Wild Animals Coloring Book Author(s): John Green A very nice, detailed and academic-oriented coloring book for learning about wild animals. In addition to beautiful line drawings of 47 different animals from around the world, the text provides common and scientific names and details about appearance, location, habits, size, etc. The index includes both common and scientific names as well, for easy look-up. Illustrations are royalty free (within certain conditions) and may be copied for use within your family. Dover offers a couple of examples of how the finished images might look: Read more about Wild Animals Coloring Book
How do Apples Grow? Author(s): Betsy MaestroIllustrator(s): Giulio Maestro 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.). Read more about How do Apples Grow?
Insects do the Strangest Things Author(s): Leonora and Arthur HornblowIllustrator(s): Michael K. Frith Interesting and informative stories of the strange but fascinating behavior of various types of insects. The pictures are of the somewhat cheezy 60s variety, but the text is quite good and written at approximately a second grade level. Read more about Insects do the Strangest Things
The Insect World of J. Henri Fabre Author(s): Jean-Henri Fabre Jean-Henri Fabre (1823-1915) was a French naturalist who penned many writings about his beloved insects. These essay/stories describe, in great detail, his encounters with some interesting insects – how he worked with them and what he discovered about them. For instance The material is informative and even humorous at times, but rather dense (definitely not dry!). Here is a sample, from "The Pine Processionary"... Read more about The Insect World of J. Henri Fabre
Baby Whales Drink Milk Author(s): Barbara Juster EsbensenIllustrator(s): Lambert Davis A nice picture book which introduces basic facts about whales and what they are: mammals rather than fish. Includes nice pictures (with some beautiful scenery) and informative text. Read more about Baby Whales Drink Milk
Elephant Families Author(s): Arthur Dorros This book focuses on elephant's care for and interaction with each other with a significant emphasis on elephants being killed by poachers. Read more about Elephant Families
Birds do the Strangest Things Author(s): Leonora and Arthur HornblowIllustrator(s): Alan D Singer 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. Read more about Birds do the Strangest Things
How do Birds Find Their Way? Author(s): Roma Gans 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. Read more about How do Birds Find Their Way?
The Way Things Work Kit Author(s): David Macaulay This kit provides dozens of special cardboard pieces, wooden dowels string, wheels, etc. for making simple machines (inclined planes, scales, etc.) that can be used for understanding basic concepts of mechanics – how things work. Based upon the bestselling "The Way Things Work" by David Macaulay, the kit continues the theme of Wooly Mammoths as props and characters for use in these experiments. Read more about The Way Things Work Kit
Great Inventors and Inventions Author(s): Bruce LaFontaine Nicely drawn images and fairly detailed text overview important inventions and their inventors from Gutenberg's Movable Type (1438) to the Laser (1960). Arranged in chronological order, the descriptions give some historical background and scientific details about each invention. There is a certain amount of typical problems in the text regarding the medieval era to be full of "darkness and superstition" and a rather incomplete and somewhat erroneous account of Galileo's run-in with the Catholic Church. Read more about Great Inventors and Inventions
