The Weaver
By Thacher Hurd. Illustrated by Elisa Kleven. Farrar Straus Giroux, 2010. Ages 4–6.
Beyond the clouds, a magical weaver creates a beautiful tapestry that illustrates life as it unfolds on Earth. She begins her work in the morning, weaving pictures of people and the natural world in sunshine colors. As night approaches she chooses shades of blue and purple yarn to thread into her loom. At night, before she puts her work away, she covers Earth and all things on it with the brilliantly colored blanket she has made. A brief introductory note gives a few facts about the type of loom shown in the artwork.
Where’s Walrus?
By Stephen Savage. Illustrated by the author. Scholastic, 2011. Ages 4–6.
While the zookeeper and other animals are napping, a walrus escapes. The zookeeper gives chase, but the walrus is clever. It hides in plain sight by ingeniously mimicking the people it encounters outside the zoo. Unlike Waldo in the Where’s Waldo books, the walrus is easy to spot, whether he’s posing with mannequins in a window display or dancing in a chorus line. The fun in this wordless book comes from seeing how the walrus blends in with the crowds and how long it takes the silly zookeeper to find him.
Willoughby & the Lion
By Greg Foley. Illustrated by the author. HarperCollins, 2009. Ages 5–7.
In this tale about a lonely boy and a lion, Foley goes one step beyond the usual story about a kid with an imaginary friend or a comfort object. Pictures, often simple ink sketches on white backgrounds, introduce Willoughby, coping with feelings about moving to a new home. The one good thing about it is the enchanted lion in the backyard. The lion offers the boy ten wishes, admonishing him to use them wisely. Adventures follow. The extraordinary experiences continue in Willoughby & the Moon, in which the boy discovers the moon in his closet.
Young Zeus
By G. Brian Karas. Illustrated by the author. Scholastic, 2010. Ages 4–7.
An enchanted goat named Amaltheia tells this story, which is largely faithful to the myth. It begins with Zeus’s childhood and continues through his rescue of his mythological siblings and his tussles over which of them will take over the throne. There’s energy, action, and plenty of humor in a story about superheroes and stupendous sibling rivalry.
9
THE NATURAL WORLD
In his book Last Child in the Woods (Algonquin, 2005), Audubon medalist Richard Louv talks about children’s increasing isolation from the natural world, a trend he views as detrimental to both their physical and emotional health. While acknowledging the power and promise of technological tools, he stresses that direct experience and environmental education are hugely important in developing vital real-world skills such as critical thinking and problem solving.
Books in this section are invitations to connect with the natural world. Some put their information into a fictional framework; some rely on sensory word images; still others let the intriguing facts stand on their own. What they all have in common is a respect for animals, plants, and other natural wonders, which aligns perfectly with a child’s inherent curiosity. Reading them aloud can inspire children to explore the mysterious, fascinating places outside their front door.
Actual Size
By Steve Jenkins. Illustrated by the author. Houghton Mifflin, 2004. Ages 5–8.
Jenkins, well known for his extraordinary and beautiful paper-cut illustrations, employs them to excellent effect in this book of animal comparisons. Where book size might appear to limit the pool of actual-size candidates that could be included, Jenkins uses his 12-by-20-inch format to great effect. Tiny critters (a tarantula, a butterfly) fit comfortably on the page, while big ones like a tiger and a giant squid appear only in part. Children will have great fun envisioning the rest of the creature that belongs to the pictured piece; if they can’t guess, a visual glossary of the animals appears at the end of the book. Being small in a big world is the stuff of kids’ lives; this book, as Jenkins says, can help them “see how [they] measure up.”
All the Water in the World
By George Ella Lyon. Illustrated by Katherine Tillotson. Atheneum, 2011. Ages 4–6.
Poetry studded with information and dazzling art makes the wonder of the water cycle accessible enough for preschoolers to appreciate. A poet and teacher who grew up in eastern Kentucky, Lyon brings an earthy sensibility to her text, which calls up the tempo of the natural world as it celebrates water’s life-giving role.
The Apple-Pip Princess
By Jane Ray. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick, 2008. Ages 4–7.
