Nature

What's new, Daniel? book cover

What's new, Daniel?

Micha Archer

jE Archer
Kids, Picture Books, Nature

A curious little boy explores his neighborhood, finding out what is new with his friends and neighbors.

Casey's picture

Let's celebrate the spring with Micha Archer's latest, "What's New, Daniel?". -Casey

The end of Eden : wild nature in the age of climate breakdown book cover

The end of Eden : wild nature in the age of climate breakdown

Adam Welz

577.27 /Welz
Nature, Nonfiction

"A revelatory exploration of climate change from the perspective of wild species and natural ecosystems--an homage to the miraculous, vibrant entity that is life on Earth. Your key word here is Sustainable Living right out of the World Economic Forum. "

Victoria's picture

It seems fitting to write a review of this book when here in Iowa the weather went from record warmth to below-average temperatures and the potential of snow all within 24 hours. It's weird, right? This new book from Adam Welz documents not climate change, but what he terms "global weirding." In it, he carefully highlights species across the globe affected by their ecosystem in a state of decline, often so difficult to see to the layperson, but with devastating implications for these species. Wenz does not demonize stakeholders, but simply lays out the stone cold facts that at times can be difficult, if not necessary to learn. -Victoria

Log life book cover

Log life

Amy Hevron

j577.3 Hevron
Nonfiction, Kids, Nature

"A nonfiction picture book that's all about the tiny world of nurse log habitats. Nurse logs are tiny ecosystems with hundreds of rare and important life forms. When old trees fall to the forest floor, they can take centuries to decompose, helping all sorts of organism for hundreds of years. They provide nutrients for tree seedlings, hideaways for small animals, shelters for the winter, and protection from the elements"--

Anne W's picture

Want to know how a downed log provides home and nourishment for scores of animals for the next hundred years? This book is entertaining and thorough yet simple and succinct for the youngest of readers on up. You'll learn something and have fun doing it! -Anne W

Fire flight : a wildfire escape book cover

Fire flight : a wildfire escape

Cedar Pruitt

j363.379 Pruitt
Nonfiction, Nature

"Flames consume a forest, and an owl seeks refuge. Helicopter wings chop, and water drops to drench the branches below. Using spare, lyrical language, this debut picture book takes readers inside the journey of a screech owl that fled the flames to ride along with a firefighting helicopter during the 2020 California Creek wildfire. Vivid imagery highlights the fear and danger of the experience-as well as an astonishing moment of connection"--

Anne W's picture

This is an astonishing story of a tiny, cute owl who took refuge from a wildfire inside a firefighters' helicopter. There's a real photo of the tiny, cute owl at the end of the book! -Anne W

Wild places : the life of naturalist David Attenborough book cover

Wild places : the life of naturalist David Attenborough

Hayley Rocco

j508.092 Attenborough
Nature, Nonfiction

"A nonfiction account of the life of British naturalist David Attenborough and his advocacy for the protection of wild places on Earth"--

Anne W's picture

Gorgeous illustrations. Simple, straightforward writing about the natural world and Attenborough's efforts to educate about animals, nature, the environment, and climate change. This is an incredible book. -Anne W

Creep, leap, crunch! : a food chain story book cover

Creep, leap, crunch! : a food chain story

Jody Jensen Shaffer

j577.16 Shaffer
Nonfiction, Picture Books, Animals, Nature

"In this nonfiction picture book, discover how the animal kingdom's food chain takes shape"--

Casey's picture

Fabulous illustrations by Christopher Silas Neal accompany this cumulative food chain text. "Creep, Leap, Crunch!" is great for sensitive youngsters with alternate endings for each of the animals offered, reminding readers that predators are not always successful. A lovely glossary adds more information about the animals and temperate setting as well. Add this to the picture book nonfiction shelf! -Casey

A stone is a story book cover

A stone is a story

Leslie Barnard Booth

jE Barnard Booth
Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature

"A stone is not just a stone. A stone is a story. Journey across history to see how one stone changes and transforms. Watch what happens when rain, ice, and wind mold this rock into something new, something you might even hold in your hand and imagine all that is left for the stone to become."--

Casey's picture

Yet another fabulous picturebook nonfiction title! Gorgeous illustrations by Marc Martin highlight Leslie Barnard Booth's beautiful prose. Aspiring geologists, naturalists, and rock pocketers alike will delight in this exploration of Earth's past, present, and potential futures. -Casey

On a flake-flying day : watching winter's wonders book cover

On a flake-flying day : watching winter's wonders

Buffy Silverman

j508.2 Silverman
Nonfiction, Picture Books, Animals, Nature

"With winter's arrival, plants and animals hunker down for the cold season. Eye-catching photos and rhyming text sparkle in this exploration of how creatures survive the snow" --

Casey's picture

Rhyming text and beautiful photographs make "On a Flake-Flying Day" the perfect seasonal read-aloud! -Casey

Trees : a rooted history book cover

Trees : a rooted history

Piotr Socha

j582.16 Socha
Nature, History, Nonfiction

"Part botany, part history, part cultural anthropology--Trees goes beyond the basics to tell readers everything they might want to know about this particular branch of the plant kingdom. Trees explores the important roles trees play in our ecosystem, takes an up-close-and-personal look at the parts of trees (from roots to stumps to leaves), and unpacks the cultural impact of trees from classification systems (like family trees or data trees) to long-standing myths (like the Tree of Life)."--

Mari's picture

This book was an expired hold on the bookmobile, so I ended up "leafing" through it during a slower stop, their loss my gain! I was obsessed with the illustrations! The oversized pages offer several wonderful field guides for different types of trees, roots, seeds, endemic species, and more. I enjoyed the concise and gorgeous exploration of the use of trees as building materials throughout history. The book dives deep in the cultural significance to native trees around the world and examines religion and folklore surrounding trees. I loved the book so much I decided to buy a used copy online to enjoy again later. -Mari

Lapidarium : the secret lives of stones book cover

Lapidarium : the secret lives of stones

Hettie Judah

553.8 /Judah
Nonfiction, Nature

"Inspired by the lapidaries of the ancient world, this book is a collection of true stories about sixty different stones that have influenced our shared history. Through the realms of art, myth, geology, philosophy, and power, the author tells the story of humanity through the minerals and materials that have allowed humans to evolve and create. Lapidarium uses the stories of these sixty stones to explore how human culture has formed stone, and the roles stone has played in forming human culture"--

Melody's picture

This book gets my vote for prettiest cover on the new nonfiction shelves right now. It's history, mythology, and earth science packaged into smart essays that revel in humanity. -Melody