Wild Things

Spring is the ideal season for taking outdoor rambles and initiating environmental investigations. But explorations of the natural world can begin in the classroom with lushly illustrated books filled with a cornucopia of facts. Blossoming with color, detail, and innovative images, these vibrant selections present topics from plants to ponds and butterflies to birds in unique, creative, and often interactive ways. They will grab students’ attention, stimulate a sense of wonder, and cultivate an interest in nature.

Mary McCarthy’s terse text and bold, bursting-with-color collages persuade readers to take A Closer Look (HarperCollins, 2007) by presenting a magnified image and then gradually expanding the perspective to reveal a wider view. Children will revel in the exhilaration of seeing a large black circle on a red background become a ladybug on a leaf and delight as a pattern of gray lines over a patch of red reveals the bright-hued throat of a hummingbird. (K-2)

In White Is for Blueberry (HarperCollins, 2005), George Shannon challenges everyday perceptions of colors by making seemingly impossible statements such as “Pink is for crow…”, and then, with a well-timed page turn, revealing the astonishing truth “when it has just hatched from its egg.” Laura Dronzek’s sumptuous illustrations depict each example and augment the narrative’s sense of wonder. (K-2)

Beginning readers can peruse Walter Wick’s Can You See What I See?: Nature Read-and-Seek (Scholastic, 2008) to practice both their visual acuity and word-recognition proficiency by searching for designated items. Slightly older students (Gr 2-5) will be challenged with a more sophisticated seek-and-find selection. In David M. Schwartz and Yael Schy’s Where in the Wild: Camouflaged Creatures Concealed…and Revealed (Tricycle, 2007), a crisp photo of a critter hidden in its habitat is paired with a lighthearted poem providing clues about its identity, while a fold-out page reveals the animal’s location and supplies basic facts. (K-Gr 2)

Other poetic offerings include Alice Walker’s expressive There Is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me (HarperCollins, 2006), and Jane Yolen and Jason Stemple’s Shape Me a Rhyme: Nature’s Forms in Poetry (Boyds Mills, 2007). Flower takes a table-turning viewpoint, as a charismatic narrator contemplates her place in the world. The lyrical language and Stefano Vitale’s radiant jewel-toned woodcuts celebrate our connection to nature.

In Shape, inventive verses and artfully composed photographs present insightful glimpses of common objects. A square is found in a shadow cast “upon a frond” and an alligator sports a triangular-shaped tooth that “Is dangerous/And dagger-ous/When that great mouth’s agape.” Both of these imagination-stirring offerings can be used to refresh students’ perceptions of the outdoors and to prompt creative projects. (Gr 2-5)

When Caroline discovers a single wildflower in the overgrown lawn of her house On Meadowview Street (HarperCollins, 2007), she’s determined to take action. Henry Cole’s heartfelt story and verdant artwork detail how one girl transforms a bland suburban yard into a thriving meadow ecosystem that welcomes humans and wildlife alike. (K-Gr 3)

In a neighborhood not unlike Caroline’s, a bear cub becomes a Backyard Bear (Walker, 2006) when a residential development encroaches upon its territory. Anne Rockwell’s straightforward narrative and Megan Halsey’s delightful watercolors deliver an endearing story about what happens to a wild animal that scrounges near homes for scraps. (K-Gr 3)

From airborne spiderlings to a “slow-moving snail,” a young narrator reveals the wonders found In My Backyard (Tundra, 2007). Margriet Ruurs’s descriptive text is supplemented with animal facts and Ron Broda’s vivacious paper-sculpture illustrations are seeded with seek-and-find challenges. Reconnoiter a familiar—and fascinating—urban ecosystem with Gordon Morrison’s Nature in the Neighborhood (Houghton, 2004). Flowing narrative and realistic watercolors follow flora and fauna through the seasons, while smaller text and sketches contribute more detail, making this a worthwhile read-aloud and research tool. (Gr 1-4)

Students ready to become a Backyard Detective (Scholastic, 2002), or those who just like to browse, will be enthralled by Nic Bishop’s vivid, close-up photos of more than 125 creatures. This fun field guide flourishes with facts, tips for successful exploration, data-recording ideas, and a pictorial animal index (Gr 3-5). For more formalized investigations, Shar Levine and Leslie Johnstone’s Backyard Science (Sterling, 2005) is chock-full of experiments, from examining pinecone patterns to building a ladybug bed. Easy-to-follow directions, explanations of results, and appealing visuals make this a valuable resource for independent and classroom projects. (Gr 1-5)

While gathering vegetables In the Garden (HarperCollins, 2006), two children notice evidence left behind by common critters and try to determine “Who’s been here?” Lindsay Barrett George’s simply worded text and expansive watercolors invite kids to use their deductive skills while burrowing into this ecosystem. (K-2)

Two eager gardeners learn how vegetables grow Up, Down, and Around (Candlewick, 2007) with the help of Katherine Ayres’s lively verses and Nadine Bernard Westcott’s jaunty artwork (K-Gr 2). For a more fantastical glimpse at this earthy milieu, try Juanita Havill’s I Heard It from Alice Zucchini: Poems about the Garden (Chronicle, 2006). Twenty playful selections, most from a plant’s perspective, commemorate the growing season, from springtime “weedling seedlings” to harvested veggies that gleefully dance into a stewpot. Christine Davenier’s sprightly illustrations—graced by a tiny, winged child—shimmer with sun-washed greenery. (K-Gr 5)

