Elphick, J., & Green, J. (Eds.). (2000). Encyclopedia of Animals . New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley Limited (Reprint Ed. 2006).
Another wonderful resource from Dorling Kindersly. Great for building up your animal trivia knowledge!. Facts and beautiful photos .... all the things that DK is noted for! A great A-Z animal section, covering over 2000 species and a nice general animal behavior run down, as well.

Arnosky, Jim. (2008). Wild Tracks: A Guide to Nature’s Footprints . New York, NY: Sterling Children’s Books.
Not your typical track identification book! This wonderful book shows many of them LIFE-SIZE! Fold out pages let you see the real size difference between, for example, deer, elk and moose tracks. Critters that have very similar prints but it’s not until you see them in this book do you understand the SIZE difference. Deer, bear, small animals, felines and birds ... just some of the tracks identified in this great book!

Arnosky, Jim. (2011). Thunder Birds: Nature’s Flying Predators . New York, NY: Sterling Children’s Books.
The author’s paintings and sketches abound through this wonderful book devoted to the raptors of all size. One of the most popular books by this author of over 90 children’s nature books, this gives the reader a great sense of the awesomeness of raptors. Beaks, wings, talons ... many drawn life size! Size is such a vital aspect in being able to determine just which animals you are sharing your space with and Mr. Arnosky’s books are perfect for sharing that knowledge.

Bekoff, M. (2014). Rewilding Our Hearts: Building Pathways of Compassion and Coexistence. Novato, CA: New World Library.
If I called this an inspiring book, it would be an understatement, to say the least. Virtually every page is note worthy and gives rise to a common sense course for re-wilding ourselves. Re-wilding ... a return to a necessary and long-overdue overhaul in regards to our relationship with the natural world. Read it and see if you are not only inspired to make changes in your life but are shown a world where compassion and coexistence need to be made the norm.

Goodall, J. (2010). 50 years at Gombe. Stewart, Tabori & Chang.
This is a wonderful introduction to the work that put Dr. Jane Goodall on the map, so to speak. She began studying the chimpanzees at Gombe in 1960 and this book gives the reader a great sense of the project as it has grown over time. The photographs are absolutely beautiful! Much is written in the book about her continuing work in the world of conservation. Just one of many books by Dr. Goodall that needs to be on everyone’s book shelf!

Murie, M. (1979). Two in the Far North . Alaska Northwest Books.
Margaret Murie writes of and celebrates Alaska ... her adventures as a 9 year old girl who came to the frontier town of Fairbanks. She was the first woman to graduate from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks in 1924and went on to dedicate her life to mapping the Alaskan wilderness, studying it’s wildlife with her biologist husband Olaus and together, along with many others, fighting to preserve it’s pristine wildness. Mardy is considered the grandmother of the conservation movement and this book speaks directly of her love and compassion for all things wild.

Burnie, D., & Wilson, D. (Eds.). (2001). Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide (Updated ed. 2011). London: DK Publishing.
A spectacular reference to the animal kingdom, this book contains information on the six types of animals: invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, mammals, reptiles and birds. Almost every entry includes a beautiful picture of the animal as well as it's physical characteristics and where the animal can be found. The book also contains information on different ecosystems and wildlife conservation. Excellent for conducting school reports, learning more outside of the classroom, or just to look at the pictures! A must have for classrooms and animal enthusiasts!

Cherry, L. (1990). The Great Kapok Tree . Orlando, FL: Voyager Books (Reprint ed. 2000).
This book is an excellent choice for introducing children to the interconnectedness of nature. In this story, a man walks into the Amazon rainforest to cut down a kapok tree. He becomes tired and falls asleep. In his slumber, all of the animals that depend on the kapok tree come to him and explain why they need the tree to survive. Readers may be surprised to find how many animals depend on a single tree! With gorgeous pictures of the Amazon denizens, his book is a perfect illustration for how complex ecosystems can be, and how every tree in a forest really is important.

Day, (1986). A. Good Dog Carl. New York, NY: Little Simon (Little Simon board book ed. 1996).
Good Dog Carl is the first in a series about a Rottweiler named Carl, who is tasked with keeping an eye on his owner’s baby. Told mostly in pictures, the story follows the shenanigans Carl and the baby engage in over the course of an afternoon. A delightful story for young readers and dog lovers alike!

