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Children's Literature
These children's literature books are recommended to all environmental educators. Items marked with * are part of the NNREC Members Lending Library. Great link to children's books on Acorn Naturalists. Linked ISBNs below go to either Acorn Naturalists or Amazon.
* I'm in Charge of Celebrations, Byrd Baylor. From the highly acclaimed team of Byrd Baylor and Peter Parnall comes the story of a girl who shares her love for desert life as she tells of treasured experiences like dancing in the wind on Dust Devil Day or sleeping outside on a hot summer night during The Time of the Falling Stars. Baylor's radiant prose-poem and Parnall's exquisite illustrations combine to create a joyous celebration of the human spirit. ISBN: 0-684-18579-2.
* The Other Way to Listen, Byrd Baylor. When you know "the other way to listen," you can hear wildflower seeds burst open, you can hear the rocks murmuring, and the hills singing, and it seems like the most natural thing in the world. Of course it takes a lot of practice, and you can't be in a hurry... ISBN: 0-684-15651-2.
* The Table Where Rich People Sit, Byrd Baylor. With the same prose poetry and sparsely colored line drawings that mark their other collaborations, Baylor and Parnall tell the story of Mountain Girl, who begins to see the wealth in her family's simple lifestyle. Ages 6-9. ISBN: 0-684-19653-0.
* The Way to Start a Day, Byrd Baylor. In this Caldecott Honor Book, the way to start the day is to go outside, face the east and greet the sun, as others in the past and present have celebrated the dawn. PW praised "the author's sensitive prose and Parnall's glittering paintings in this beautiful work." ISBN: 0-684-15651-2.
* The Lorax, Dr. Suess. The Lorax is an ecological warning that still rings true today amidst the dangers of clear-cutting, pollution, and disregard for the earth's environment. In The Lorax, we find what we've come to expect from the illustrious doctor: brilliantly whimsical rhymes, delightfully original creatures, and weirdly undulating illustrations. But here there is also something more--a powerful message that Seuss implores both adults and children to heed. ISBN: 0-394-82337-0.
* Are Trees Alive?, Debbie S. Miller. Using comparisons to the human body, Miller describes the characteristics of trees. In simple but poetic terms, she compares the veins of a leaf to those in a person's hand. She tells readers that the tree trunk supports the tree as our legs support us, and that "Bark is dark or light, rough or smooth, thick or thin, just like people's skin." Children can travel the globe, examining common and unusual trees-a weeping willow in China, a baobab in Africa, Australia's ribbon gum, the paper birch of North America, India's banyan tree, etc. ISBN: 0-8027-8801-7.
* The Man Who Planted Trees, Jean Giono. Jean Giono's unforgettable story is of Elzéard Bouffier, a tireless shepherd who plants one hundred acorns a day over a span of thirty years. In doing so, Bouffier not only transforms the countryside, but revitalizes his community and teaches us about hope, humanity, and our own ability to create change in the world around us. ISBN: 1-931-49872-5.
* The Giving Tree, Shel Silverstein. "Once there was a tree ... and she loved a little boy." So begins a story Of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk ... and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave. ISBN: 0-06-025665-6.
* The Gift of the Tree, Alvin Tresselt. The old oak tree had stood tall and proud for over a hundred years, but even as it grew, life gnawed at its heart. Termites tunneled inside it. Woodpeckers peppered it with holes. And one by one, its great branches crashed to the ground. But as the tree slowly returned to the earth, new life took over—chipmunks, raccoons, and even young trees—all nourished by the gift of the tree. ISBN: 0-688-10684-6.
Sky Tree: Seeing Science Through Art, Thomas Locker. In a book as perfect for the home as in the classroom, award-winning artist Thomas Locker explores how trees remain full of wonder through every season. Lyrical text meets art and science in this enchanting exploration of natural wonder. An afterword provides a thought-provoking discussion section, and offers answers to questions asked throughout the text. ISBN: 0-06-024883-1.
The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rain Forest, Lynne Cherry. This beautifully illustrated and highly recommended book is widely used in primary schools in the U.S. to convince children of the importance of rain-forest conservation. Lynne Cherry visited the Amazon rain forest to gather drawings for the book, and the simple story and vivid illustrations capture the reality and lushness of the forest in a way she could not have by working from mere photographs. ISBN: 0-15-200520-X.
