Books by Theme
Outdoor Adventures
A Boy, a Dog, and a Frog
This wordless book tells the story of a boy and his dog trying to catch a frog. As they head home empty-handed, they are surprised to find that the frog followed them home!
Coral Reefs
A girl is transported from the library to an underwater world where she observes coral reefs and sea life in this fantastic but illuminating adventure.
Crocodile Safari
Noted naturalist, Arnosky, trekked through Florida's Everglades to count crocodiles, the once endangered reptiles. Through informal narration and arresting, large paintings, these toothy creatures come alive. A DVD with highlights of the author’s trek is included.
Everglades
As an Indian storyteller guides a boat of children down the sea of grass, he reveals the story of the landscape's formation of what was to become a subtropical national park home to many unique animals. This carefully crafted and handsomely illustrated cautionary tale urges conservation, as the future of the Everglades depends on it.
Fishing with Dad
A young man relives the pleasure of his childhood experiences while on a fishing trip with his son and father.
Hike
A father gently awakens his child to begin their day outdoors. As they leave home, the scenery changes, becoming more tranquil and natural where they begin their hike. At the end of the day, they head home. The joy of an outdoor afternoon and the pleasure of an outing with dad are elegantly conveyed with few words.
If You Want to See a Whale
If a whale is what you want to see — as does the boy in this expressive, delicately illustrated tale — then patience (plus an ocean) is needed. Images combine with poetic language to create a quiet, deeply satisfying book rich enough for multiple readings.
Into the Outdoors
A family leaves their city for an overnight camping trip. Up the mountain they travel, make camp, hike, and enjoy each other and the beautiful scenery. The straightforward story highlights prepositions in natural language, made meaningful in verdant, textured illustration.
My Little Pond
Who lives in a pond? There are fish and fowl, insects and plants. Some live in the water, others near it. Straightforward questions are asked and answered as each is identified. Simple illustrations on sturdy, non-glossy pages made from recycled material are used in this and in the author/illustrator’s My Little Ocean to provide a quick way to introduce environments and words to young children.
On the Way to the Beach
Young readers are invited to look and listen as they join a girl on a summer morning walk to the beach. While she passes through the woods, a marsh, and the dunes, she stops to observe, and sometimes wonders what animals are watching her. A foldout reveals animals, birds, insects, and plants in each of the coastal settings, and are carefully listed on the final page.
Owl Moon
A father and daughter go out "owling" on a cold, snow-filled evening with only moonlight to guide them. An introduction by the author to this edition opens the now-classic, luminously illustrated story in which hope "…flies on silent wings under a shining Owl Moon."
Redwoods
Giant redwoods are usually found in the Northwest United States, so how does a boy on a New York subway get to the redwoods canopy? That's just what happens in this informative, illustrated journey from underground to atop the world's tallest trees. The redwoods can be found in national parks in northern California and southern Oregon.
The Hike
Three high-energy children and their dog begin a hike in the woods by running. They stop along the way to enjoy thimbleberries, observe a deer, and more. One of the girls keeps a journal of things she’s observed. Wren’s journal is shown after the three children return home as the sun sets. Simple illustrations convey they joy of an outdoor hike and what the kids have seen along the way.
Toasting Marshmallows: Camping Poems
Share the sights, sounds, smells, and humor of a family camping trip through this collection of engaging poems illustrated with vivid paintings. From setting up the tent to the ultimate return home, campers and non-campers alike will enjoy this vacation and all its outdoor pleasures.
Tracks in the Snow
A child follows animal tracks in the snow, wondering aloud "Who made the tracks?/Where do they go?" Gentle illustrations depict the child's walk across a snowy landscape while animals watch from afar. Only upon returning home is it revealed that the tracks were made yesterday when the child was "Out playing in the snow!"
Trout Are Made of Trees
As two children and their fathers explore a stream and its natural riches, a straightforward text explains how trout are made of trees — just like the bears and people who catch and eat the trout. Warmly hued, textured collages illuminate a down-to-earth, understandable story of a stream habitat.
We’re Sailing to Galapagos: A Week in the Pacific
Two people in bright, stylized garb sail to the islands known as the Galapagos. On successive days of the week, they see a variety of the animals that live there with the repeating refrain, “We’re sailing to Galapagos….I wonder who we’ll see.” End notes describe in greater detail the location and inhabitants of the Galapagos as well as a brief piece about Charles Darwin who sailed there.
Wow! Ocean!
Izzy and her sister were mountain girls, so one summer the family decided to go see something new — the ocean. The girls are wowed by the sea, the beach, and its treasures — both real and imaginary — as they explore above and beneath the water. Readers will revisit highly detailed, labeled illustration including the well-placed, well devised fold-outs.
Zigby Camps Out
When Zigby the Zebra receives a tent from his aunt Zandra, he and his friends decide to camp out in the deepest, darkest part of the jungle. When they’re frightened, cold, and hungry, they gladly accept Ella the Elephant's offer to come home and have dinner. Zigby then finishes his campout in the safety of his own backyard. Bold color and strong line add humor to this recognizable story.
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