Following the death of a beloved queen, a happy, once-lush kingdom becomes bleak and joyless. The elderly king, who sees his own death nearing, challenges his three lovely daughters to restore the kingdom. The first two build mighty structures of wood and metal, hoping to impress the villagers. The third, Serenity, fears she can’t compete. But while looking through a box of treasures once collected by her mother, she finds a single apple seed. The sprouted seed inspires other folks to plant. In time the kingdom is transformed into a green paradise that all can enjoy, and Serenity becomes its wise queen. This original folktale offers multiple opportunities to connect children to the real world—whether the post-read conversation centers on conservation issues or on self-esteem.
The Apple Pie That Papa Baked
By Lauren Thompson. Illustrated by Jonathan Bean. Simon & Schuster, 2007. Ages 4–6.
The words are different, but children will recognize the familiar structure of “The House That Jack Built,” which underlies this tribute to nature and to loving father-daughter relationships. As in the original “Jack,” the ending of this old-fashioned tale comes first: a little girl holds up a perfect “pie that Papa baked.” From there, the little girl conducts listeners on a backward journey through the history of the pie, beginning with the apples, “juicy and red,” hanging on a tree whose roots were nourished by the earth, which was watered by rain, and so on. The final picture brings parent and child together to share the humble but ever-so-delicious dessert between themselves and among a host of animal friends.
All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon
Arabella Miller’s Tiny Caterpillar
By Clare Jarrett. Illustrated by the author. Candlewick, 2008. Ages 4–7.
“Little Arabella Miller found a tiny caterpillar,” begins the old nursery rhyme on which this book is based. Jarrett cleverly fleshes out the simple rhyme, creating an engaging and informative book about the life cycle of the butterfly. Arabella, fascinated by the fuzzy, striped caterpillar crawling on her hand, takes it home, makes a place for it in a shoe box, collects leaves for it to eat, and watches as it changes into a beautiful butterfly. The four stages of metamorphosis that Arabella patiently observes are concisely described on the last couple of pages of the book.
Babies in the Bayou
By Jim Arnosky. Illustrated by the author. Putnam, 2007. Ages 4–6.
It’s hard to choose among Arnosky’s nature books. He’s written more than ninety of them for preschoolers and early grade children, ranging in subject from coyotes to parrotfish to prehistoric creatures. Many are award winners. In this one Arnosky conducts a satisfying tour of a distinctive American ecosystem, introducing a variety of animals that make their homes around the slow-running waterway at its heart. A mother alligator guards her babies; baby turtles hatch from a clutch of eggs; ducklings swim about; a mother raccoon and her babies hunt for food. As with all of Arnosky’s books, there’s a lot to look at, and just the right amount of fact to pique a young child’s interest—even if bayou country is very far away. Preschoolers will also like Arnosky’s 2011 book At This Very Moment, which compares what animals do during the day to how a child’s day unfolds.
The Beeman
By Laurie Krebs. Illustrated by Valeria Cis. Barefoot Books, 2008. Ages 4–6.
What do beekeepers do? A grandfather tells his grandson all about their work and about honey production in a book that speaks to an unusual job,
to some fascinating insects, and to a loving intergenerational relationship. Grandfather explains different types of bees, how honey is extracted from the hive, and how it ultimately ends up in Grandma’s muffins. Several pages of straightforward information at the end deliver facts about bee colonies, beekeeping techniques and equipment, honey, pollination, and bee “dancing.” To round it all out, there’s a tempting recipe for muffins.
Birdsongs
By Betsy Franco. Illustrated by Steve Jenkins. Margaret K. McElderry, 2007. Ages 4–6.
Ten different birds “coo,” “caw,” “eyah,” and “tat” their way through an ordinary day in this lovely book, filled with opportunities to enliven read-alouds. Most birds will be familiar to children—among them, robins, mourning doves, sparrows, chickadees, and ducks. Their pictures, created in Jenkins’s signature cut-paper technique, are accompanied by a lyrical bit of text and the word representing the bird’s song in larger, easy-to-read type. When day is nearly done, a mockingbird appears to mimic the other birdcalls, and a page of “Feathery Facts” will encourage children to find out more about their favorite singer. Bees, Snails, & Peacock Tails, also by Franco, introduces children to patterns and shapes in the natural world.
