Every Day Is Earth Day
Staff -- School Library Journal, 3/1/1996
SLJ's second "Curriculum Connectors" column focuses on natural science and the environment. We think these titles are too good to be forgotten, and they'll certainly be in demand by teachers and children as Earth Day approaches. The issue in which the original review appeared follows each annotation.
APPELBAUM, Diana. Giants in the Land. illus. by Michael McCurdy. Houghton. RTE $14.95. ISBN 0-395-64720-7.
Gr 1-6 -- The felling and transporting of behemoth New England oak and white pine trees, destined to become masts on 18th-century British ships, is gracefully recounted in this elegant picture book. Dynamic woodcuts convey the immensity of the subjects and of the task at hand. (Nov. 1993)
ARNOSKY, Jim. All About Alligators. illus. by author. Scholastic. RTE $14.95. ISBN 0-590-46788-3.
Gr 1-3 -- From snout to tail, these wetland dwellers spring to life through finely detailed watercolors and a snappy text. (Sept. 1994)
BAKER, Jeannie. Window. illus. by author. Greenwillow. Tr $13.95. ISBN 0-688-08917-8; PLB $13.88. ISBN 0-688-08918-6.
Gr 1 -- UpA bedroom window provides a boy's-eye view of the changes that occur in his world over the course of his childhood and adolescence. Filled with marvelous detail, the textured collages make an affecting statement about the erosion of the planet Earth. (Mar. 1991)
BASH, Barbara. Ancient Ones: The World of the Old-Growth Douglas Fir. illus. by author. Sierra Club Bks. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-87156-561-7.
Gr 2-6 -- An exploration of the unique ecosystem of the forests of the Pacific Northwest from its long-living trees to the myriad creatures that depend on Old-Growth Douglas firs to survive. The watercolor paintings brim with the life of this amazing network. (Oct. 1994)
BASH, Barbara. Shadows of Night: The Hidden World of the Little Brown Bat. illus. by author. Sierra Club Bks. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-87156-562-5.
Gr 1-3 -- The author's fascination with and unabashed affection for these nocturnal insect catchers comes through in her informative text and outstanding watercolors, debunking misconceptions and building a case for the protection of this threatened species. (June 1993)
BONNERS, Susan. Hunter in the Snow: The Lynx. illus. by author. Little. RTE $14.95. ISBN 0-316-10201-6.
Gr 2-4 -- This precisely paced narrative follows a female Canada lynx for a year as she survives the winter, mates, gives birth, and raises three kittens to become agile, competent hunters. Outstanding soft-focused pastel artwork portrays anatomical detail as well as sweeping panoramas of the forest. (Oct. 1994)
BRANDENBURG, Jim. To the Top of the World: Adventures with Arctic Wolves. photos. by author. 44p. Walker. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-8027-8219-1; PLB $17.85. ISBN 0-8027-8220-5.
Gr 3-6 -- A wildlife photographer shares his experiences during a summer with an Arctic wolf pack on a deserted island. Captivating pictures combine with an informal narrative to create a topnotch, firsthand view of a much-maligned animal. (Dec. 1993)
CERULLO, Mary M. Sharks: Challengers of the Deep. photos. by Jeffrey L. Rotman. Cobblehill. Tr $15. ISBN 0-525-65100-4.
Gr 4-7 -- Eye-catching photographs and clear prose demystify these much-feared creatures. Sure bait to induce a greater respect for and understanding of these amazing fish. (Feb. 1993)
DEWEY, Jennifer Owings. Wildlife Rescue: The Work of Dr. Kathleen Ramsay. photos. by Don MacCarter. Caroline House: Boyds Mills Pr. RTE $16.95. ISBN 1-56397-045-7.
Gr 4-6 -- A lively photo essay that shows the determined efforts of veterinarian Ramsay caring for injured animals to return them to the wild, featuring the day-to-day operation of her New Mexico Wildlife Center. (Sept. 1994)
FACKLAM, Margery. And Then There Was One: The Mysteries of Extinction. illus. by Pamela Johnson. Sierra Club Bks. RTE $14.45. ISBN 0-316-25984-5.