* Hatchet, Gary Paulsen. This Newbery Honor book is a dramatic, heart-stopping story of a boy who, following a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness, must learn to survive with only a hatchet and his own wits. Ages 12-up. ISBN: 0-689-82699-0.
* Just a Dream, Chris Van Allsburg. A boy who cares little for the environment drifts off to sleep and dreams of a future world. Unfortunately, the world he sees is one of trash, deforested land, and air pollution. Upon awakening, he realizes his actions do matter and he takes steps to ensure a better future. Inspired reading for children ages 6-10. ISBN: 0-395-53308-2.
Water Dance, Thomas Locker. Winner of the Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, this beautifully illustrated book celebrates sparkling, glistening, whooshing, surging, roaring, trickling, and calming water. Vignettes depict water as rain, a mountain stream, a waterfall, lake, river, the sea, mist, clouds, a storm, a rainbow and more. Perfect for children ages 5-10. ISBN: 0-15-201284-2.
The Rainstick: A Fable, Chisholm Robinson. Based upon a West African tale, The Rainstick tells the story of a young boy’s quest for rain. As the boy journeys from the parched landscape of his village to the dense rain forest, the reader is treated to colorful illustrations that follow his travels. Includes instructions for creating a rainstick, the history and cultural significance of rainsticks. Ages 6-10. ISBN: 1-56044-284-0.
Hey, Little Ant, Phillip M. Hoose. Wonderful, song-based children’s picture book that uses empathy to teach children about alternatives to violent and bullying behavior. Story involves a negotiation between an ant about to be flattened and the child who is threatening it. The outcome is unresolved, leaving a perfect opportunity for discussions on what the child should do next. Lessons and suggestions for classroom discussion are provided. A creative and nonthreatening way to introduce an important topic to children ages 4-9. ISBN: 1-883672-54-6.
* The Salamander Room, Anne Mazer. Award-winning story about a small boy who finds a salamander in the woods. He creates a woodland paradise in his room that he shares with the salamander, dreaming that he is sleeping under the stars in the woods. Ages 6-10. ISBN: 0-394-82945-X.
* Owl Moon, Jane Yolen. A girl and her father walk through a snowy forest in search of owls on a cold winter night. Beautiful watercolor illustrations accompany a heartwarming text which teaches the value of patience in outdoor exploration. “When you go owling, you don’t need anything but hope. The kind of hope that flies on silent wings under a shining Owl Moon.” Caldecott Medal. Ages 3-7. ISBN: 0-399-21457-7.
If the World Were a Village, A Book About the World’s People, Smith. Expands children’s vision of the world by shrinking the world down to 100 people, and then discussing how those people are categorized (30 out of 100 are under 19 years old, 17 cannot read or write, 22 speak Chinese etc). Wonderful way to introduce children to the diverse, global village we live in, encouraging them to embrace the bigger picture with the goal of reducing prejudice and narrow-mindedness that can cause both interpersonal and even national conflict. ISBN: 1-55074-779-7.
John Muir: America's Naturalist, Thomas Locker. Richly painted landscapes bring the world of John Muir to life. Muirs’ charming, lyrical writing style resonates - direct quotes and famous sayings are found throughout the pages. Also discusses his love of the wilderness and his role establishing the National Park System and starting a club of outdoor enthusiasts that he named the Sierra Club. Inspirational reading for children in grades 4-8. ISBN: 1-55591-393-8.
John Muir: America's Naturalist (Teachers Guide), Joan Smutney. Creative ideas on how to use Locker’s book on Muir to create stimulating activities and materials in the language arts and science. Includes journaling pages, essay suggestions, poetry writing, short story ideas, and science connections. Guide is not bound, making it easy to reproduce student worksheets for classroom use. Grades 4-8. ISBN: ?.
