The Salamander Room

By Anne Mazer.  Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher.
  32 pages.  Reading level, ages 4-8. 

A young boy captures a salamander and brings him to live in his room.  The fun begins when his mother asks how he will care for this little creature.  The boy comes up with delightful answers to each question, planning adjustments to his room, until eventually we see only his room in the midst of a complex forest ecosystem.

The Great Kapok Tree
By Lynne Cherry. Paperback, 40 pages.
  Reading level, ages 4-8.

A man comes to chop down the great Kapok tree, but settles down to take a nap before beginning his labors.  A surprising variety of creatures, all of whom depend on the great tree for food or shelter, come to whisper in his ear as he sleeps.  The man, and the reader, learn a reverent lesson about the webs of life that connect us all.  Stunning illustrations.

New Animal Discoveries. Ronald Orenstein with Jane Goodall. Library binding, 48 pages.  Reading level, ages 9-12.

In this inspirational book, we are reminded that new discoveries still await budding field biologists. This fascinating book highlights new animal discoveries within the last two decades and the scientists who brought them to the attention of the scientific community. Photographs of rare and endangered animals are included. Index, Foreword by Jane Goodall, Sidebars.

THERE'S STILL TIME:
THE SUCCESS OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT. Mark Galan. National Geographic.  Hardcover, 40pages.  Reading level, ages 9-12.

This well-written book discusses and illustrates the successes of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 and the work that remains. From the well-known bald eagle to the lesser-known Louisiana pearlshell mussel, the author explores the recovery of 19 plants and animals through informative text and amazing photographs. Foreword. Index.

Once a Wolf: How Wildlife Biologists Fought to Bring Back the Gray Wolf.
Stephen R. Swinburne. Illustrated with photographs by Jim Brandenburg.  48pages.  Reading level, ages 9-12.

This book is a thorough account of the life of the gray wolf, from its value to the ecosystem to a description of its problematic relationships with people as well as the conservation movement that is credited with restoring the wolf population by returning wolves to their natural habitat. Map, Bibliography, Web Sites, Index.
 

Crawdad Creek. Scott Russell Sanders. Illustrated by Robert Hynes. National Geographic. Paperback, 32pages.  Reading level, ages 4-8.

 Exquisitely detailed paintings capture the beauty of the wild, natural world waiting to be discovered. The book encourages readers to go outside; find moving water; and open their eyes, ears, and hearts to the wilderness everywhere. A great book to encourage young readers to observe all the details of the world around them. Author's Note.

Welcome to the River of Grass. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Laura Regan.  32 pages.  Reading level, ages 4-8. 

The magnificent illustrations and rich language make this volume of interest across the grades as the author depicts a day in the Everglades. The lush river of grass—inches deep and miles wide—is home to a wide variety of interesting residents, both flora and fauna. Predator/prey relationships are depicted.

Pond. Written and illustrated by Gordon Morrison.  Hardcover, 32pages.  Reading level, ages 4-8. 

Changes and activities that occur over days and weeks throughout the seasons in, on, and around a pond are described. Through the narrative and illustrations the reader observes interactions of thriving plants and animals. Insets provide additional details about these plants and animals, the seasons, and how a pond is formed.

Pond Watching with Ann Morgan. Michael Elsohn Ross. Illustrated by Wendy Smith.   Library binding, 48 pages.  Reading level, ages 9-12.

SQUISHY, MISTY, DAMP & MUDDY: THE IN-BETWEEN WORLD OF WETLANDS. Molly Cone.  Sierra Club.  Paperback, 32 pages.  Reading level, ages 4-8.  

Stunning, well-placed photographs pull the reader into this book. The story here is diversity--of wetlands and the abundant life they support. It also speaks of their precarious future and the importance of preservation. Cone's richly innovative text is enhanced by touches of alliteration and an almost poetic cadence.

National Audubon Society
First Field Guide: Trees.
By Brian Cassie. Scholastic Reference. 160 pages. 
 Reading level, ages 9-12. 

Whether you are looking at trees in your own yard, taking a walk in the woods, or vacationing in a wilderness park, this field guide will help you look at trees the way a naturalist does. The book provides information on everything children might want to know about trees, such as unique characteristics, life cycles, and varied habitats. More than 450 color photographs and illustrations capture the beauty of over 150 species in North America. Glossary, Resources, Index.

Life in a Grassland (Ecosystems in Action series). Dorothy Hinshaw Patent. Illustrated with photographs by William Muñoz.   Library binding,  72 pages.  Reading level, ages 9-12.

This book describes features of grasslands, including location, variety of grasses, climate, soil characteristics, and animal life. The impact of people on a prairie ecosystem is also discussed. The readable text is enhanced by colorful photographs and text boxes. This book on grasslands, a less familiar ecosystem to many people, will be an excellent addition to a classroom collection.