Gr 3-6 -- An eye-opening, astute, and foresighted introduction to the world's vanishing species, told in a flowing narrative style that brings specific animals and their plights to life. Attractive, intriguing, inspirational. (Sept. 1990)
FACKLAM, Margery. The Big Bug Book. illus. by Paul Facklam. Little. RTE $15.95. ISBN 0-316-27389-9.
Gr 1-6 -- An up-close look at the world's largest insects, set against everyday objects such as a fish bowl or crayons to give a sense of scale. An unusual approach to entomology, with magnificently rendered, life-sized specimens. (June 1994)
FACKLAM, Margery. What Does the Crow Know?: The Mysteries of Animal Intelligence. illus. by Pamela Johnson. Sierra Club Bks. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-87156-544-7.
Gr 3-6 -- From talking birds to chimps that understand fractions, these fascinating accounts of animal behaviors and intelligence are testaments to their aptitudes and adaptability. Illustrated with soft pencil sketches, this book inspires new appreciation for all creatures. (Apr. 1994)
GOOR, Ron & Nancy. Insect Metamorphosis: From Egg to Adult. photos. by Ron Goor. Atheneum. PLB $13.95. ISBN 0-689-31445-0.
Gr 2-4 -- The stunning clarity of the full-color photographs and the numerous examples of polychromatic insects that undergo complete, as well as those that experience incomplete, metamorphosis are succinctly delineated and detailed. An up-close look at the insect world that mesmerizes. (June 1990)
GOWELL, Elizabeth Tayntor. Sea Jellies: Rainbows in the Sea. Watts. PLB $15.90. ISBN 0-531-11152-0.
Gr 4-7 -- An introduction to these diaphanous, rainbow-hued animals that contains a wealth of information and brilliant photographs. (Aug. 1993)
GUIBERSON, Brenda Z. Spoonbill Swamp. illus. by Megan Lloyd. Holt. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-8050-1583-3.
K-Gr 2 -- An average day in the life of a spoonbill and alligator family is filled with suspense and drama. Sweeping landscapes in vibrant color illustrate this effective blend of fact and story. (Mar. 1992)
JOHNSTON, Ginny & Judy Cutchins. Slippery Babies: Young Frogs, Toads, and Salamanders. Morrow. Tr $13.95. ISBN 0-688-09605-0; PLB $13.88. ISBN 0-688-09606-9.
Gr 4-6 -- Spectacular photographs delineate the unique features of these shimmery, if somewhat slimy, infant creatures, and the text establishes their importance in the food chain. (Oct. 1991)
JONAS, Ann. Aardvarks, Disembark! illus. by author. Greenwillow. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-688-07206-2; PLB $14.88. ISBN 0-688-07207-0.
PreS-Gr 4 -- Perhaps the definitive passenger list of Noah's portable kingdom, this book is an enlightening surprise that gives the phrase "endangered species" an alphabetically astonishing thrust. (Oct. 1990)
KRAUS, Scott & Kenneth Mallory. The Search for the Right Whale: How Scientists Rediscovered the Most Endangered Whale in the Sea. Crown. Tr $14. ISBN 0-517-57844-1; PLB $14.99. ISBN 0-517-57845-X.
Gr 4-6 -- Readers accompany a team of scientists from the New England Aquarium as they follow right whales in the North Atlantic. Fascinating facts, arm-chair adventure, and up-close-and-personal photographs on a topic with enormous appeal. (Aug. 1993)
LAVIES, Bianca. Compost Critters. photos. by author. Dutton. RTE $14.99. ISBN 0-525-44763-6.
Gr 3-6 -- A look at the creepy crawlies that devour garbage and form the nutritious material on which plant life depends. Magnificent magnified photographs combine with a lucid text to amaze and inform. (July 1993)
LAVIES, Bianca. The Atlantic Salmon. photos. by author. Dutton. Tr $14. ISBN 0-525-44860-8.
