Synergy: Adventures in Nature

 NATURE is the contents and relationships found in the material world including all life. Humans are a tiny part of the physical universe known as nature.

To understand a concept, it’s useful to read a cluster of books related to the topic. Explore these recently published nonfiction picture books for children:

FIND CALM IN NATURE by Jennifer Grant is a guide for mindful young people. From being rooted to being in flow, each chapter explores a different connection with nature. Quotes, questions, and facts are presented in sidebars. Readers are asked to observe nature, then look inward. Opportunities are provided for practice and reflection.  ARC courtesy of Beaming Books, an imprint of 1517 Media.

A LITTLE DOSE OF NATURE by Alison Greenwood connects outdoor fun to happiness. Picture book readers are encouraged to get outside and experience nature. This interactive guide engages readers in 25 simply activities involving observation, creation, and reflection. ARC courtesy of Ivy Kids Eco, an imprint of Quarto Group.

ONE WORLD by Nicola Davies examines 24 hours of nature on planet Earth. This richly illustrated picture book takes readers on a sweeping adventure through the time zones exploring global biodiversity. End notes discuss what people can do to address climate change. ARC courtesy of Candlewick, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

NO WORLD TOO BIG tells the story of twelve young people fighting global climate change. Each two page spread introduces a young activist through a poem, biographical sketch, and action tip. The book concludes with useful resources about science and poetry forms. ARC courtesy of Charlesbridge.

NATURE SCHOOL by Lauren Giordano, Stephanie Hathaway, and Laura Stroup shares ideas for inspiring a child’s love of nature. Each chapter introduces the climate, plants, and animals of a particular ecosystem along with engaging learning activities. Packed full of interesting information, the picture book’s infographics and other scientific illustrations bring nature to life. ARC courtesy of Quarry Books, an imprint of Quarto Group.

WILD CHILD: NATURE ADVENTURES by Dara McAnulty provides information and activities for young nature explorers. From gardens to woods, each chapter explores the life in a natural area and activities to immerse young people in nature. Whether making a bird feeder and observing nature from a window or dipping for life in a pond, this picture book provides a variety of approaches and activities to connect with nature. ARC courtesy of The Experiment, an imprint of Hachette Books.

Synergy: Border Barrier

A BORDER BARRIER is a fence, wall, or other structure intended to stop movement between two spaces such as countries. They are designed for defense or to prevent illegal activities such as immigration and smuggling. Unintended consequences of these structures include limiting the natural movement of wildlife.  

Read the recently published nonfiction picture books for children, then learn more at the websites:

BORDER CROSSINGS written by Sneed B. Collard II and illustrated by Howard Gray shares the story of how wildlife are impacted by the US-Mexico border wall. Specifically, the powerful picture book follows endangered ocelots who attempt to cross the border. ARC courtesy of Charlesbridge.

OCELOT from the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance provides useful background information about the endangered ocelot. To read the web page, go to https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/ocelot.

THE RIVER AND THE WALL is a full-length documentary following five friends who document wildlife migration and immigration issues along the US-Mexico border. Use this video to better understand the issues as you read the suggested picture book with children. To view the documentary, go to https://youtu.be/3TK4oMtSJfI

Synergy: Digital Ethics

DIGITAL ETHICS is concerned with guidelines governing relationships between individuals and/or businesses mediated by interactive technology including social media. Issues include information privacy and security, digital divide, intellectual property, and censorship. Digital ethics address how to manage oneself in online contexts with digital technology.

Read the recently published nonfiction adaptation for young adults, then learn more at the website:

SHARE BETTER AND STRESS LESS by Whitney Phillips and Ryan Milner is a guide to thinking ecologically about social media. This young adult adaptation explores digital ethics and offers ideas for avoiding doom-scrolling by focusing attention on thoughtful use of social media. Case studies and fictional anecdotes are woven through the text to provide context and examples. ARC courtesy of MIT Teen Press, an imprint of Candlewick Press.

COMMON SENSE EDUCATION provides useful resources for teachers working with teens. The Digital Citizenship section provides useful lesson ideas associated with digital ethics. To visit the website, go to https://www.commonsense.org/education.

