Book Finder

This handsome book is presented as though the notebook of a birder. It combines haiku, information about birds, and realistic watercolors with notes. Additional brief comments conclude a book that is sure to spark continued interest.

Luminous illustrations brighten up each month of the year in this brief but evocative jaunt. The seasons come to life through rhythmic language and translucent images that beg to be shared aloud.

Lyrical language and textured collages poetically convey the wonder of patterns and shapes in moths, birds, and other creatures. A brief note concludes this handsome volume.

In honor of the very hungry and eternally popular caterpillar’s 40th anniversary, a stunning new edition brings it to life again. With each page turn, engineered illustrations literally and dramatically pop off the page. Though not for the youngest, this beautifully engineered book is sure to delight and amaze.

A child goes quietly out to the garden where he can almost hear the creatures respond to his curiosity about their actions. The narrator then gathers food for a picnic with “my friends.” Suggestions for making a “quiet garden” conclude this tranquil book.

Thea, a student in Topeka, Kansas, observes the growth of the three unusual beans she plants for her science project. A series of letters to various experts chronicles the unusual vegetation that develops — though readers will see the giant beanstalk for the tale it is.

Plants have secrets: within each seed, large or small, is a new plant. Highly detailed but crisp, well-placed illustrations reveal the life cycle of plants and provides an easy introduction to seeds — just in time for spring gardens!

Katy Duck loved to dance through each season but was especially excited about the spring recital: “A show to celebrate spring!” Though Katy is disappointed with her assignment, she blossoms as a lowly caterpillar in this recognizable and humorous tale.

Birds live all over the world, but their nests come in many sizes, shapes, and some even borrow (or snitch) homes in which to lay and hatch their young. This lively introduction to various birds and their habits will likely absorb, inform, and inspire.

Liam discovers that he can help his dreary city blossom into a green place that draws everyone out onto rooftops and beyond. Stylized illustrations depict the city’s gradual change from drab to lush and may encourage other young urban gardeners.

A boy named King Shabazz doesn’t believe in spring. With his friend, Tony Polito, King Shabazz explores their gritty city neighborhood and discovers that spring does exist even in an unlikely place.

A girl tells readers about the birds she sees around her, describing size and color in spare, almost lyrical language. Richly colored paintings accompany the text to enhance and build the concepts presented in the narrative.

Going “green” is made accessible to young children with 10 can-do activities like turning out the lights or unplugging the television when not using them. Unique page shapes, die cuts, and bold colors add to its appeal.

Lemon was a lucky duck. His brood mates were all healthy and eventually went to live independently, but Ms. Lake and her class would always provide Lemon the special attention he needed. This surprising story is based on the author’s experience with the real Lemon the duck.

Stunning close-ups of colorful frogs in their natural habitats taken by an acclaimed photographer and biologist combine with clearly presented information on large, bright pages, sure to intrigue as well as inform readers of all ages.

Wangari Maathai’s native Kenya was a changed land, literally blowing away because its trees and growth had been destroyed. Rather than complain, she started a reforestation effort for which she was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Handsome illustrations combine with crisp text to tell the story of one person’s impact.

Dazzling illustrations combine with lyrical language to emulate a creation myth. Set in the Himalayan Mountains, this original tale dramatically explains why the sun and moon wax and wane and of friendship between a girl and the Snow Leopard.

This large land animal is introduced through crisp, easy-to-follow text and realistic illustrations. Information presented will satisfy casual readers and is likely to inspire further reading.

Cam (short for “Camera”) uses her photographic memory to help solve the theft of the cans and bottles to be recycled to earn money for her school. This installment in the gentle mystery series features a particularly timely topic.

Annie and Jack find themselves in remote and frozen Antarctica in contemporary times on a mission to save a small orphan — and Merlin himself. In this Magic Tree House story, fact combines with fantasy though readers can learn more about the place and its inhabitants in a companion volume, Penguins and Antarctica: A Magic Tree House Research Guide (opens in a new window).

The sounds of a caterpillar munching through vegetation combine with Fleming’s distinctive illustrations for a small adventure in the tall, tall grass. The satisfying conclusion is a sleepy one, making this an ideal bedtime tale.

This book of miscellany is a browsers’ paradise. Using photography, illustration, and a busy layout, the authors offer information on range of subjects-love, bugs, fights, dancing, you name it.

Take a walk outdoors with the popular mouse, Maisy. Help Maisy find a duckling, a bee inside a flower, and more as young hands pull sturdy tabs to reveal the hidden treasure, guided by short text which also encourages children to look for additional related things on each double-page spread.

Full-color illustrations combine with clear instructions organized into four sections drawn from nature to present possible activities with generally easy-to-locate materials. Some activities are sophisticated, but children (with an adult) will find something to create in the great outdoors.