rivers: A Visual History From River To Sea

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This oversized encyclopedic book takes readers on a journey along the most important rivers in the world. “Understanding rivers helps us to understand history and the people who have lived alongside them for centuries.” Each detailed illustration includes major events, historical figures, and favorite stories connected with the river. A table of contents guides readers along the journey. mjw

Title: Rivers: A Visual History From River To Sea Author: Peter Goes Illustrator: Peter Goes Publisher: Gecko Press Ltd. New Zealand Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Dutch Translator: Bill Nagelkerke Original Title: Rivieren Original Publisher: Lannoo Publishers Original Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-1-776572-16-8 Hardcover pages: 80 Age range: 7-12 Genre: Nonfiction, Information Book Book setting: World Author’s ethnicity: Belgian Author’s residence: Belgium Illustrator’s ethnicity: Belgian Illustrator’s residence: Belgium Subjects: Continents, Exploration, Oceans, Rivers, Sea life, Seas, Water

Dear Professor Whale

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In nine short, charming chapters, Professor Whale plans another Whale Point Olympics.  Penguins, whales, and seals come together in the follow-up to Yours Sincerely, Giraffe.  Takabatake’s simple black and white drawings capture the essence of the animals. mjw

Title: Dear Professor Whale Author: Megumi Iwasa Illustrator: Jun Takabatake Publisher: Gecko Press, New Zealand Copyright: 2018 Original Language: Japanese Translator: Cathy Hirano Original Publisher: Kaiser-sha Publishing Co. Original Copyright: 2003 ISBN: 978-1-776572-06-9 Hardcover pages: 104 Age range: 5-9 Genre: Fiction, chapter book Author’s ethnicity: Japanese Author’s residence: Tokyo, Japan Illustrator’s ethnicity: Japanese Illustrator’s residence: Japan  Subjects: Humor, Marine life, Penguins, Seals, Whales

Elephant Secret

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Thirteen-year-old Samantha Gray lives with her dad on an elephant sanctuary with eleven elephants. She understands the elephants’ behavior and has a special relationship with each one.  When one of the elephants, named Daisy Mae, dies while giving birth to a very unusual baby, Sam’s world is turned upside down.  She names the baby elephant Woolly and she becomes the mother, feeding her bottles of formula and protecting her.  Sam meets the billionaire genius who funded the impregnated elephant and he explains that the birth was a cloning experiment and that Woolly is a woolly mammoth.  This is a captivating family story of love and our responsibility to all living things on earth. mjw

Title: Elephant Secret Author:  Eric Walters Publisher: Clarion Books, New York Copyright: 2018 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-328796172 Hardcover pages: 352 Age range: 10-12 Genre: Fiction Book setting: North America Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Ontario, Canada Awards: Author has won the Children’s Africana Book Award Subjects: Animal sanctuaries, Cloning, Elephants, Human/animal relationships, Orphaned animals, Woolly mammoths

Lucy And The Dragonfly

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Lucy lives in the yellow house on the hill, at the end of the lane, in a village filled with lakes and forests, on a big continent, on a blue planet.  When Lucy smiles, the sun smiles.  She can feel the Earth’s heart beating, inside her heart.  The wind tells her all the bad things that humans are doing to the planet.  When the planet gets sick, Lucy’s tears travel from the wings of a dragonfly all across the planet to a boy named Tama who also knows how to listen to the whispers of the wind.  Lucy’s story spreads across the globe, everyone does their part to heal the Earth, and hope is born.  Soft illustrations complement the story about climate change.  mjw

Title: Lucy And The Dragonfly Author: Lucie Papineau Illustrator: Caroline Hamel Publisher: Auzou Publishing. Paris, France Copyright: 2018 ISBN: 978-2-7338-5620-8 Hardcover pages: 40 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Quebec Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal Subjects: Climate Change, Green living, Recycling

Where The World Ends

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In the summer of 1727, eight boys and three men are marooned on a remote rocky stac at the edge of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland.  They were sent there to harvest birds for food, feathers, and oil.  No one returns to collect them. They survive for nine months through deadly storms, madness, and starvation.  Based on a true story, this is an unsettling and awe-inspiring novel.  The world-building is brilliant.  A map of St. Kilda, an afterword, black-and-white sketches of birds, and a glossary are included.  mjw

Title: Where The World Ends Author: Geraldine McCaughrean Publisher: Usborne Publishing Ltd. London Copyright: 2017 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-4749-2114-5 Hardcover pages: 336 Age range: 11 up Genre: Historical Fiction, based on a true story Book setting: Hirta, St. Kilda, Scotland Author’s ethnicity: English Author’s residence: Berkshire, England  Awards: 2018 CILIP Carnegie Medal, 2020 ALA Printz Honor Subjects: Birds, Cultures, Geography, Natural world, Survival, Western Islands (Scotland)

Bambi: A Life In The Woods

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This is an exquisite new collectible edition of the classic story.  Bambi lives in a woodland thicket.  He and his family and friends discover the wonders and the dangers of the woods.  Superb oil paintings feature gold foiling.  The story inspired the beloved 1942 Disney film. mjw