Chameleon, Chameleon
By Joy Cowley. Photos by Nic Bishop. Scholastic, 2005. Ages 4–6.
The team that created Red-Eyed Tree Frog, a stellar example of a science book for very young children, offers another stunning photo essay, this one featuring a panther chameleon, native to the tropical rainforests of Madagascar. Crisp, clear, full-color photos portray this reptile and its habitat as it navigates the hazards of its tropical home in search of food, carefully climbing down one tree and moving to another. The deceptively simple narrative draws children right in: “What’s this? A scorpion! Watch out, chameleon! The scorpion’s stinger is poisonous.” The layout is very attractive, with the photos set against lime, yellow, and orange backgrounds that extend the flavor of the reptile’s tropical home. Fascinating to look at and fun to read.
Castles, Caves, and Honeycombs
By Linda Ashman. Illustrated by Lauren Stringer. Harcourt, 2001. Ages 4–6.
“A silky web. / A sandy dune. / A room inside a warm cocoon.” Ashman’s pleasantly rhyming verse rolls off the tongue, evoking snug word pictures of animal homes. Her words work closely with Stringer’s art, which takes children into airy nests, hollow logs, tiny shells, caves, and honeycombs, where children will see spiders, raccoons, birds, beavers, and other animals comfortably at home. A picture of children, snuggled safely in their own beds, completes this cozy vision of the place where the heart is.
Compost Stew
By Mary McKenna Siddals. Illustrated by Ashley Wolff. Tricycle, 2010. Ages 4–7.
In this clever blend of fiction and fact, four environmentally conscious young chefs use an alphabet’s worth of ingredients to cook up some “compost stew.” Instead of spoons and bowls, they use pitchforks and wheelbarrows, and their stew pot is a large compost bin. Into the pot, they throw the expected leavings—eggshells, bananas skins, and “coffee grounds / with filters, used.” But they also add a few things that might even surprise adult readers—hair clippings and laundry lint. After filling their pot and moistening the ingredients with a garden hose, they take a long break—and “let it all rot / into Compost Stew.”
Dinothesaurus: Prehistoric Poems and Paintings
By Douglas Florian. Illustrated by the author. Atheneum, 2009. Ages 5–7.
Florian uses poetry and humor born of the familiar to help young dinosaur enthusiasts remember identifying characteristics of their favorite critter. Did you know Brachiosaurus was longer than a tennis court? The author’s wit extends to his quirky art: an iPod dangles from the neck of a T. rex skeleton, and Spinosaurus, “with spines like a solar panel,” wears long, red flannel underwear. A “Glossarysaurus” adds more information. If your child wants more on the subject, Kathleen V. Kudlinski’s Boy Were We Wrong about the Dinosaurs! and Elise Broach’s When Dinosaurs Came with Everything are excellent—though both are written for slightly older children. Kudlinski’s provides facts; Broach’s is just plain fun. Florian’s Bow Wow Meow Meow is another great selection of poems, this one humorously profiling wild cats and homebody dogs.
Dogs
By Emily Gravett. Illustrated by the author. Simon & Schuster, 2010. Ages 4–6.
Dog lovers young and old will find this ode to canines and a lesson on opposites hard to resist. “I love dogs,” declares this book’s unseen narrator, who gleefully expounds on the statement: “I love slow dogs,” fast ones, big ones, small ones, good ones, naughty ones, and all in between. The pictures showcase doggy opposites in fetching poses: a Great Dane with paws gently encircling a Chihuahua; a fuzzy pooch, abundant hair flying all over the page, alongside a tiny, hairless dog wearing a sweater. In a comic finale the unseen narrator turns out to be—a cat.
Down, Down, Down: A Journey to the Bottom of the Sea
By Steve Jenkins. Illustrated by the author. HMH, 2009. Ages 5–8.
In a fact-rich text with striking paper-cut illustrations, Jenkins conducts a journey to the depths of the Pacific Ocean. A variety of creatures swim across backgrounds of deepening color. Children will recognize some of them—the sea turtle, for example—but relatively few kids will have seen a Portuguese man-of-war or a hagfish. While they examine the pictures, parents can relay the information, which, while fascinating, is more detailed than young preschoolers will likely sit still for. Older children, on the other hand, will be totally fascinated by this view of a world so different from their own.
