BOOKS ABOUT NATURE AND LIFE SCIENCE
SCIENCE
CONCEPT PHOTOGRAPH / ACTIVITY CARDS FROM
CREATIVE TEACHING PRESS AND
EDUPRESS
African
Plains Coloring Book by Dianne Gaspas-Ettl, Dover, 1996. Features 41
well-researched, excellently rendered scenes documenting African wildlife in
their natural habitats, among them a magnificent giraffe at a water hole, a
cheetah with its young on an abandoned termite mound, a yellow-winged bat amid
the blossoms of the baobab tree, and much more. Descriptive captions accompany
each illustration. Limits rights to reproduce designs for personal projects. 48
pages + colored plates for selected scenes on covers. BTH-4124. $3.56-D
Arctic
and Antarctic Life Coloring Book
by Ruth Soffer. Dover, 1998. This
coloring book will introduce you to a variety of polar inhabitants as you color
lifelike drawings of terns and humpback whales, baby harp seals, a sea spider,
king and emperor penguins, and other creatures — all shown in their native
habitats. Fact-filled captions accompany 44 excellent illustrations in this
entertaining and educational coloring book. Limits rights to reproduce designs
for personal projects. 44 pages. BTH-4125. $3.56-D
America's Horses and Ponies
by I. Brady. Gives a fairly complete picture of the 38 most popular horse and
pony breeds in the United States, as well as discussing the donkey, the mule,
the zebra, and how the horse evolved (supposedly) from eohippus. The origins,
conformations and current status of each breed is explained in a fascinating but
factual way, and each description is accompanied by a meticulous drawing (to
scale). An excellent reference book for horse fans. Cat #568, $15.95 Now out of
print, but I have a couple.
Animals Brightly Colored,
by Phyllis Tildes. Colorful animals and birds are introduced with riddles and
hints and partial pictures so that children can guess what they will see on the
next page, where they will see the whole creature and learn some interesting
facts. This book enhances knowledge of both nature and vocabulary. For ages 3-8.
Print size is giant. 6.36-D
Aquarium Take-Along Book,
by Sheldon L. Gerstenfeld, illustrated by Paul Harvey. Paper, 104 indexed pages.
A guide to the natural environments , skills, and adaptations of water animals.
Includes information on how to preserve marine life. For ages 7-10.
$5.99 3.93B
Arctic
Alphabet: Exploring the North from A to Z
by Wayne Lynch. Firefly Books,
1999, glossy hard cover with no dust jacket. 32 pages. This book introduces
elementary age children to the arctic region. It covers the following subjects:
Aurora Borealis; Beluga Whale; Caribou; Ducks and Geese; Eagle; Fox; Glacier;
Hibernation; Inuit; Jaeger; Kittiwake; Lousewort; Mosquito; Narwhal; Owl; Polar
Bear; Qiviut; Raven; Seals; Tern; Under the Ice; Voles and Lemmings; Walrus;
Xanthoria; Yellowcoat; and Zooplankton. You don't have to be young to learn
something from this book, which is illustrated with color photos on each page.
Book may have slight defects as from publisher. BTH-1820 $19.99,
$9.93-B
At Home in the Rain Forest,
by D. Willow. This lush visual journey through the rain forest stresses the
interrelatedness of all life-forms. Illustrated with vibrant full-color
paintings by L. Jacques. Cat. #317. $6.26-D Written for elementary students, but
all ages will enjoy it.
 The Big Bug Search,
an Usborne book. There are about 100 bugs (including spiders, slugs and other
non-insects) hiding on each double-page spread in this book. Each beautifully
illustrated puzzle shows a different part of the world, full of the tiny
creatures that live there. You will find Homes and Gardens; Cactus City
(Desert); Island Paradise (Madagascar); Dazzling Display (rainforest in Peru);
Between the Trees (Eucalyptus forest in Eastern Australia); Water World
(American pond); In the Woods (northern France); Swamp Life (Florida); Deep in
the Jungle (southeast Asia), Minibeast Safari (South Africa); Insect City
(Termites); Busy Beehive. At the end are a map of where various creatures live,
a bug puzzle to see if readers remember some of the information they read
earlier, and the answers. My scanner was too small to fit the whole book on, so
the bottom and right edges are cut off a bit. 32 pages. EDC-27036. $8.06-D
 Biography
of a Silver Fox, by Ernest T. Seton. This is a beautiful nature
story that lets you see into the inner life of a fox as it grows up, hunts,
fights, mates, and starts a family. A rare and beautiful book, now out of print.