To trace the mysterious journey from seed to plant and support classroom cultivation projects, begin with A Seed Is Sleepy (Chronicle, 2007). Dianna Hutts Aston melds lyrical phrases with facts to introduce an amazing array of seeds, describes how they are dispersed, and explains germination and growth, all elegantly visualized through Sylvia Long’s detailed watercolors. In Pick, Pull, Snap!: Where Once a Flower Bloomed (Greenwillow, 2003), Lola M. Schaefer lucidly, and poetically, reveals how certain plants flower, create seeds, and then bear fruit. Lindsay Barrett George’s warm-hued paintings depict plant parts, and fold-out pages allow readers to speculate about each blossom’s ultimate—and edible—incarnation. (Gr 1-4)

Hope Ryden introduces 38 species of Wildflowers around the Year (Clarion, 2001) with spectacular full-color photos and tidbits about each blossom’s name, where and when it blooms, possible uses, and more. Imbibed with the author’s enthusiasm and personal reflections, this book makes a thought-provoking model for nature-inspired journals or creative writing exercises and can also initiate interest in the traditional meanings associated with specific wildflowers. (Gr 4-5)

With a chant-along text and razzle-dazzle artwork, Denise Fleming depicts a bevy of bright-hued bugs that buzz, crawl, and Beetle Bop (Harcourt, 2007) across the pages. Children will marvel at the visual variety of this diverse and extensive insect family. During a Bug Safari (Holiday House, 2004), a boy tracks a line of marching black ants deep into the “jungle,” chronicling their behavior and plentiful predators, before ascertaining their destination: a picnic lunch in his backyard. Bob Barner’s humorously hushed tone, burgeoning-with-color collages, and an informative appendix make for an amusing and elucidating expedition. (K-Gr 2)

Students—or teachers—interested in identifying common, garden-variety creatures will appreciate Natalie Rompella’s Don’t Squash That Bug!: The Curious Kid’s Guide to Insects (Lobster, 2007). Manageable spreads with full-color photos encapsulate various orders (flies, termites, etc.), offering just enough detail to inform readers without overwhelming them. (Gr 2-4)

Cindy Blobaum’s Insectigations!: 40 Hands-On Activities to Explore the Insect World (Chicago Review, 2005) proffers easy-to-do activities that focus on body parts, metamorphosis, communication, and more. Tips about research basics and background information make this volume useful for classroom projects or independent study. (Gr 3-6)

Win over new bug devotees with Nic Bishop’s Spiders (Scholastic, 2007), an enthralling volume that crawls with crystal-clear photos of arachnids in action, including a tarantula flaunting its fangs at an enemy and a spider’s astonishing leap across a four-page foldout. (Gr 3-5)

Betsy Franco’s onomatopoeic text imbues the air with Birdsongs (S & S, 2007), as winged creatures make their signature sounds counting down from a woodpecker’s 10 rhythmic “tats” to a hummingbird’s single soft “tzik.” Children, like the mockingbird that re-creates each song at story’s end, will relish imitating the calls, and Steve Jenkins’s color-splashed collages make a finger-tempting example for cut-and-paste portraits of lively flyers (K-Gr 2).

Mordicai Gerstein’s airy translation of French poet Jacques Prévert’s How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird (Roaring Brook, 2007) explains the art of capturing a wild thing on canvas. A determined boy faithfully follows the directions and traps a real bird into a beautifully lifelike painting, only to have his subject fly away as he sleeps (the text soothes the child: “Tomorrow you can paint another one”). Use this whimsically illustrated book to introduce art projects or discuss an artist’s perception of nature. (K-Gr 4)

Fusing science with story, the following titles are ideal for sharing aloud and stimulating further research. After building a nest box, placing it in a tree, and watching patiently night after night, a girl and her grandfather finally catch an awe-inspiring glimpse of the now-resident White Owl, Barn Owl (Candlewick, 2007). Nicola Davies’s winsome text and Michael Foreman’s incandescent artwork convey the wonder of this wildlife encounter while effortlessly imparting information. Little Lost Bat (Charlesbridge, 2006) describes the birth of a Mexican free-tailed bat, his mother’s death by predator, and his eventual adoption by another (recently made childless) female. Sandra Markle’s spellbinding narrative and Alan Marks’s moonlit watercolors tell a gripping and emotionally satisfying true-to-life tale (K-Gr 4).

In Hummingbird Nest: A Journal of Poems (Harcourt, 2004), a young narrator describes how a hummingbird builds a nest on her porch, lays eggs, and cares for her young. Aflutter with information about these pocket-sized wonders, Kristine O’Connell George’s light-as-air verses and Barry Moser’s exquisite watercolors also chronicle the magic and awe of nature-watching. Young ornithologists ready to make their own observations should reach for David Burnie’s Bird-Watcher (DK, 2005). Colorful two-page chapters provide tidbits about bird behavior, tips on observing and recognizing various species (including two foldout identification guides), and simple activities. (Gr 3-5)

Visit Forest Bright, Forest Night (Dawn, 2005) and discover the identities of diurnal and nocturnal animals. Jennifer Ward’s brief, rhyming verses and Jamichael Henterly’s lushly colored paintings—as well as the flip-it-over format—will enchant children (K-Gr 3).

