Lest we forget, nature books are for the young as well as the not-so-young. Let’s look at books that educate and entertain children, ones that would look great in gift wrap.
Sylvan Dell and Firefly are two publishers doing five-star jobs of creating books with nature themes for children. They’ve gone beyond the storyline, although in very different ways.
Sylvan Dell’s approach (beyond excellent stories, scientific accuracy and wonderful illustrations) is to include a three- to five-page Creative Minds section that assists adults in understanding the science and offers ways to lead young readers to thinking beyond the words.
In “Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean” (ages 2-8), for instance, there are additional facts that the adult can feed into the story where appropriate (and look pretty smart while doing so) – and a make-your-own-marine-mammal that focuses on adaptations.
In “If a Dolphin Were a Fish” (ages 4-8), there are make-the-parent-look-smart facts, a craft project and an exercise that illustrates how high a bottlenose dolphin can jump.
Here are three other Sylvan Dell books; all cost $16:
“Pieces of Another World” (ages 5-9). Jody’s father takes her on a surprise night trip to see her first meteor shower. The Creative Minds section includes some meteor math, five steps to a fantastic meteor-watching party and a recipe for comet cookies.
“Loon Chase” (ages 6-10). A dog swims after a loon and two chicks, but finds that the parent’s protective instinct is more than he can handle. The Creative Minds section includes a Web site with loon calls, information about loons in Native American culture and a make-a-loon-mask project.
Firefly earns high marks for its hands-on Explore Your World series. By using pullout tables, small overleafs hiding more illustrations and pop-ups, children ages 4-8 take a trip beyond the obvious.
The $16 books were translated from French. The only caveat is that pullout tabs are not for every child, because the smallest fingers might not work well on them or a too-enthusiastic reader might rip them out.
“Animals of the Cold” introduces Earth’s coldest regions and how animals have adapted to harsh conditions. Children learn about summer and winter “clothing,” how animals move around in the cold, and a bit about emperor penguins, harp seals and polar bears.
“Hidden Animals” focuses on camouflage and does an excellent job of presenting the subject in words, illustrations and hands-on pieces. Who will get eaten? How can camouflage protect mothers and babies?
And for the adult youngsters, here are a few adventuresome books:
“To the Ends of the Earth: Adventures of an Expedition Photographer” ($35, W.W. Norton). Gordon Wiltsie has put the art into expedition photography, and in “Ends of the Earth,” he shares his adventures.
“No Shortcuts to the Top” ($24, Broadway). Bainbridge Island resident Ed Viesturs, the first American to climb the world’s 14 highest peaks, covers the physical, emotional and technical challenges to that accomplishment.
“The Unofficial Guide to Adventure Travel in Alaska” ($22, Wiley). Want to do some adventuring fairly close to home? Melissa DeVaughn rounds up adventures of every sort and complements the options with tips on the best of parks, rivers and trails. The range of adventures will please paddlers, climbers, backpackers, bikers, skiers and dog mushers alike.
“The Avalanche Handbook” ($20, Mountaineer Books). The third edition has new sections on backcountry forecasting and the decision-making process, as well as continuing its in-depth look at all things avalanche.
“The History of Surfing” ($25, Gibbs Smith). World-class surfer, author and film producer Nat Young follows the sport’s history and also talks about modern professionals. The book is a treasure trove of historical photographs as well as a historical perspective on surfing.
Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.
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