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Many creatures have wings: birds, bats, insects. How these amazing appendages work and how they are used are presented with brief text and stunning collage illustrations for a memorable look at flight.

Something, someone was just here/Now there’s barely a trace… begins the elegantly illustrated, lyrical poem. From a pond to the sand at water’s edge to the forest and beyond, what has been there “…can only be seen/in/its/traces.”

Stunning watercolors evoke the height and breadth of New York City while a dramatic text relates the true story of a now-famous feathered resident, a hawk named Pale Male. The tension between the lifestyle of Pale Male and human residents as well as the fate of Pale Male’s mates and offspring create riveting reading.

Dramatic scratchboard illustrations add drama to the poetic riddles that encourage readers to turn the page and find out more. This is a unique and lively introduction to the animals, insects, and plants that comprise a meadow.

Manatees can grow to up to 13 feet long and weigh up to 3,000 pounds. They harm no other wildlife but are often victimized by human water traffic. These gentle mammals are distant relatives of the elephant but live in warm water. Arnosky’s illustrations and straightforward text provide an introduction to these gentle giants.

The wolfsnail is no ordinary slug. This snail eats meat, and other snails are the source. Full-color photographs give a close-up look at this fascinating, slightly gross creature. Additional information including the wolfsnail’s true size concludes this informative book on an unusual subject.

No words are needed to share a child’s seaside adventure as she plays with the waves, is knocked down by one, and then discovers the sea’s gifts brought to shore by the wave. Softly lined wash in a limited color palette evoke a summer afternoon on the beach.

The familiar, lively, cumulative song entitled “And the Green Grass Grew All Around” has been refashioned. Here, word and picture show children watching birds hatch in a tree where the “green leaves grew around… and the birds went, ‘Tweedle-Dee-Dee!’”

A full-color, close-up framed by black and a repeated text focuses the reader’s eye. Look closely. What do you see? Turn the page to discover an ochre sea star, sea anemone, a coastal rock, and more. Brief text and crisp photographs introduce children to a different way of seeing and looking.

Moving day for animals happens when seasons change or when a threat comes close. Lushly colored, textured paintings invite readers to look closely at the animals on moving day and in their homes. A bit of additional information about the animals concludes this fascinating book.

Celebrate the native foods of the Americas — peanuts, blueberries, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and more — through haiku poetry and stunning artwork from award-winning illustrator Rafael López.

Six silent turtles sit still as stones while life at the pond swirls all around them — until the turtles are startled and they “suddenly speed away!” Vibrant language combines with textured illustrations that scamper and flutter across richly colored pages. In the endnote, the author shares where and what she observes from her tree house.

Short verse and dynamic woodcut illustration combine to reveal characteristics of farm animals, from rooster to rabbit with lots in between. Allusions are intriguing and playful (“The Bees/Tell their story,/sweet and old./It begins in clover;/it ends in gold.”) and may inspire other activities.

As each page unfolds, readers see frog eggs gradually change into frogs. By the time the grown frogs go off, readers realize that the pages have unfolded to create a frog-filled blue pond with lily pads. This unusual book playfully introduces the growth of frogs.

The many ways seeds get to where they can grow is revealed in poetic language enhanced by understandable illustrations. Though the information is brief, the sound of the words makes this a unique introduction to this cycle in nature.

From start to finish, the day is filled with birdsongs. Realistic, richly textured collages of familiar birds combine with lyrical language as the reader counts down their specific sounds. A bit of information about each bird concludes this multifaceted book.

Rhythmic, original poems combine lyrical, evocative language and gentle lessons in this attractively illustrated collection. Each original poem begs to be shared aloud and is sure to delight both reader and listener.

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.

The story of a prehistoric frog begins when it was just a tiny tadpole in a puddle. Deep within the growing amphibian is the strength of a T-Rex which may explain why “hoppers and croakers are here to stay.” Rhythmic, alliterative language and bold, large illustrations create a riveting story. An author’s note provides factual information.

A child imagines being like the wind: playing with hats and leaves, zooming and racing throughout the country and city until she becomes a gentle breeze. Evocative language combines with suggestive illustrations in this breezy book.

What is “…a quiet crib, …a bobbing boat, …breakfast, lunch and dinner”? An egg, of course. Many types of eggs from insects, reptiles, and even mammals, in various environments are introduced in crisp text and clear illustration in this handsome, informative book.

The long, cold nights of winter are the time when bear, frog, and a host of animals hunker down for sleep. Soft watercolors illustrate the drowsy text as the animals await spring and hibernate. Humorous touches augment the tone of the lullaby as everyone — including the listener — settles down.

Rabbit’s generosity sets off a chain of events that brings his kindness full circle. The lush and accessible acrylic paintings suggest the Chinese folktale upon which the retelling is based. A note at the end supports the notion of universal truth in folktales.

Even a day that starts out on a sour note can become a good day after all, as four forest animals learn. A little girl who lives nearby finds the bird’s lost feather and declares for all to hear that it really is a good day! Uncluttered illustrations use strong line and gentle colors to convey the wondrous turnaround.