Love 2 Learn.net

Resource Type:

Review:

A beautifully illustrated look at where various animals go when it snows and how they prepare for winter. We learn details of the migration of various animals (such as birds, butterflies and bats), animals that hibernate, animals that store up food for the winter and animals that have to find their food throughout the winter. Includes instructions for feeding birds and other wild animals in your own backyard.

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

4-4-01

How a Seed Grows

Author(s):

Helene J. Jordan

Illustrator(s):

Loretta Krupinski

Number of pages:

32 pages

1992

ISBN:

9780064451079

Publisher:

Harper Collins

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

A very simple, charming book that explains to young children what seeds are and takes them through the development of some bean seeds. The growth present each day is illustrated in the book and the child is invited to try grow the beans themselves and watch the progress in real life. The book also introduces children to different kinds of seeds (for trees, flowers, vegetables, etc.), and how each seed will grow into the same kind of plant that it came from, and the basic things necessary to make a plant grow.

Additional notes:

Copyrights 1960/1992

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

12-27-99

What Lives in a Shell?

Author(s):

Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Illustrator(s):

Helen K. Davie

Number of pages:

32 pages

1994

ISBN:

9780060229993

Publisher:

Harper Collins

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

This beautifully illustrated book, designed for preschool and kindergarten, explains different kinds of shells and the creatures that inhabit them. The shells are compared to the shelter occupied by people and by other animals. We learn that some shells do grow larger along with certain animals while other animals must shed their out-grown shell in favor of a new one. Many shells are beautifully depicted and identified and the story-format of the text is very easy and interesting for young children to follow.

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

11-17-99

Falcons Nest on Skyscrapers

Author(s):

Priscilla Belz Jenkins

Illustrator(s):

Megan Lloyd

Number of pages:

32 pages

1996

ISBN:

9780060211059

Publisher:

Harper Collins

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Setting:

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

This is a very interesting book (with excellent illustrations) that introduces young children to various falcons living in the United States, some of their remarkable abilities and the story of how some scientists were successful in re-introducing the peregrine falcon in the Eastern United States after they nearly became extinct because of an insect spray called DDT which was overused earlier in the twentieth century. The story focuses on Scarlett, a peregrine falcon who was born in captivity, released, and discovered building a nest thirty-three stories up on the ledge of a skyscraper in Baltimore. This location made observation ideal and we learn that she managed to find a wild falcon for a mate and that their offspring have helped significantly in restoring the falcon population.

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

12-27-99

How do Apples Grow?

Author(s):

Betsy Maestro

Illustrator(s):

Giulio Maestro

Number of pages:

32 pages

1992

ISBN:

9780064451178

Publisher:

HarperTrophy

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Plant Life and Fungi

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

The development of apples is presented, from leaf and flower buds in the winter, thru blossoms in the spring, pollination and the actual growth of the apple. In addition to beautiful scenic pictures of trees in blossom and bees pollinating the trees, there are more technical drawings which illustrate the parts of a flower, show flowers in the different stages of development and show the connections between the original blossom and the ripe apple. The text also introduces some important terminology that will be useful in later science studies (pollen, stamen, pistil, etc.). Overall, a very nice and useful book.

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

4-4-01

How do Birds Find Their Way?

Author(s):

Roma Gans

Number of pages:

32 pages

1996

ISBN:

9780060202255

Publisher:

HarperTrophy

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Birds

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

A nicely illustrated and interesting look at the amazing phenomenon of bird migration, what we know about how migration works and some various theories about details that are still being studied. Includes a chart of how high various birds fly.

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

4-4-01

Who Eats What? Food Chains and Food Webs

Author(s):

Patricia Lauber

Illustrator(s):

Holly Keller

Number of pages:

32 pages

1995

ISBN:

9780060229825

Publisher:

Harper Collins

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Animal Life

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

This book explores the notion of various plants and animals that are linked together based on "who eats what." Children will learn about some simple food chains such as – leaf, caterpillar, wren and hawk. They also see how one plant or animal can belong to several food chains and that members or these related food chains (food webs) have a certain amount of dependence on each other. The text goes on to explain, through an example of a problem with over-hunted otters around the turn of the century, that when part of a food chain is disturbed, the other members will also be affected. There are some mild "environmental" messages in this text which our family used as an opportunity to discuss good stewardship of what God has given us.

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

1998-99

Why Do Leaves Change Color?

Author(s):

Betsy Maestro

Illustrator(s):

Loretta Krupinski

Number of pages:

32 pages

1994

ISBN:

9780064451260

Publisher:

Harper Collins

Binding:

Softcover

Subject(s):

Plant Life and Fungi

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

Our family has really enjoyed this book which explains why leave fall off the trees before winter, where the different colors come from, how weather affects the brilliancy of the colors and lots more. It's written in a very simple manner, so that it's quite understandable even for preschoolers or kindergarteners, and yet it contains substantial information so that even moms (like me) realize that they don't know everything : ) You'll also find labeled pictures of the leaves from different kinds of trees, a cross section of a leaf, an explanation of how trees make food, and how to make leaf rubbings and preserve leaves by ironing them between sheets of waxed paper.

Reviewed by:

First reviewed:

1998-99

Little Black Ant on Park Street

Author(s):

Janet Halfmann

Illustrator(s):

Kathleen Rietz

Number of pages:

32 pages

2009

Publisher:

Soundprints

Binding:

Paperback

Subject(s):

Science

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

The Smithsonian’s Backyard Collection series “is a world of wonder for children intrigued by the wildlife outside their windows.” The books have an over-sized format, and each page filled with colorful and detailed illustrations with large-print text. This newest book in the series tells the story of Little Black Ant searching for food. Though the book may be written for younger children, this is not a book that is more story than science. From regurgitating food in their social stomachs, to fending off an intruding carpenter ant, to a swarming nest, this book teaches a good deal about ants. On the back page, the top section summarizes the scientific information from the story followed by a glossary; the bottom section, Points of Interest in this Book, identifies other plants and animals illustrated in the story. This book and others in the series are a great introduction to nature in our own backyards.

Reviewed by:

Kris Correira

First reviewed:

2-21-2010

Birds do the Strangest Things

Author(s):

Leonora and Arthur Hornblow

Illustrator(s):

Alan D Singer

Number of pages:

61 pages

1965

ISBN:

9780679911593

Publisher:

Random House

Binding:

Sewn Hardcover

Subject(s):

Birds

Grade / Age level:

Resource Type:

Review:

Twenty-two stories of the natural but strange and fascinating behavior of various birds. The text covers ostriches, hummingbirds, kiwis, loons, peacocks, emperor penguins, woodpeckers and much more. The text is somewhat lengthy (approx. 12-20 lines per page), but in fairly large print and at a fairly easy reading level. My children find this book completely fascinating. Part of the "Step-Up" series which includes "Meet George Washington" et al.

Reviewed by: