Kids are natural scientists. They love to ask questions and find out about new things. They soak up information like a sponge! April is the perfect month to spend some time learning about our wonderful, beautiful Earth.
Babies on the Bayou, by Jim Arnosky (Penguin Young Readers). Arnosky is my children's favorite naturalist. His animals are lovingly drawn, full of human-like emotions, yet realistic and accurate. We see nature's lifecycle in this southern habitat. But the poetry and rhythm of these sweet stories gently conveys with respect the message that each animal is someone else's dinner. And it all comes back to the beginning, truly representing the circle of life. Ages 3-8.
Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam and the Science of Ocean Motion, by Loree Griffin Burns (Houghton Miflin). This fabulous book literally tracks trash as it follows ocean currents around the world. It starts with a cargo ship in Asia that accidentally dumped 21 containers overboard in a storm. Nike sneakers ended up on the coast of Seattle! Kids love finding out just how far away the rubber duckies and Legos float. And in the meantime, they learn about waves, tides, currents and the mind-blowing amount of dangerous trash in our oceans. Ages 10 & up.
My Backyard Garden, by Carol Lerner (Harper Collins). This is a gem I recently found at our public library. From 1998, it is for families who are seriously considering planting their own garden. It takes a year-long approach from preparation and planting to tending and harvesting. The illustrations show Lerner as a professional botanist - beautiful, accurate and educational. Ages 8 & up.
The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss (Random House). Written in 1971, The Lorax continues to poke at the real issue of saving the world in the delightful and amusing way that only Dr. Suess dares. "Unless someone like you...cares a whole awful lot...nothing is going to get better... It's not." Ages 5-10.
How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate, by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch (Dawn). From all the headlines and questions kids have, this book takes a scientific look at climate change by focusing on nature around the world - - flowers, butterflies, and frogs - the proverbial "canary in the coalmine," just to name a few. Kid scientists working alongside the experts in the field make this book a winner. Ages 12 & up.
One Well, by Rochelle Strauss, illustrated by Rosemary Woods (Kids Can Press). The subtitle of this book is "The Story of Water." You wouldn't have guessed that water's story was so cool. The water you drink today was doing something else 100 years ago. Beautiful pictures make this a compelling lesson on this most precious and not-so-limitless resource. Ages 9-12.
Every Minute on Earth, by Steve Murrie and Matthew Murrie, illustrated by Mary Anne Lloyd (Scholastic). This book is more about 60 seconds than life on earth. But the things that actually happen on the earth in one minute is truly mind-boggling! 6,000 lightning strikes! 750,000 gallons of water goes over Niagara Falls! And 10,000 pieces of skin will fall off your body... Ewwww. Kids LOVE this stuff, don't they? Ages 8-12.
The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming, by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon (Scholastic) David and Gordon have taken a topic that is incredibly complicated and made it approachable for kids to understand and ENJOY. Cheeky and entertaining, it is loaded with pictures, sidebars and kid-friendly examples to raise awareness of our environment. Ages 9 & up.
Julie Hubble thought it took a long time for spring to come to Leawood this year.