Here Is the African Savanna.
Madeleine Dunphy. Illustrated by Tom Leonard.  Hardcover, 32 pages.  Reading level, ages 4-8.  

A classic style of cumulative verse builds the text as it weaves the story of the food web of the African savanna. The strength and survival of the animals is illustrated by luminous paintings featuring the interdependence of each strand of the food web. Afterword.

The Spirit of the Maasai Man. Written and illustrated by Laura Berkley. School and library binding, 32 pages.  Reading level, ages 4-8.

A fascinating book that captures the perspective of a people in tune with the animal world. Effective words develop the message of the Maasai man as he sings to the animals. This book will provoke deep thought and much discussion as it raises questions about captive animals. Author's Note.

Galápagos Islands: Nature’s Delicate Balance at Risk. Linda Tagliaferro.  Library binding, 88pages.  Reading level, ages 9-12.

The once unspoiled nature of the Galápagos Islands has now become threatened. In a straightforward style, this book focuses on a limited number of species to explain what is unique about the islands and how the islands and their plant and animal species are threatened. Beautiful color photographs follow and enhance the text. Bibliography, Glossary, Index, Internet Resources.

Interrupted Journey: Saving Endangered Sea Turtles. Kathryn Lasky.  Photographs by Christopher G. Knight.  Hardcover, 48 pages.  Reading level, ages 9-12.

Clear, vivid photographs meld with the text and tell of the miraculous journey of a stranded sea turtle found by a 10 year-old boy and rescued through the cooperation of scientists, veterinarians, and volunteers.

Antarctic Journal: Four Months at the Bottom of the World. Jennifer Owings Dewey.  64 pages.  Reading level, 9-12.

 This eye-opening portrayal of an icy-cold adventure to one of the most forbidding, fascinating places on Earth carefully mixes amazing narratives, science facts, and colorful photographs that are sure to intrigue and inspire young explorers. A warm, thoughtful diary sharing the fears and wonders of the “last great wilderness on Earth.”

FLUSH!: Treating Wastewater. Karen Mueller Coombs. Illustrated with photographs by Jerry Boucher.  Library binding, 56 pages.  Reading level, 9-12. 

Ever wonder what happens to water you flush down the toilet? A step-by-step trip through the process of cleaning wastewater gives a behind-the-scenes look using excellent, full-color photographs. A unique book concerning our most valuable natural resource — water. Glossary. Index.

 I Want to Be an Environmentalist (I Want to Be... series). Stephanie Maze. School and library binding, 48 pages.  Reading level, ages 9-12.

AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL HEROES (Collective Biographies series). Phyllis M. Stanley.   128 pages.  Reading level, ages 9-12.

The Wump World

Bill Peet.  49 pages.  Reading level, ages 4-8.  Never ordinary, Bill Peet's imaginative work transports the reader to the world of the Wump's.  The sweet fuzzy wumps have just been invaded by the Pollutians and their monstrous machines!  As the Wump's go into hiding, the Pollutians set about ravaging the planet.  Peet manages to bring chuckles to young readers with his page-turning tale about loving your planet and preserving its beauty and resources.

Farewell To Shady Glade

Bill Peet.  48 pages.  Reading level ages 4-8.  This classic book  is a great introduction to the problems  of habitat destruction.  Eye catching illustrations by Bill Peet and warm text connect the reader with the plight of the animal characters who must leave their homes because of humankind's drive for "progress".  As the bulldozers sit poised to plow everything (and everyone) down, the little creatures set out on their own comic journey to find a new wild space, far from humans and their blind destruction.  The courage of the little creatures really speaks to young children, who know all too well what it feels like to get mowed down by the goal-oriented world of adults.

Our Big Home: An Earth Poem

Linda Glaser. Illustrated by Elisa Kleven.  32 pages. Reading level, ages 4-8.

Sun, rain, air, animals, people - all are a part of the Earth, our big home. Portraits of children and animals are whimsically detailed through delightful multicultural drawings from around the world. The language is melodic and full of cheerful metaphors that make the characters lively and memorable.

Recycle! : A Handbook for Kids

by Gail Gibbons

Gibbons's cartoons in primary shapes and colors graphically illustrate the contents of a landfill and how to recycle various products to cut down on the need for landfills--for which space is already in short supply. Discussing paper, plastic, glass, cans, and polystyrene, the author describes how to recycle, why it's necessary, and its benefits.  The book ends with a mention of the ozone layer and the limited potential for recycling polystyrene, followed by 14 facts about garbage. The plea is to make our planet a safer and healthier place to live with a habit that is fun and easy--recycling.