Recommended Reading

Spring 2013 Book List

Spring is the perfect season for nature exploration.  Read these books with your family and discover new and exciting ways to explore in your own backyard.

The Dandelion Seed by Joseph P. Anthony – A dandelion can teach much about seeds and seasons and cycles, and the big world that a wind-blown seed can travel, but it also can make us appreciate the challenges it must overcome. This gorgeous book is at once simple and profound. You may be surprised and pleased by the questions and observations of your children after reading this together.

Yucky Worms by Vivian French – Who would want to be friends with a wiggly, slimy worm? You can’t even tell which end is which! But there’s more to these lowly creatures than meets the eye. Kids are invited to find out where worms live, see how they move, and understand why gardeners consider them friends with the help of this humorous and informative look at an unappreciated — and fascinating — creature.

Fancy Nancy: Explorer Extraordinaire! by Jane O’Conno – For the fanciest girl around, the outdoors are out of this world! Fancy Nancy and her best friend, Bree, set out to explore the fascinating world of wildflowers, trees, leaves, birds, and, of course, butterflies in their exclusively glamorous Explorers' Club. With recipes for pinecone bird feeders and extra-fancy lemonade, an official club bird, and an exclusive map of the territory, Fancy Nancy is one Explorer Extraordinaire!

My First Garden by Wendy Lewison – Come along with a mother and daughter as they dig up soil, plant a flower bed, and water the seeds to make their very first garden. Together they watch the colorful vegetables grow, grow, grow! This book teaches a first concept of colors as well.

Animal Tracks by Arthur Dorros – Have you ever wondered who made tracks in the soft mud by a stream or whose tracks are the curving lines around a puddle? Guess which tracks you are seeing and then find out in this book. Learn to identify animals from tracks and animal signs, and to make plaster casts, track tracings and track "traps." Become a track detective in your own backyard.

My First Hike by Catherine Maria Woolf – A reluctant child goes with Grandpa on his first hike – and to his surprise, discovers the vibrant world of nature.  This book is great for the very young, and celebrates the wonders of nature.

Bugs and Slugs by Judy Tatchell – Lift the flaps to look behind leaves and under stones, open out the patterned wing of a butterfly, or follow the shiny trail of a snail. This series of innovative flap books uses the elements of discovery and delight to inform youngsters about the world.

Caterpillar’s Wish by Mary Murphy – In the full-page illustrations, awash with color and drawn from a bug's perspective, boldly outlined flowers loom as tall as trees, while leaves provide a verdant canopy for the convivial insects. The oversized format and thick, durable paper allow toddlers the freedom to manipulate the pages on their own

Tiny Workers by Nancy Loewen – Delightful illustrations and playful yet informative text reveal the world of insects that children see in their own backyards.  Describes the physical characteristics, life cycle, and behavior of ants. Includes anatomy diagram and activity.

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon – A tender story of a lost young bat who finally finds her way safely home to her mother and friends.

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