Synergy: Science Songs

SCIENCE SONGS are tunes with lyrics that feature science-related facts and stories.

Read the recently published nonfiction picture books for children, then learn more at the websites:

Author Susan Lendroth and illustrator Bob Kolar have teamed for a series of sing-a-long science picture books for young readers. Now available in board book format, HERE WE GO DIGGING FOR DINOSAUR BONES and HEY-HO, TO MARS WE’LL GO are the latest installments that began with OLD MANHATTAN HAS SOME FARMS.  These books are a fun way to introduce science occupations to young children using motivating and familiar tunes.

STORY TIME FROM SPACE is a YouTube channel that reads (and sings) picture books from the International Space Station. Listen to astronaut Christina Koch read Hey-Ho from space! To watch the video, go to https://youtu.be/7dtzMJipiuA.

SCRATCH GARDEN is a YouTube channel that specializes in fun and educational videos for children including STEM songs. To visit the channel, go to https://www.youtube.com/@ScratchGarden.

ARC courtesy of Charlesbridge, and imprint of Penguin Random House.

Timely Take-aways for Life-long Learners: Trees and Forests

Whether exploring the impact of climate change or the restoration of forests, several new books examine individual trees, tree ecology, and forests of the world.

The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth
Ben Rawlence, Feb 2022, St. Martin’s Press, an imprint of Macmillan
Themes: Nature, Plants, Trees

Combining storytelling with science, Rawlence takes readers on a quest to learn about the impact of climate change on the trees of the boreal forest.

Take-aways: Use the locations described in the book to engage students in a discussion about the shifting treelines around the world. 

Ever Green: Saving Big Forests to Save the Planet
John W. Reid & Thomas E. Lovejoy, Mar 2022, W.W. Norton & Company
Themes: Nature, Forests, Trees

An economist and a biologist explore the five remaining megaforests of the world and discuss what it will take to save them.

Take-aways: Of particular note is the connection between the forests and the inhabitants in each region. Involve students in an in-depth exploration of one of these forests.

A Trillion Trees: Restoring Our Forests by Trusting in Nature
Fred Pearce, Apr 2022, Greystone Books
Themes: Nature, Plants, Trees

Pearce weaves interviews with indigenous people into an exploration of forests of the world, their destruction, and their recovery.

Take-aways: Pearce’s investigation provides a wide range of ideas for forest recovery that address the many forces driving change. Involve youth in discussing these forces.

Now is the Time for Trees:Making an Impact by Planting the Earth’s Most Valuable Resource
Arbor Day Foundation, Apr 2022, Timber Press, an imprint of Hachette Book Group
Themes: Nature, Plants, Trees

Filled with photographs, this book celebrates trees and the global movement to plant them.  While highlighting large-scale tree conservation programs, it also provides guidance for individuals inspired to plant trees themselves.

Take-aways: Use the examples in this book to inspire young people to become tree advocates. Ask them to select the conservation program they think will have a lasting impact.

White Pine: The Natural and Human History of a Foundational American Tree
John Pastor, Jan 2023, Island Press
Themes: Science, Natural History, Trees

From the 17th century through today, John Pastor traces the history of the white pine tree with an emphasis on restoring white pine forests and looming issue of climate change.

Take-aways: Using the white pine as an example, ask youth to trace the past, present, and future of another tree.

The Hidden Company that Trees Keep: Life from Treetops to Root Tips
James B. Nardi, Feb 2023, Princeton University Press
Themes: Nature, Science, Natural History, Trees

Featuring detailed drawings, Nardi describes the many forms of life that thrive in and around a tree. Nardi’s unique approach to the tree community is chuck-full of fascinating facts.

Take-aways: Use this book to inspire youth to focus on the life in a specific local tree.

Whether helping educators keep up-to-date in their subject-areas, promoting student reading in the content-areas, or simply encouraging nonfiction leisure reading, teacher librarians need to be aware of the best new titles across the curriculum and how to activate life-long learning. - Annette Lamb