When my supply is gone, it's gone. Upper elementary level and up. Illustrated
with black and white drawings. Lots of white space around text. BTH-1412. $5.00-B
Bugs, by Nancy Winslow
Parker and Joan Wright. This has got to be one of my favorite bug books (They're
not all insects.) for young children. Each bug is introduced with a riddle in
giant print and a full color picture on the left-hand page. The answer, also in
giant print, is on the right, along with a giant, labeled , color picture of the
bug in question. The little beastie is described under its common and scientific
names in smaller print under the picture. Featured bugs are horsefly, cicada,
ant, tick, flea, slug, spider, moth, mosquito, centipede, roach, cricket,
termites, louse, firefly, and dragonfly. The back of the book has illustrations
of bug's life cycles and stages of development. 40 pages. Will appeal to all
elementary ages. 4.95
Bugs for Lunch by
Facklam. This colorful picture book introduces young children to a variety of
creatures that eat insects. They include some well-known species, such as bats,
bears, and aardvarks, as well as such lesser-known insectivores as rainbow
trout, praying mantises, humans and even Venus's-flytraps. The
artwork, much of it larger than life size, offers a great deal of scientific
information without ever appearing cluttered. Appended facts about the bug
eaters shown on these double-page spreads help clarify the details in the
illustrations. Cat. # $6.26-D
 Butterflies
for Kids by E. Jaediker Norsgaard. NorthWord Books, paper. Suitable for
grade 3 and up. This story elementary readers will join a film-making father,
his daughter, and a neighbor boy as they witness the amazing changes that take
place during the life cycle of a butterfly. There are close-up full-color
photographs and illustrations of every stage in this drama to keep young readers
captivated. 48 pages. NW-5464. $6.26-D
 Caterpillars, Bugs, and
Butterflies by Meg Boring. A Take-Along Guide published by NorthWord.
This fun and informative book introduces children to many of the creatures they
will find in their backyards. They will learn to find and identify eight
caterpillars, 12 bugs, and ten butterflies and moths. Each page page that
describes an insect or its larvae tells where the creature can be found, what it
eats, and what it looks like. The three pictures on the page show the insect
itself, the insect eating, and the insect in its habitat. Besides the "field
guide" pages, there are "something to do" pages related to some of the creatures
discussed. One gives instructions for capturing a wooly bear caterpillar for the
winter so it can be watched as it changes into a moth. Another shows how to use
a "cricket thermometer" to tell the temperature. The last explains how to make
"moth sugar" to attract moths to observe at night. The edge of the book's back
cover is ruled into eight inches so young explorers can measure the size of
various creatures they find. The last seven pages of the book are a scrapbook
for the reader's drawings, notes, or anything else. 48 pages. NW-6746. $6.26-D
 Color
and Learn Birds, Butterflies, and Wild Flowers by Lisa Bonforte, Paul
Kennedy, and Jan Sovak. This volume combines three popular Dover coloring books
for middle grades and higher. Part of the Dover Pictorial Archive Series, which
means illustrations may be used without permission for craft projects if you
make ten or less of the same project. Descriptive captions at the bottom of each
page give information about the creatures or flowers in the pictures. 144 pages
+ color plates showing actual colors of the plants and animals in nature.
BTH-4123. $7.16-D
 Educational
Activities: Magnets and Magnetism Kit, Barrons Educational. An
attractive paperback portfolio contains activities and features that include two
small horseshoe and two bar magnets, iron filings enclosed in a plastic
container, and a double-size card featuring a magnet board game for kids to
play. There are several experiments, described in a booklet, and a space game to
play. For ages 8-12. Cat #BAR-73650. $5.36-D
 Educational
Activities: Birdhouse Kit, Barrons Educational.An attractive
paperback portfolio contains activities and features that include
color-illustrated 7 3/4" x 10 1/4" cards with birdhouse building instructions,
illustrated posters showing birds' behavior, 100 wooden popsicle-type sticks for
construction, glue, 12 paints in cake form, and a brush. For ages 6-10.
