CHILDREN'S BOOKS Branching Out


This user-friendly resource, subtitled How trees are part of our world, made me want to go outside and explore an arboretum immediately. The book would be very useful to students and teachers in Grades 5 through 8 across the globe. The layout allows easy comparisons between species and geographic regions of the


world. Author Joan Marie Galat’s important messages about the link between trees and humans as well as the necessity of taking action to protect trees will resonate with readers. Perfect for feeding curiosity or augmenting serious research. — (AE)


Owl Kids, 2014; ISBN: 978-1-77147-049-0 (pb); 64 pp.; CDN$13.95 from shop.owlkids.com.


The Ocean Craft Book


The Ocean Craft Book details 16 ocean-inspired crafts to engage children. Each topic, such as pen- guins, luminous creatures, and starfish, includes sim- ple background scientific information and step-by- step instructions to help learners complete the associated project. Young


crafters will learn to make fun projects, including paper cup penguins, sea turtle art, and a shark pop-up card. The collage illustrations support science learning and contain useful templates and sketches for the projects. This would be a suitable resource for children aged 4–7, especially if they have some adult guidance. A table of contents would have been handy, but young children will enjoy looking through the colorful and inspiring resource to find a craft to complete. — (NC)


Charlesbridge, 2019; ISBN: 978-1-58089-941-3 (hb), 32 pp., CDN $21.99 from charlesbridge.com.


Rivers and Streams


Rivers and Streams by Rebec- ca Siegel, illustrated by Tom Casteel, is a modern-day text- book with an added dose of fun. It invites Grades 4–6 students into an engaging exploration of these global ecosystems with hands-on experiments and QR codes for readers to scan for extra research. Ms. Siegel has


an excellent manner of making analogies that augment the reader’s understanding. Creative inquiry activities


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include The crumpled paper watershed, Making gills, and the Candy erosion project. The Try this and Think about it sections are super for extending learning. — (AE)


Nomad Press, 2018; ISBN: 978-1-61930-704-9 (pb); 90 pp.; CDN$ 14.95 from nomadpress.net.


You Are Never Alone


This beautiful, informational picture book conveys how we are all connected. Through its masterfully-collaged, diora- ma-style illustrations and lyrical text, You Are Never Alone shares an important message: From the water and food we consume, to the plants and wa- ter around us, our ecosystems are layered with interconnected- ness. These connections foster


good feelings, robust health, and a generally-positive sense of well-being. The depth of the scientific concepts may be difficult for young readers, but the captivating illustrations and poetic text are likely to keep readers engaged. Recommended for children aged 5–12. — (NC)


Owlkids Books, 2019; ISBN: 978-1-77147-315-6 (pb); 32 pp.; US $18.95, CDN $19.95 from owlkidsbooks.com.


Lakes and Ponds


Author Johannah Haney does an excellent job of connect- ing humans and ecosystems in this book, illustrated by Tom Casteel. The chapters on humans, lakes and ponds and practicing conservation take readers from solely observing the world to changing it for the better. Art projects are mixed with scientific inquiry, making for cross-curricular learning


to stimulate different learning styles. The QR codes for accessing primary sources of research and the resource list of websites allow students and teachers to augment their studies. A useful resource for Grades 4–6 in a home school or traditional classroom. — (AE)


Nomad Press, 2018; ISBN: 978-1-61930-701-8 (pb); 90 pp; CDN $14.95 from nomadpress.net.


The Nature Craft Book


Nineteen simple children’s crafts inspired by the envi- ronment are explained in The Nature Craft Book, including the creation of a bird mobile, a racoon mask, and a floral crown. Each project includes a step-by-step guide as well


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