Joyce Sidman’s Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow (Houghton, 2006), stunningly illustrated with Beth Krommes’s scratchboard artwork, balances information with imagination to provide an innovative look at this ecosystem. Two riddle poems highlighting interrelated entities—milkweed and butterflies, or rabbit (prey) and fox (predator)—are paired together, while a follow-up spread presents facts about these meadow denizens and their special relationship. (K-Gr 5)

Taking a comparable approach, Sidman’s Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems (Houghton, 2005) depicts this environment’s animals, insects, and plants throughout the seasons. The sparkling verses are accompanied by explanatory paragraphs and Beckie Prange’s opulently hued woodcuts. Similarly, Joanne Ryder and Maggie Kneen’s Toad by the Road (Holt, 2007) mingles tongue-tingling poems, well-chosen facts, and soft-edged paintings to portray “A Year in the Life of these Amazing Amphibians.” More confident readers (Gr 3-5) will be wowed by Sandra Markle’s Slippery, Slimy Baby Frogs (Walker, 2006). Breezy text and spectacular close-up photos detail how various frog species develop into adults, describing remarkably diverse mating habits, care-taking methods, and survival strategies.

In Aileen Fisher’s The Story Goes On (Roaring Brook, 2005), rhyming verses trace the cycle of life from a sprouting seed, to assorted food-chain predators, to the carrion-burying beetles that enrich the soil, thus enabling the circle to begin anew. This lucid look at nature’s rhythms is illustrated with Mique Moriuchi’s color-saturated paintings. April Pulley Sayre proves that Trout Are Made of Trees (Charlesbridge, 2008) with a step-by-step explanation of the food web in a river microcosm. Illustrated with Kate Endle’s autumn-hued collages, this book offers a streamlined look at a complex concept. (K-Gr 2).

With a lyrical narrative and spring-bright pastels, Lola M. Schaefer and Barbara Bash point out What’s Up, What’s Down? (Greenwillow, 2002) in the natural world by painting a mesmerizing portrait of Earth from varied perspectives. Held vertically, the book begins belowground with a mole looking up at roots growing in the soil above. Layer by layer, the visual journey continues upward—through blades of grass, small animals, wildflowers, butterflies, etc.—until it finally reaches the moon (where the volume is flipped over), and makes its descent through clouds and into the ocean’s depths. This whirlwind ecological tour will captivate readers and ignite curiosity. (K-Gr 3)

Steve Jenkins takes an innovative approach to the animal world by exploring Living Color (2007) and the many “ingenious ways it is used.” Divided into seven scintillating shades, this book presents spectacular collage images of several suitably hued critters along with musings about the role color plays in their lives. Packed with facts and humorous asides, this eye-pleaser can stir up interest in topics such as camouflage, animal behavior, and adaptations to habitat. Pair it with Jenkins and Robin Page’s I See a Kookaburra! (2005, both Houghton), which depicts six different biomes on luscious collage spreads and challenges readers to find the indigenous animals hidden within. The brief text is supported by an in-depth appendix and the dynamic illustrations convey the vitality, diversity, and beauty of these habitats. (K-Gr 5)

Art endeavors, craft activities, and experimentation can extend a study unit and learning experience. From recycled-paper collages to tree-bark sculptures, Irene Luxbacher’s The Jumbo Book of Outdoor Art (Kids Can, 2006) presents a potpourri of projects that incorporate easy-to-find organic materials. The upbeat text introduces numerous artistic techniques and emphasizes personal expression.

The title says it all for Laura C. Martin’s Nature’s Art Box: From T-Shirts to Twig Baskets, 65 Cool Projects for Crafty Kids to Make with Natural Materials You Can Find Anywhere (Storey Bks., 2003). Writing with an earnest respect for nature and for ancient cultures, Martin introduces various organic substances and discusses their historical and traditional uses. Finished products such as a fern print, a shell necklace, and a gourd doll have a lovely, understated, folk-art look that reflect their outdoor origins.

Kids can get their hands dirty with Organic Crafts: 75 Earth-Friendly Art Activities (Chicago Review, 2007) by fashioning pebble puppets, a glow-in-the-dark terrarium, or a made-from-seeds mosaic treasure box. Kimberly Monaghan provides lots of background info as well as useful suggestions for teachers. (K-5)

Used in and out of the classroom these titles generate appreciation for the outdoor world on a regional level, build a foundation for studying nature in a broader sense, and sow seeds for thought about ecological concepts and issues. Use them to awaken and empower a future generation of botanists, biologists, conservationists, and environmentalists, as well as individuals committed to safeguarding Earth’s biodiversity and beauty. 

Nurture budding conservationists with picture books on naturalists recommended by Joy Fleishhacker in the Curriculum Connections enewsletter.