Ruth Heller Nature BooksIf you've read any of Heller's books you know she writes non-fiction with catchy, chanting rhymes. Her nature and science books are no different. She writes in a unique form of poetry, coupled with detailed and careful illustrations. These books are so fun to read! We especially enjoy them as read-alouds.
Chickens Aren't the Only Ones
Animals Born Alive and Well
The Reason for a Flower
Plants that Never Ever Bloom"Galapagos" Means Tortoise
How to hide a Polar Bear, Crocodile, etc. (several books about camouflage)
Golden Nature Guides
These small, palm-sized field guides describe the most common creatures in America. The series covers many topics, including the unusual, such as weather and fossils, along with more expected topics like birds. These aren't complete field guides- rather they focus on the most common varieties, as they cover the whole US and have only one specimen on most pages. They are designed for children and include drawings for each specimen, a short description, and a map of its range. Other information is located throughout the book, such as taxonomic information in the Mammals book, and rock identification methods in the book on minerals. My children enjoy just perusing the books on their own. These are no longer in print but can often be found at book sales.
Wonders of the SeasonsThis concise book explains the causes of the seasons and their effect on nature. Illustrations show the earth's tilt, rotation, and orbit, while also showing what seasons look like around the world. The focus is on the northern hemisphere with brief mentions of other locations. This is a small picture book but the information is more detailed then you would expect. Great for the 4-7 age group.
One Small Square BooksThese small picture books demonstrate nature study by focusing on one small square of habitat. Each book covers a different habitat. The focus of the book is a narrative describing what the reader sees and does while observing his square through the seasons. The sidebars have information and drawings about the topics on each page. I have used them as beginning science books for my 5-6 year old children, and older children might find them a source of inspiration when beginning nature study for the first time.
Fun With Nature BooksBeginner's field guides which are different from most, these books are fun to read on their own, or take into nature with you. Each page details one common species, with drawings and information including how to find it, where it lives, what it eats, and how it looks. Poisonous and dangerous animals include warnings. I have two larger hardbacks which are compilations of several individual books. The individual books are also available and each cover a specific category, such as Trees, Leaves, and Bark or Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks.
The Year at Maple Hill FarmThis book follows an old-fashioned farm through the seasons. It describes the weather changes and how they effect the animals on the farm. My younger elementary and pre-school children enjoy this book, reading through it several times at season changes. It goes especially well with Wonders of the Seasons.
Find the ConstellationsBest for elementary age children, this detailed book includes drawings and charts of the sky, individual constellations, and information on how to find them. It has drawings of the sky during each season, both with and without the constellations marked, for practice finding them on their own. It also has explanations of light years, planets, galaxies, and universe. We use this book for extended nature study as a family when learning to identify and locate constellations.
Let's Read and Find Out Science Books
This year, I read a bunch of these to my 6 year old before we began official first grade. He was itching for more knowledge, and these books were perfect. Each book explains a science concept in an easy-to-understand but not watered-down way, and a few even include experiment ideas. These books are so good because they are written by already-published children's authors. I prefer the level 2 or 3 books, and the older ones are sometimes written better. My son's favorite was the "The Moon Seems to Change". There are so many of these books, it's really incredible. These are easy to find at library sales! Some of the series we have read:Why do Leaves Change Color?
Follow the Water from Brook to Ocean
Flash, Crash, Rumble and Roar
What Makes Day and Night
Sunshine Makes the Seasons
Fossils Tell of Long Ago
Let's Go Rock Collecting
Where are the Night Animals?
BONUS BOOK:
Crawdad CreekA beautiful book with beautiful illustrations and a beautiful message. Two children begin their adventures at Crawdad Creek panning for gold, and end up finding a real treasure- the nature all around them. Detailed watercolor illustrations would inspire any child to get out and find their own creek, and the simple prose is lovely to read aloud. Crawdad Creek provides inspiration for beginning nature study and is enjoyable at any age.
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