Cat.#BAR-73634. $5.36-D
 Educational
Activities: Tyranossaurus Model Kit, Barrons Educational.
This kit teaches children, ages 6-10, all about dinosaurs. Items include a
wooden Tyrannosaurus skeleton to construct, a sheet of collectable cardboard
dinosaurs, a sheet of dinosaur illustrations to color, and a cardboard landscape
to decorate. The kit comes in an attractive paperback portfolio containing
materials, color illustrated instruction cards, and supplementary items for
hours of creative fun. While kids learn basics of arts and crafts, they also
learn facts that relate to each activity. Contains small parts and is not
recommended for children under 3 years of age. Cat. #BAR-74649. $5.36-D
 Find the Constellations
by H.A. Rey (Creator of Curious George). Revised edition. This simply but
well-illustrated book is designed to help young (and old) readers learn to
recognize important starts and constellations. It shows each constellation as
"just stars" side-by-side with the picture associated with the constellation. It
tells the stories associated with constellations and presents facts. Various
seasonal sky views are presented side by side. One side has just stars. The
other has the lines drawn between them to point out the constellations.
Near the end are a sky chart and a combined index / glossary. 72 pages.
Especially recommended for grades 4-7. This book was a bit too wide for the
scanner, but I think you'll get the idea. HM-244188. $8.96-D.
 Fun
with Nature Take-Along Guide. This is really a hardcover edition
combining several paperback books of the same general shape. Books included are
Caterpillars, Bugs, and Butterflies; Frogs, Toads and Turtles; Rabbits,
Squirrels and Chipmunks; Snakes, Salamanders and Lizards; Tracks, Scats, and
Signs; and Trees, Leaves, and Bark. Each of the books is available
separately (except Tracks, Scats, and Signs) for only 5.93-B. Each page
of the books has drawings of the plant or animal or signs in color, tips on
finding the subject, what is looks like, what it eats and where it lives (if
animal). Little boxes a the top have special facts. Little boxes at the page
bottom have warnings and tips. At the end of each book is at least one related
hands-on activity (such as making a rabbit refuge or watching chipmunks walk a
tightrope or making a bark rubbing poster. There are also several blank pages
with attractive borders at the end of each book to use as a scrapbook. The
hardbound book would make a wonderful gift for young naturalists of about third
grade and up. The individual books are great for those who have one focused
interest they want to pursue. Cat. #Kud 7025 for hardcover. $11.93-B. Order
individual books by title. These are all bargain books and may have minor flaws
in the cover.
 Green Thumbs A Kid's Activity Guide to Indoor and Outdoor Gardening, by Laurie Carlson. For ages 3-9. This wonderful book introducing
young children to the pleasure and importance of working with nature and gives
them practical skills they can use all their lives. With a few seeds, some water
and soil, and a bunch of great activities, they will learn not only how to make
things grow, but also where living things come from and how the different parts
of the environment -- weather, seasons, soil, animals, and insects -- work
together in the garden. Green Thumbs has over 80 things to do and
make. It uses materials easily found around the house. Grown-up teachers need no
prior gardening experience to help children with activities in this book. 132
pages. BTH-3869.
$11.66-D
Grizzly, by Jerolyn
Nentl.
Library binding. 48 pages. Part of the Habits and Habitats series
for grades 3-6. Discusses this powerful American bear, how he looks, how he
lives, and what will become of him. Illustrated with color photos. Has index and
habitat map. Remainder mark on side edge. $3.93B
 The Honey Makers by
Gail Gibbons. HarperCollins, paper. The book opens with two beekeepers placing a
beehive on a hill. Then the young readers observe what goes on inside and
outside the hive until the honey is collected and processed. At the end of the
book are a couple of pages reproducing "a beekeepers yearbook" and another
couple of pages with miscellaneous illustrated facts that didn't fit in the
story itself. Although this is designed for children 3-8 years old, I
would consider the interest level much higher because of the detailed pictures.
Bees and cells in the hive are shown much larger than live size so that you can
see exactly what they look like. Even adults will probably learn something they
didn't know before. About 32 pages. The book is oversize, and the scan of the
cover art cuts the bottom off a bit. HC-175317. $5.36-D. Will price will
probably go up next time I reorder.
