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When things come to an end by various means (natural or induced such as roadkill), they decompose. Young readers may just revel in the gleeful grossness in well researched narrative and lighthearted illustrations. A glossary and bibliography conclude this enlightening but entertaining informational book.

Join two curious polar bear cubs as they prepare to live and thrive in an extremely harsh environment, presented as a comic book. Fact and fiction combine in this informative but engaging and entertaining look at climate change and the impact on these animals. Back matter includes a glossary, bibliography, and source notes.

Readers may have to change their opinion of spotted hyenas after meeting them as they are studied in the wild. Fluid prose and stunning photographs combine insight into the field scientists and information about the animals they study. While they remain formidable carnivores, hyenas are surprisingly brave and social animals and appealing in appearance. Thoroughly resourced and documented, this is narrative nonfiction at its best.

Join Ada Osprey, Senior Librarian of the Eagle-Eyed Explorer Club as she dashes out, inviting readers to explore plants with her. From plant origins to those modified by humans, plants are examined in understandable language enhanced by clearly labeled, highly detailed illustrations. A long, meticulous timeline folds out to summarize and complete this unique exploration.

Yogi Berra was one of a kind. He didn’t excel in school but is still quoted today. And in spite of the naysayers, Yogi went on to become an admired ballplayer. His story is told in rich, detailed illustrations and lucid text, interspersed with “Yogi-isms”. In addition to more detail about Berra’s life and times, baseball aficionados will appreciate the statistics included in the back matter.

Velma Bronn Johnson, nicknamed Wild Horse Annie, was born in Nevada. In spite of having polio, Annie was able to ride horses again. Later, when she saw hundreds of wild horses killed to make room for cattle, Annie became an activist. She worked to pass the 1971 law protecting mustangs on federal land. Conversational text is accompanied by loose, swirling illustrations to present an overview of one woman’s fight to save a piece of the Wild West.

A young soldier narrates the story of how he met a podgy pudgy dog soon named Stubby. Stubby and Corporal Conroy soon became inseparable friends and more; Stubby was adopted into Conroy’s regiment to become a heroic soldier in his own right. This true story of World War I is illustrated in light hues with gentle lines, accompanied by a straightforward text. An afterward includes a photo of Stubby and provides a bit of additional information.

Emily Warren was a bright girl who grew into a determined, intelligent, self-taught woman. After her husband, Washington Roebling, fell ill while building the Brooklyn Bridge, it was Emily who interpreted Washington’s drawings and carried out the plans over ten years. This is a fascinating examination of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge and the people and engineering behind it, revealed in spritely illustration and accessible language.

Millions of refrigerators, TVs, schools and stoplights can be powered by the energy held in one person’s pinky finger. So why can’t you power your toys? “… because your body needs all the energy it’s got.” This unique look at the human body’s systems and the energy required to run them is presented in accessible language and darkly hued, strong illustrations.

If you travel to the sea, consider the varied animals and sea creatures that live in the world’s oceans. Glimpse some of them on the oversized pages of this informative, beautifully illustrated emporium — a diverse undersea world teaming with life. If you take that trip to the sea, you might come across seashells. Have you ever wondered why there are so many different shapes? Explore this and find out who the shells’ residents may be in Seashells: More than a Home(opens in a new window) by Melissa Stewart, realistically illustrated by Sarah Brannen.

Short, readable entries each with a date, chronicle the first year of a bluebird as told by the newly hatched narrator. Information about bluebirds’ range appears on front endpapers while a glossary is placed on back endpapers. Dramatic illustrations show the dangers faced by the young bluebirds until the following June when A. Bluebird shows off the “my beautiful chicks!”

A girl gazes out a window, staring at the nighttime sky. From early times, people like Lucretius, Teng Mu, Giordano Bruno and Christiaan Huygens believed that other worlds exist. When the young girl and her family visit a museum, she too wonders, and later continues to look out at the nighttime sky. Realistic illustrations effectively combine with the accessible, informative text.

There are forests all over the world including many National Parks in the United States. There are kelp forests, rainforests, and forests of mangrove. Each is home to unique animals, sometimes people, and occasionally forest mythology. Explore these and more as each page uncovers what may be seen when the canopy is pulled back. Concrete suggestions on protecting and preserving these environments conclude this lushly illustrated volume

There are approximately 5000 species found world over (with the exception of Antarctica), in different sizes, many shapes and in various colors. Open the pages of this lushly illustrated book to meet some of the frogs from around the world, many of which are now threatened. Handsomely crafted and presented, dip in or read cover-to-cover, these frogs will remain with readers long after the covers are closed.

You may not have heard of Edwin Binney but chances are you’ve used his invention: Crayola crayons. Binney’s determination to come up with ways for children to create and draw with non-dusty color led to the invention. His life and legacy (and even how the name Crayola was crafted) makes a memorable story. Illustrated in color and brought right up to contemporary crayon making, this is a fascinating and well documented look at one man’s continuing legacy.

Rich, active verbs challenge readers to swoop, scoop, “dip your dewlap”, and more just like the lizards of varying sizes and colors that are depicted. Text swirls throughout each attractive, informative page. Additional information about the lizards presented concludes the book, sure to inspire movement, language, and further investigation of reptiles.

Water can be found almost everywhere and in many different forms. Clear, colorful, and well placed illustrations combine with crisp language to describe water from a tear to fog, from rain to an iceberg. This handsome introduction may inspire even the youngest reader to further explore a liquid that is often taken for granted.

Summer brings hot weather and cooling activities. From lemonade and watermelon, to outdoor play and thunderstorms, summer is presented in full color photographs and lyrical language. Witness children of different ages experience the warmth and pleasure of summer in all of its glory.

An African American ballerina, Janet Collins, lived in mid-20^th century America. She is introduced in a rhyming, repetitive cadence and fluid, swirling illustrations. Janet never gave up her dream of dancing even in a segregated society. An afterward not only provides additional resources about this early ballerina but also additional information about her life and legacy.

Watching birds requires practice, patience and an eagle eye. Young birders may want to practice on the pages of this book as the gentle, rhyming text provides clues and encouragement. Find the chickadee, wren and bluebird in the lush natural environments shown in realistic watercolors. Additional notes about birds and birding concludes this handsome introduction.

It all started with one musician becoming inspired by another’s music. After all, music changes the listener, provides inspiration, and more…just because. This fresh saga of how music has stretched over centuries to inspire a new composer begins with Beethoven and ends with the now-grown child who was inspired. A number of people are included in the “score”, effectively portrayed in the illustrations that “perform” it.

More for the adults in a baby’s life, this engaging book reminds readers what babies can do now and what they can look forward to enjoying, particularly sharing lots of love. All goings -on are demonstrated by children of various hues in gently crafted illustration on open pages.

Lift the sturdy flap to meet the offspring introduced by the adult animals in two durable volumes (Peek-a-Baby Ocean(opens in a new window)). Farm animals and the names of their young are likely to be more familiar than those that live in the ocean. Both, however, are engaging and informative.