Gr 3-6 -- Breathtaking underwater photographs and a lucid text describe the arduous journey made by this hearty fish. Nature photography at its finest; factual description at its best. (Apr. 1992)
LAVIES, Bianca. Mangrove Wilderness: Nature's Nursery. photos. by author. Dutton. RTE $15.99. ISBN 0-525-45186-2.
Gr 3-6 -- An enlightening journey to Florida's swampy Everglades, focusing on the red mangrove. Remarkable, full-color, above-ground and underwater photographs provide great views and follow the food chain that develops around these trees. (June 1994)
LAUBER, Patricia. Seeing Earth from Space. Orchard Bks: Watts. Tr $19.95. ISBN 0-531-05902-2; PLB $19.99. ISBN 0-531-08502-3.
Gr 4-8 -- A universally appealing book, depicting in speculative tones and awe-inspiring photos the view of Earth from space, the fragility of the planet, and the urgent need to protect it. (Aug. 1990)
McDONALD, Megan. Is This a House for Hermit Crab? illus. by S. D. Schindler. Orchard Bks: Watts. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-531-05855-7; PLB $14.99. ISBN 0-531-08455-8.
PreS-Gr 2 -- House hunting is hard work and Hermit Crab exhausts several possibilities before finding a fitting new home. A crab's-eye view of the world, illustrated with sensuous, nearly tactile photoreal chalk drawings. (Apr. 1990)
PATENT, Dorothy Hinshaw. Feathers. photos. by William Munoz. Cobblehill. Tr $15. ISBN 0-525-65081-4.
Gr 4-6 -- A fascinating introduction to the formation and function of our feathered friends' versatile and often colorful plumage. Topnotch science, illustrated with striking larger-than-life photos. (July 1992)
SATTLER, Helen Roney. The Book of Eagles. illus. by Jean Day Zallinger. Lothrop. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-688-07021-3; PLB $14.88. ISBN 0-688-07022-1.
Gr 3-8 -- Scientifically accurate and precise, Sattler's readable text and Zallinger's strikingly detailed watercolors bring these majestic creatures to life. This book soars high above all others on the subject. (Sept. 1989)
SATTLER, Helen Roney. Giraffes, the Sentinels of the Savannahs. illus. by Christopher Santoro. Lothrop. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-688-08284-X; PLB $14.88. ISBN 0-688-08285-8.
Gr 4-7 -- An all-encompassing portrait of these gentle giants from their evolutionary past to their precarious future. Rich in detail and lively in its presentation, the text is greatly enhanced by Santoro's precisely detailed renderings that grace every page. A handsome, elegantly designed resource. (May 1990)
SCHOENHERR, John. Bear. illus. by author. Philomel. RTE $14.95. ISBN 0-399-22177-8.
PreS-Gr 3 -- A story about a young cub learning to survive alone in an austere setting fraught with danger. Majestic watercolors of the land and its inhabitants illustrate a dramatic wildlife adventure with an empathetic main character. (May 1991)
YOLEN, Jane. Letting Swift River Go. illus. by Barbara Cooney. Little. RTE $15.95. ISBN 0-316-96899-4.
K-Gr 6 -- A resonant, true-to-life remembrance of the Swift River valley of a woman's youth before the area was flooded and its residents relocated in order to make a reservoir. The soft-toned, impressionistic landscapes are memories in the making. (Sept. 1992)
YOSHIDA, Toshi. Young Lions. illus. by author. Philomel. RTE $14.95. ISBN 0-399-21546-8.
Gr 1-4 -- Infused with light, Yoshida's golden, cinematic sweeps of the African plain illuminate the tense story of three lion cubs who venture out on their very first hunt. A dramatic, subtly told lesson of interdependence in the natural world, and a powerful introduction to animal life in another part of the world. (Apr. 1989)
