Catching up again on those wonderful Cybils reads, here are 3 books to learn more about our remarkable natural world.

Every single time that I pick up a picture book, I am amazed at how much I learn and have fun at the same time; whether the book is a fictional read or a nonfiction (like today’s picks) one. I truly believe picture books are for everyone.

For its intended audience, it helps build reading skills, improves their confidence, and of course, serves those purposes it is written for. In addition, the pleasure of simply glancing at the pictures or art is by itself worth going through the pages of picture books.

For those in other age ranges (older kids and adults), it brings back the joys of childhood, helps learn and have fun (as previously mentioned), and is often the perfect thing to read between other books.

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3 Books to Learn More About Our Remarkable Natural World

Animals Illustrated: Caribou

Book Info

What It Is

Animals Illustrated mixes fun-filled animal facts suitable for the youngest of readers with intricately detailed illustrations to create a unique and beautiful collection of children’s non-fiction books on Arctic animals

Our Thoughts

I loved the information given in each chapter of this book as well as the illustrations that depict this beautiful animal. Readers will learn about the caribou, its habitat and its habits, and more.

The information is presented in a text-book like manner and this makes it ideal for classrooms and for young readers who need to do projects and reports. While the jump from topic to topic across sections seems very random (for example, from range to skeleton or diet to babies), the text is easy to understand without being simplistic.

In all, the detailed illustrations with the straightforward factual text make this an ideal learning resource for young ones who love to learn about animals.

Perfect Pairing

Pair it with She Leads to learn about a different animal in a different setting, or with Amphibian Acrobats to learn about frogs and toads through poetry.

Get It Here

Amazon ||  Book Depository || BookShop || IndieBound

On a Snow-Melting Day: Seeking Signs of Spring

Book Info

What It Is

A rhyming photographic journey to welcome spring!

Our Thoughts

A beautiful book that illustrates how the world welcomes spring as the snow melts, each in its own way. Using a combination of fun, brilliant, succinct rhyming text and stunning photographs, Buffy Silverman catches the essence of spring as it begins. As the title says, it focuses on the change of seasons as winter-snow melts into spring.

And further thoughts in a rhyme (was inspired to, as I read it again)

With fun-sounding, fact-finding, foot-tapping rhymes,
readers learn, with each page turn,
they discover, from cover to cover,
those little things, that spring brings.

Backmatter includes a section explaining more about the narrative and the photographs, a glossary, photo credits, and further reading resources. Don’t miss the explanations!

Perfect Pairing

Nesting is another beautifully illustrated read about the change of seasons through the life of a family of birds.

Get It Here

Amazon ||  Book Depository || BookShop || IndieBound

What’s This Tail Saying?

Book Info

What It Is

A fascinating glimpse into the world of animal communication, through their tails!

My Thoughts

I learned a lot from this book. While I knew that animals used tails to communicate, among so many other things, it was fascinating to note all the various ways they actually used their tails!

Using a question and answer format with a fun twist, the narrative shows readers what each animal is saying with its tail. Carolyn Combs sets the scene as we see the animals meet or interact, and use their tails during the same. She then poses a question to the reader -What’s the animal’s tail saying? A flip of the page reveals the answer in a fun rhyming couplet followed by some more details on the same with additional narrative.

Cathy Morrison’s illustrations are superbly detailed and vibrantly colorful. The little details included everywhere make each page perfect for I Spy games.

And I loved the backmatter which includes cool ‘Explore More’ sections for kids and adults, which includes more fun tail facts and information. Backmatter also has STEAM activity suggestions.

Perfect Pairing

Packs: Strength in Numbers is definitely a perfect partner for this book as you learn about how different animals work together in groups, and the cool names given to each group of animals (like a mob of mongoose, or a flamboyance of flamingos)

Get It Here

Amazon ||  Book Depository || BookShop || IndieBound

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Linking these books towards #IMWAYR at Teach Mentor Texts

And Now, the End of This Post

Dear reader, have you read any of these books? Or other similar ones? Your thoughts and recommendations are, as always, welcome. I would also love to hear your thoughts and any comments/suggestions for posts like these in the future.