Insects and Spiders, by
Penny Clarke. Part of the Worldwise Series published by Franklin Watts. This
resembles an Usborne book with its spectacular illustrations, some of which show
greatly enlarged pictures of the insects. Tells how to identify an insect and
how it differs from a spider. Insects are shown in their habitats and close-up
by themselves, with their parts labeled. We see the life cycles of these
creatures close-up. Main text is large and double-spaced so it is easy for
primaries to read. More details are described in smaller text in the margins of
the page, still double-spaced. Size is about 8 inches square, with 40 indexed
pages and a glossary of useful words. For third grade and up. The pictures will
fascinate even adults. Cat. #WW0531. $6.30-D
Jerry
Pallotta Nature Alphabet Series
 Life in a Bucket of Soil
by Alvin and Virginia Silverstein. Dover, trade paper. If you were to fill a
bucket full of soil, you would probably discover many of the small creatures
described in this fascinating, easy-to-read book, which is designed to help you
get to know the many creatures which live underground. These creatures include
earthworms, roundworms, snails and slugs, wood lice, centipedes, beetles,
spiders, ants, and mites. You will learn how these small animals live, breed,
interact, move, eat and defend themselves. You will learn how they affect the
soil in which they live. and you will learn how to collect and preserve and
study them. Contains over 70 black and white illustrations, a bibliography, and
an index. 96 pages. Suitable for upper elementary grades and up. BTH-3871.
$4.46-D
Look to the Sky: An All-purpose
Interdisciplinary Guide to Astronomy, by Jerry DeBruin and Don
Murad. Illustrated by Rochana Junkasem. This is a Good Apple Science Activity
Book for Grades 4-12, and activity pages are reproducible for classroom use.
This book is divided into three parts. The first deals with instructions on
picking out an appropriate pair of binoculars or, as one becomes more advanced,
choosing a telescope. It also includes instructions for photographing the sky.
Part Two lists additional information to be found at the library in magazine
articles and other books, and some addresses of clubs and other astronomy
organizations. Part Three comprises the bulk of the book and is devoted to
activities and games that can be made and done for use at home or school to
enhance the study of the sky and all it contains. 8½ x 11, 152 page, 11.66-D
 Marine Science 1, by Lisa Wood.
This is the first in a series of three books that present the fascinating world
of the ocean through scientific experiments and cross-curricular activities. It
offers extensive information and activities related to tide pools, sea water,
fish, marine animals, invertebrates, and food chains. Includes background
information for teachers, reproducible activities for students, glossary, and
answer key. For grades K-2. 72 pages. BTH-182. $11.66-D
 Marine Science 2, by Lisa Wood.
This is the second in a series of three books that present the fascinating world
of the ocean through scientific experiments and cross-curricular activities. It
offers extensive information and activities related to kelp forests, sea water,
fishes and sharks, marine mammals, marine invertebrates, marine plants and
algae, and food chains and food webs. Includes background information for
teachers, reproducible activities for students, glossary, and answer key. For
grades 3-5. 88 pages. BTH-183. $11.66-D
 Marine Science 3,
by Lisa Wood.
This is the third in a series of three books that present the fascinating world
of the ocean through scientific experiments and cross-curricular activities. It
offers extensive information and activities related to coral reef, waves and
tides, fishes and sharks, topography of the ocean floor, plankton, marine
invertebrates, and food webs. Includes background information for teachers,
reproducible activities for students, glossary, and answer key. For grades 6-8.
80 pages. BTH-184. $11.66-D
More Science Experiments You Can Eat,
by Vicki Cobb. More easy science experiments to perform in the kitchen
laboratory. This is kitchen chemistry at its best for grades 4-6. 126 pages.
Cat. #100, $4.45-D.