Rachel Carson, Preserving a Sense of Wonder, Thomas Locker. Although best known for Silent Spring (translated into 15 languages and named the most influential book of the past 50 years), Rachel Carson actually wrote many books and was an accomplished marine scientist as well. This beautifully illustrated book reveals those accomplishments, featuring many of her original quotes. Grades 4-8. ISBN: 1-55591-482-9.
Rachel Carson: Preserving a Sense of Wonder (Teachers Guide), Joan Smutney. Creative ideas on how to use Locker and Bruchac’s book to build stimulating activities in language arts and science. Includes journaling pages, essay suggestions, poetry writing, short story ideas, and science connections. Guide is not bound, making it easy to reproduce student worksheets for class. Grades 4-8. ISBN: ?.
Walking with Henry, Based on the Life and Works of Henry David Thoreau, Thomas Locker. In a series of richly painted landscapes, children ages 8-13 view the natural world through the eyes of Thoreau. Both field biologist and poet, Thoreau believed that wild places provide the ultimate source of creativity, essential for survival in a fast-paced world. ISBN: 1-55591-355-5.
Walking with Henry, Based on the Life and Works of Henry David Thoreau (Teachers Guide), Thomas Locker. Creative ideas on how to use Locker’s book to build stimulating activities in language arts and science. Includes journaling pages, essay suggestions, poetry writing, short story ideas, and science connections. For grades 4-8. ISBN: ?.
* A Quiet Place, Douglas Wood. Sometimes a person needs a quiet place. A place that's far away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life - a place that isn't ringing or talking or roaring or playing. But sometimes that place isn't easy to find. Explore what it's like to find a special someplace where we all can think our own thoughts and feel our own feelings. ISBN: 0-689-87609-2.
* The Wartville Wizard, Don Madden. Wartville is being buried in trash! There are soda bottles under the flowers, juice cans by the mailbox, and newspapers along the road. Every day the piles grow higher and higher. Then one tidy old man realizes he has the power to get rid of all the trash forever. Wartville will finally be cleaned up once and for all! ISBN: 0-689-71667-2.
* Xochitl and the Flowers / Xochitl, la Nina do las Flores, Jorge Argueta. ISBN: 0-89239-181-2.
* There's a Hair in My Dirt, Gary Larson. ISBN: 0-06-019104-X.
* How Humans Make Friends, Loreen Leedy. ISBN: 0-8234-1223-7.
* Shelterwood, Susan Shetterly. Grade 3-5-Sophie's grandfather is a conscientious logger, caring for his woods in the hope that they will last for generations to come. When the child spends the summer with him, he begins to pass on his knowledge, teaching her to tell the different trees apart, what they need to grow and thrive, and about woodland ecology. The narrative alternates between the nostalgic and the pedantic, too contemplative to work well as a read-aloud and too loosely episodic to hold independent readers' attention. Though information-packed, the text, does not smoothly meld fact and story. The illustrations are another case entirely. Lovely and impressionistic, these oils are rendered in a combination of broad, blurred strokes and clear detail that bring the woods to life. They give the narrative a context and atmosphere that it might otherwise lack. Shelterwood may be best used in teaching situations in which ecological issues are under discussion. Not many other books take on an illustration of the difference between clear-cutting and selective logging. ISBN: 0-88448-210-3. Also Shelterwood: Discovering the Forest (Teachers Guide). ISBN: 0-88448-211-1.
* Forest Bright / Forest Night, Jennifer Ward. Kindergarten-Grade 3;Using a rhythmic text and a turn-it-over format, this offering explores the concept that some forest animals are diurnal while others are nocturnal. The details of the lush, almost surreal, illustrations realistically convey the creatures' appearances and activities. The imaginative interpretation of the landscape and its inhabitants offers youngsters an unusual perspective of forest life. During daylight hours, they can observe deer splashing through a stream while an owl dozes in a nearby tree, snakes staring at sleeping foxes, and blue jays squawking as skunks snooze in a hollow log. After turning the book over to the forest night, readers see the deer bedded down while the owl searches for food, the foxes on the prowl as the snakes rest in a tangled bunch, and the skunks scurrying about while a jay sleeps with its head tucked beneath its wing. The strong artwork will hold children's interest as they search for all of the hidden animals. A fun introduction to nature. ISBN: 1-58469-067-4.