Elephants of Africa
By Gail Gibbons. Illustrated by the author. Holiday House, 2008. Ages 5–7.
Although Gibbons has written picture books about jobs and holidays and a host of other topics, her specialty is books that introduce children to the biological sciences. Her favorite subjects are animals and plants, and she’s written about hundreds of them. This book is typical of her work. It includes information about the elephant’s physical characteristics, family life, habitat, and behavior, presenting it in language children can easily understand. Watercolor-and-ink illustrations show the elephants in families, finding food and water, and facing danger. Close-up insets show more detail.
Fabulous Fishes
By Susan Stockdale. Illustrated by the author. Peachtree, 2008. Ages 4–6.
Planning a visit to a museum/aquarium? Read this first. It’s full of facts to prepare the way. “Shiny fish / spiny fish, / fish that hitch a ride.” Rhyming couplets and bright acrylic illustrations introduce more than twenty colorful (mostly) saltwater fish—from the lanternfish, which lights the deep, and the mudskipper, which uses its front fins like little legs, to the remora, which piggybacks its way across the ocean attached to a larger fish or marine mammal. Children will have fun identifying the various fish they see in the pictures; some fish are easy to spot, but some are camouflaged. More information about the species pictured can be found in end notes.
First the Egg
By Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Illustrated by the author. Neal Porter, 2007. Ages 4–6.
Seeger delivers a string of surprises while setting up a pattern that shows how one thing evolves into something else. Thickly textured backgrounds provide visual energy for minimalist images that cleverly incorporate cutouts. “First the EGG,” reads the text on the opening spread, which shows the egg through an appropriately shaped hole. When children flip the page, they’ll find a fuzzy chick and its adult counterpart (“then the CHICKEN”). And so it goes for frog, flower, butterfly, word (which becomes a story), and picture, which pulls everything together by showing the chicken, flower, frog, and butterfly enjoying a beautiful day together. Pages are sturdy enough to support poking fingers and repeated viewings, both of which are guaranteed.
First the Egg by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
The Grand Old Tree
By Mary Newell DePalma. Illustrated by the author. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2
005. Ages 4–6.
Each spring, leaves and blossoms cover a “grand old tree.” Later the fruit appears, which provides food for the animals. Seeds from the fruit scatter; some take root in the soil. Squirrels and birds build homes and play in the old tree’s branches. In fall, red and gold leaves cover the tree, eventually falling and disappearing into the wind. Then the tree dies, but as it decomposes, it provides food and safety for other kinds of creatures. What’s more, the seeds it scattered over the years are already growing into stately trees that become “just like the grand old tree.”
Guess What Is Growing Inside This Egg
By Mia Posada. Illustrated by the author. Millbrook, 2007. Ages 4–6.
Interactive books like this one are a terrific way to impart information to very young children. On one page is a picture of eggs in a nest or in other natural surroundings. This is accompanied by several lines of rhyming description giving a clue to the title question: beneath its father’s “feathered belly an egg is cozy and warm, / Safe from the Antarctic storm.” On the next page is the answer in large print, plus another paragraph of explanation and a picture of the hatched babies: ducklings, spiders, turtles, and, of course, penguins. At the end is a fascinating double-page spread showing the eggs’ actual size.
Hello, Bumblebee Bat
By Darrin Lunde. Illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne. Charlesbridge, 2007. Ages 4–6.
“My name is Bumblebee Bat,” begins this invitation to fly with a tiny mammal, “small like a bee.” Each left-hand page poses a question: “Bumblebee Bat, how do you see at night?” The bat answers with a simple explanation on the following page. Beginning each question with the bat’s memorable name establishes a pleasing predictability that will easily draw listeners into the facts. Wynne, a scientific illustrator who works (as does Lunde) with the American Museum of Natural History, gives plenty of detail in her large-scale pictures, which show Bumblebee flying, feeding, and finally at rest in a cave. The last spread offers additional information about the smallest bat species in the world. A good book for parent-child sharing, this will also entice science-minded children who are just beginning to read on their own.
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