Title: Bambi: A Life In The Woods Author: Felix Salten (1869-1945) Illustrator: Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers Copyright: 2014 Original Language: German Translator: Whittaker Chambers Original Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc. Original Copyright: 1928 ISBN: 978-1442-9345-2 Hardcover pages: 192 Age range: 10 up Genre: Fiction Author’s ethnicity: Austrian Illustrator’s ethnicity: U.S. Illustrator’s residence: San Francisco, U.S. Subjects: Deer, Forest

Fishing With Grandma

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Grandma and her two grandchildren go out on the lake for a fishing trip. She teaches them everything they need to know for a day of jigging in the ice for fish. They learn what to wear, what tools are needed, and how to use them. At the end of the day, they have caught enough Arctic char for a delicious dinner. Illustrations show Inuit fishing tools and a glossary with pronunciations explains Inuit terms. mjw

Title: Fishing With Grandma Author: Susan Avingaq and Maren Vsetula Illustrator: Charlene Chua Publisher: Inhabit Media Inc.  Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada Copyright: 2015 Original Language: English ISBN: 978-1-77227-084-6 Paperback pages: 32 Age range: 5-7 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: Canada Author’s ethnicity: Canadian Author’s residence: Nunavut Illustrator’s ethnicity: Canadian Illustrator’s residence: Toronto Subjects: Canada, Grandchildren, Grandmothers, Ice fishing, Multigenerational, Polar regions

The Pruwahaha Monster

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A five-year-old boy goes with his father to swing on a swing near a farmhouse. The little boy does not know that a huge monster that likes to eat children lurks near the farmhouse. When the monster wakes up, spies the little boy on the swing, and roars “prruwwwahhahahaha,” the little boy just laughs. Two-color playful illustrations with clues never really reveal who the “monster” is. Rhythmic language and monster sounds will delight young readers. mjw

Title: The Pruwahaha Monster Author: Jean-Paul Mulders Illustrator: Jacques Maes and Lise Braekers Publisher: Kids Can Press Copyright: 2016 Original Language: Dutch Translator: English version edited by Yvette Ghione Original Title: Het prullala monster Original Publisher: Abimo Uitgeverij, Belgium Original Copyright: 2014 ISBN: 978-1-77138-566-4 Hardcover pages: 26 Age range: 5-8 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Flemish Author’s residence: Belgium Illustrator’s ethnicity: Flemish Illustrator’s residence: Belgium Subjects: Fathers and sons, Monsters, Mystery, Seasons

Alive Again

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A boy wonders if the blossoms that fall from trees will ever return. When there is no rain, will it rain again? If no wheat grows, will it grow again? And if no one goes on a journey, will there be new journeys? When spring comes, the boy’s father points out new blossoms, fresh rain, and born-again wheat. And tomorrow will be a day for a new journey. Striking collage artwork enhances this simple story about trust and understanding that will leave readers asking similar questions. mjw

Title: Alive Again Author: Ahmadreza Ahmadi Illustrator: Nahid Kazemi Publisher: Tiny Owl Publishing Ltd.  England Copyright: 2015 Original Language: Persian Translator: Azita Rassi Original Publisher: Salis Publisher. Tehran, Iran Original Copyright: 2013 ISBN: 978-1-910328-05-7 Hardcover pages: 24 Age range: 4-9 Genre: Picture Book Author’s ethnicity: Iranian Author’s residence: Iran Illustrator’s ethnicity: Iranian Illustrator’s residence: Montreal, Canada Awards: Author was shortlisted for the 2010 Hans Christian Andersen Award Subjects: Blossoms, Flowers, Journeys, Questions, Rain, Trust, Understanding, Wheat

Poles Apart

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Penguins are found at the South Pole – except when they get lost on their way to a picnic. When the Pilchard-Brown penguin family find themselves at the North Pole, they meet friendly Mr. White, the polar bear, who guides them back home. They follow him over land and sea to New York, England, Italy, India, Australia, and finally the South Pole and a surprise ending. Foreign words are sprinkled throughout this whimsical introduction to different cultures across the globe. Fun, digitally created illustrations show the travelers walking along Fifth Avenue, riding a double-decker bus in London, water skiing in the Sydney harbor, and more. mjw

Title: Poles Apart Author: Jeanne Willis Illustrator: Peter Jarvis Publisher: Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Copyright: 2016 Original Language: English Original Publisher: Nosy Crow, London Original Copyright: 2015 ISBN: 978-0-7636-8944-5 Hardcover pages: 32 Age range: 4-8 Genre: Picture Book Book setting: North Pole, South Pole, U.S., England, Italy, India, Australia Author’s ethnicity: Born in the United Kingdom Author’s residence: London Illustrator’s ethnicity: English Illustrator’s residence: Manchester, England Subjects: Arctic Ocean, North Pole, Penguins, Polar bears, South Pole