 Mystery
Disease by Mark A. Bohland. For grades 5-8. A serious illness
is sweeping through the small community of Jamestown. Why are all these people
sick? Where did they catch the disease? Student take the role of public health
workers as they track down the source of the illness. This problem-based unit
combines science, social studies, math, research, group collaboration, and
communication as students work in teams to solve he problem and present their
findings. This unit should be very relevant to students who are hearing about
new diseases on the media quite frequently now. Student pages are reproducible
for classroom use. 88 pages. BTH-23. $11.66-D
 Natural Treasures Field Guide for Kids,
by Elizabeth Biesot, published by the Denver Museum of Natural History. Arranged
by season from spring to winter, this special field guide(64 pages) shows
colored pictures of animals and insects on the right side of the page with
descriptions and habits. Opposite, on the left side, are clues for discovering
the presence of each animal (droppings, territorial marks, tracks, homes,
smells, sounds, evidence left behind, etc. Reading level is about third grade,
but this book can be used by all who want to understand the natural clues that
help them discover which wild creatures have been near. The book contains a
glossary and an index. Cat. #1565, $12.95.
 Night Book by
Pamela Hickman: Exploring Nature After Dark with Activities, Experiments, and
Information. Lots of hands-on activities and large pastel pictures make this
just the book for nocturnal explorers, ages 7-9. Activities include identifying
features of the moon, making a starscope, testing echolocation in bats,
discovering how eye shine works, telling the temperature with cricket sounds,
and more. Most of the questions that might come up on a night hike are answered
in this book, which can be great preparation for a camping trip. 48 pages with
index and stiff paper cover. Cat.#KC3066. $6.26-D
Pagoo, by Holling C.
Holling. An intricate study of tidepool life is presented through the story of
Pagoo -- a hermit crab. Though the average 4th grader will be able to read it,
even adults will enjoy the intricate pencil drawings and full-page color
illustrations. BTH-3868. $10.00*
 Pets in a Jar: Collecting and
Caring for Small Wild Animals by Seymour Simon. Illustrated by Betty
Fraser. For ages eight and up. What child can resist the urge to catch a small
creature and want to make a pet of it? Perhaps you've been asked for a jar to
house one of these small creatures. Simon explains where to find the creatures
he suggests as "pets" and how to house and care for them. He suggests various
experiments to find out more about them (but none that would hurt the animals.)
The creatures he covers in this book are hydras, planarians, pond snails, water
bugs, tadpoles, newts, toads, earthworms, ants, crickets, praying mantes,
butterflies and moths, brine shrimp, hermit crabs, and starfish. Simon suggests
that children should not capture any more creatures than they are committed to
caring for at one time and that after a time of keeping and studying a creature,
it should be turned loose again in its natural environment. BTH-3873. $6.29-D
Picture Guide to Tree Leaves,
by Raymond Wiggers. This will introduce those third grade and up to the most
common tree species of North America. Full-color photos of each leaf help
identify the trees. There is also information on habitat, leaf dimensions, and
the fruits and flowers unique to each tree. 64 indexed pages. 5.95*
Poisonous Plants, by
Suzanne Coil. Though the text is at about third grade level, the color pictures
can help those of all ages identify and learn about some of the most common
poisonous plants and where they are most likely to be found. 63 indexed pages.
5.95*.
 Science
Arts: Discovering Science Through Art Experiences
by MaryAnn Kohl and Jean Potter. Bright Ring Publishing, 1993. For children
3-10. The activities in this book will work both at home and in a
classroom. They are designed to awaken the imagination, challenge the mind, and
delight the artist and scientist within each child. The art experiences are also
like science experiments, and the science related to each project is explained
in a box on the bottom of each project page. A chart of contents indicates the
area of science covered, the season best suited for the project, an age
suggestion, the art techniques used, amount of preparation needed, difficulty
level, and more. Topics covered are water and air; light and sight; motion and
energy; reaction and matter; and nature and earth. There are over 100 activities
in all, including projects such as crystal bubbles, dancing rabbits, building
beans, magnetic rubbing, stencil leaves, magic cabbage, marble sculpture, paint
pendulum, ice structures, the volcano, bottle optics, chromatography, straw
painting, frozen paper, marshmallow tower, spaghetti painting, invisible paint,
sculptured pretzels, sand drawings, and many more. 142 pages. BTH-3503. $14.36-D
 Science Experiments You Can Eat,
by Vicki Cobb. A "lab manual" of edible experiments. You can turn your kitchen
into a laboratory your children will love. Kids spend their own money on these
books at school book fairs. Discover how cabbage can detect acid, how bacteria
makes yogurt, and much more. Revised to reflect advances in scientific knowledge
and the invention of the microwave. Remainder: New book with light wear to cover
and black marker line on bottom edge. For grades 4-6. 214 indexed pages.