Helvarg, D. (2006). 50 Ways to Save the Ocean. Novato, CA: New World Library.
Ever wanted to help save the ocean? Here’s your chance! Author David Helvarg outlines no less than fifty different ways to make a positive impact on the ocean. Even if you live far inland, this book can help you make more ocean-friendly decisions as well as spread awareness to the communities in your life. As a bonus, this book features illustrations by Jim Tooney, the author and illustrator of the comic Sherman’s Lagoon! An invaluable resource for anyone who wants to make a difference for the environment!

Kierst, A. (2013). P is for Pangolin: An Alphabet of Obscure, Endangered & Underappreciated Animals. Dallas, TX: Eternal Summers Press.
Not your average alphabet book, this delightful book explores endangered animals that aren’t well known! A treat for all ages, the book has colorful pictures with a statement from the perspective of each animal. This tale is a fantastic choice for learning about the alphabet and underappreciated animals. The author ends the book with a positive message: we can protect endangered species by learning about them!

Lewin, T. (1993). Amazon Boy. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Amazon Boy gives readers a snapshot of what it’s like to live in the Amazon rainforest. In this story, Paulo has lived deep in the Amazon rainforest for all his life. Finally on his birthday he goes on a trip with his father to the town Belém to visit the market. On the trip, Paulo learns about the reality of overfishing, and the consequences this problem may have for the future. A simple book with a strong message, also useful for studying how children live in other parts of the world.

Madden, D. (1993). The Wartville Wizard (Reprint ed.). New York, NY: Aladdin.
Set in the town of Wartville, an old man tries desperately to clean up the trash that everyone else litters with. Finally when he can’t keep up with the mess, Mother Nature gives him the power over trash! The old man then uses his powers for some major cleaning, and to show the people of Wartville how to responsibly throw out trash. A fantastical story with a wonderful message of environmental stewardship!

Palmer, D., & Publishing, I. (2009). Prehistoric life: The Definitive Visual History of Life on Earth.New York, N.Y.: DK Pub.
This book is an excellent guide to studying how the Earth formed and how life evolved into the many different animals and plants we love today! Starting with the formation of the Earth, Prehistoric Life chronicles what the planet was like in every geological era, and what sorts of life forms lived in those eras. This book is a spectacular resource for anyone wondering about geology or biology, featuring awesome pictures and detailed information. Especially useful for middle school and up.

Sardet, C. (2015). Plankton: Wonders of the Drifting World. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
This book provides a detailed exploration of plankton, their diversity and their importance in the food chain. Containing many colorful photographs and charts, author Christian Sardet takes the reader on an in-depth journey into the world of plankton, clearly classifying the different plankton species. The book also goes over the origins of life on Earth as well as mass extinctions, as plankton are among the oldest life forms alive and have seen much of the Earth’s history. Especially useful for college ages and up.

Seuss, D. (1971). The Lorax. New York: Random House.
A beloved classic by Dr. Seuss, The Lorax is a powerful illustration on what happens to the environment when we don’t take care of it. Set in a fantasy world with beautiful truffula trees, the fluffy Lorax attempts to speak for the trees as the Onceler cuts them down to make Thneeds. As the story progresses, the Lorax reveals how the reckless clear cutting is affecting the animals that live in the truffula forests. Filled with rhymes both clever and nonsensical and bright and colorful pictures, The Lorax is perfect for inspiring young readers to be speakers for the trees!

 

White, E.B. (1952). Charlotte’s Web. Barnes & Noble Inc. (1997 ed).
An enduring classic about friendship, life and farm animals, Charlotte’s Web follows the story of the pig Wilbur. Born the runt of his litter, Wilbur is almost killed on the day he was born, but the farmer’s daughter Fern rescues him from an untimely death. Wilbur is sent to live on Fern’s uncle’s farm, where he meets Charlotte the spider. Charlotte becomes a motherly figure for Wilbur as she helps him find his place on the farm. But when Wilbur finds out that the farmers are planning to turn him into a meal, it’s up to Charlotte to use her web to save the day. An excellent story for a classroom read aloud, or for enjoying at home.