BTH-3487 $3.53-B
Sharing Nature With Children, by Joseph Cornell. 20th
Anniversary Edition, Revised and Expanded. The author, a very highly regarded
nature educator, has written this books of games and activities with
instructions on how parents and teachers can use them to introduce nature to
children. He suggests we do more showing and less telling so that our children
will become good observers. 173 pages. BTH-3874. $8.96-D
Simple Nature Experiments with
Everyday Materials, by Anthony D. Fredericks. Hardcover, 128
indexed pages. Simple experiments demonstrate environmental concepts such as
erosion, aeration, and animal camouflage. Fun B/W drawings enhance text. Each
experiment has four sections: You need; What to do; What happens; and Why. For
elementary grades. This is a remainder and may have slight defects.
$14.95 7.93B
 Sky
Tree: Seeing Science Through Art by Thomas Locker
with Candace Christiansen. HarperCollins, 1995. The author himself says of this
book in his Author's Note, " Sky Tree invites adults and children to
experience the life of a tree and its relationship to the sky in several
different ways. Through storytelling, art appreciation, and scientific
exploration, Sky Tree attempts to reach both the heart and mind." It
does. As each season progresses and changes, the reader sees a full-page color
painting of the tree against the sky. On the facing page are a sentence or two
describing the picture and at the bottom a question to help the reader interact
with the picture. At the back of the book is a section where the author or Ms.
Christiansen gives answers to the questions at the bottoms of the pages. The
author is referred to in the third person in this section. This book can cross
the curriculum from art to science and can suit all ages interested in art,
trees, or seasons. Unpaginated. BTH-3226. $6.29-D
Snakes by Seymour
Simon. A picture book containing stunning photographs that will fascinate both
snake lovers and haters. Written for primaries, but older children will also be
attracted to the spectacular photos. Cat. #227. $5.95
Starry Sky, by Patrick
Moore, illustrated by P. Doherty. This is THE book on astronomy for children
ages 5-7. A world-famous astronomer leads young readers on a tour of the solar
system in this beautifully-illustrated book. The lively narrative and full-color
artwork reveal fascinating information about the sun, the planets, comets,
asteroids, and meteors. Hardcover. 96 pages. Cat. #732. $8.96-D
Tarantulas, by William
R, Sanford and Carl Green. Library binding. 48 pages. Part of the Habits and
Habitats series for grades 3-6. Describes the physical
characteristics, habits, natural environment, and relationship to humans of the
tarantula, a spider whose size and weight makes it impossible to spin a web
strong enough to hold it. Illustrated with color photos. Has index and
habitat map. Remainder mark on side edge. $3.93B
Whales, by Seymour
Simon. Introduction to whales' biology and physical characteristics, lavishly
illustrated with photos of whales in their natural habitat. Written for
primaries, but all ages will enjoy the photos. Cat. #228. $6.95
 Wild
and Swampy: Exploring with Jim Arnosky. HarperCollins, 2000, first
edition, hardcover with dust jacket. For ages 6-10 and their parents and
teachers. Jim Arnosky invites his readers to explore a southern swamp with him.
First he explains the safe way to see a swamp. Then he introduces you to the
life of the swamp with his gorgeous full-color, full-page paintings of the
creatures he meets. From a bald cypress swamp we see a turtle , an egret
stalking a fish, a yellow-crowned night heron,a southern brown water snake, a
cottonmouth moccasin , and a barred owl. In Okefenokee Swamp we see a raccoon,
unaware he is being stalked by an alligator and a fawn. We meet an alligator in
a mangrove swamp in a bayou, along with an anhinga, or snake bird, and mangrove
crabs climbing up the mangrove trees. We also catch sight of a pelican, up
close. Throughout the book are also pen and ink sketches of types of swamps and
extra details not in the paintings that provide more information. Unpaginated.
Out of print. Limited to stock on hand. BTH-1819. $15.93*
Also see Usborne Science Books
for all ages
and Rookie Read-About Science Books
for primaries
Picture Books About
Nature / Order Form
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