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As the days grow shorter and the nights colder, a hummingbird worries about the upcoming migration. "What if I get lost?" "What if my wings are too tired to flap?" "Will I be able to find my winter home?" Never fear, the bird receives plenty of encouragement from friends and family, and the trip is a success! Illustrated with lovely artwork and told from a bird's-eye view, this heartwarming story successfully conveys the challenges of an amazing migration journey, along with themes of finding courage and facing fears. A note provides additional information about hummingbirds, inviting readers to find out more. Ages 4 - 8 Hummingbirds; Migration; Courage; Facing Fears |
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In this animal fable, a brush fire ravages the African plains, and all of the animals are too frightened to do anything but flee to safety and watch. That is except for a tiny hummingbird, who knows she must save her nest. Filling her tiny beak with water at the river, she flies to the fire and lets the drop fall, repeating the action again and again. Questioned by the other animals about her ability to douse the fire, she responds, "I am doing what I can." Ultimately, others are inspired to help. Beautifully illustrated, this simple tale reminds us that we all have the power to change the world. A note on the origins of the parable, which was often shared by Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Maathia, is included. An uplifting and empowering story that will inspire discussion. Ages 4 - 8 Animal Fables; Taking Responsibility; Making a Difference; Courage |
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by S. D. Nelson "If you look with your eyes and listen with your ears, our animal relatives will share their ancient wisdom with you." Simple text and pictograph-inspired paintings introduce readers to "the Lakota way" of connecting with the natural world. Each double-page spread features an animal, its name appearing in both English and Lakota (along with a pronunciation guide). For example, Bear, a caretaker of her playful cubs, teaches us to "walk with strength and protect those who are smaller and weaker." Quick-moving Dragonfly "teaches us to move with balance and grace." Trustworthy and faithful Dog "teaches us to be a good friend to one another." An author's note provides more background. Inviting readers to explore, this elegant book presents much to learn, contemplate, and discuss. Ages 6 - 10 Animals; Natural World; Lakota Traditions; Wisdom |
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As a storm brews, two brave siblings explore their island home, making note of the darkening sky, increasing wind, and smashing waves. Should they continue? A repeated refrain has the answer: “You pull on me, I pull on you, and we decide to go on,” Together, they find the courage to do so, until the "boom" of thunder sends them running home to safety. A sense of danger builds the suspense, making for a gripping tale, while lush artwork shows the impacts of the storm and the power of nature. This tale is both a backyard adventure and an ode to sibling relationships. Ages 4 - 8 Adventures; Siblings; Nature; Storms |
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The animal world is filled with amazing creatures, and some are introduced in this handsomely illustrated book. Counting from 1 to 10, two-page spreads display critters with the highlighted number of appendages or other features. For example, number two showcases that moray eels have two sets of jaws, the two spots on the back of a pygmy owl (and their role in fooling predators), and a slow loris's two tongues (one for sipping nectar and the other for cleaning its teeth). Additional spreads treat animals with larger numbers of things (the 18,000 teeth of a giant African land snail). A section at the end provides more details about each species and will help launch further research. A fun book for both animal and number lovers! Ages 4 - 8 Counting Books; Animals; Nature |
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Human grown-ups often tell their offspring to mind their manners and be polite, but for "some animals, bad manners are a way of life." So begins a look at 20 animals that break the rules in order to survive. Featured are brown-headed cowbirds that sneak their eggs into the nests of other birds, turkey vultures that poop on their own feet, dolphins that bully their porpoise cousins, warble flies that "worm" their way into caribou, and more. Photos are paired with the brief text, and a note about animal behavior is included at the end. This easy-to-browse book is fun way to inspire research (start with the further reading list). Ages 7 - 10 Animals; Behavior; Adaptations |
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Did you know that fish communicate by making sounds? Scientists can listen in by using hydrophones (underwater microphones). This book's simple rhyming text and appealing artwork introduce the wide variety of sounds made by underwater animals (popping, chirping, croaking, clicking, etc.), along with basic physics (sound travels faster and farther than smell in the sea) and fish anatomy (they communicate by squeezing their swim bladders, grinding their bones together, or moving around). Kids will enjoy the cacophony of sounds and learn about some fascinating species. Additional factual information appears at the end of the book. Ages 4 - 8 Oceans; Animal Communication; Marine Life |
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Readers meet Nelson Molina, a boy who always thought twice about throwing something out and enthusiastically repaired and repurposed castoffs into useful items. Growing up to become a New York City sanitation worker, he brought this way of thinking to his job, gathering, repairing, and displaying thrown-away items at his workplace, a collection that eventually became a museum. This inspirational true story encourages kids to "think differently about the things we throw away." Tips for slowing waste production and photos of Molina and his treasures appear at the end of the book. Ages 5 - 9 Recycling; Environmental Protection; Sustainable Habits |
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Jim West was born in 1931, a time when white men dominated all fields of science. But Jim was curious and determined; he took apart every electrical machine he could find to try and understand how each one worked. He went on to study science in college, where he was one of only two Black students. Through a summer job at Bell Labs, doing something he didn’t know anything about (he went to the library to get books and read about it), Jim came up with a completely different idea about how to make something work. Biography; Becoming a Scientist; Determination; Inventors; Experimentation and Discovery |
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Most adults know what Tiffany lamps look like — stained glass with beautiful nature themes. But did you know that it was not Louis Comfort Tiffany who first created these designs? Clara Driscoll (1861-1944) grew up surrounded by nature and was an artist at heart. She moved to New York City and got a job working in the Tiffany glass works. Her first lamp took so much time to make that her supervisor told her she could not do any more like it, but when Louis Tiffany saw the lamp, he asked her to make another for the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris. He, of course, won a bronze medal for the lamp. Clara's involvement did not come to light until 2005 when letters she wrote home were discovered in an attic. A fascinating story, colorfully illustrated and well-told. Ages 6 - 10 Artists; Nature Forms of Art; Women's History; True Stories Revealed |
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Lighthearted and full of humor, this graphic novel is the purrfect introductory mystery story for young readers. The Paw & Order agency consists of two private detectives: Purrlock, a cat, and Marlowe, a dog. All the sandwiches have been stolen from the Grilled Cheese Festival, and the two are on the case. One partner is good at looking for clues; the other ignores the clues and accuses a mastermind (the dastardly Meowiearty). Once it is obvious that this evil genius is NOT the criminal, readers are directed to look through the pages and try to figure out who did it. The author follows up with brief information on the history of the detective story, making this an appropriate book for History of Literature studies. Ages 7 - 11 Graphic Novels; Detective Stories; Mysteries; Logic; Humor; Literature |
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Doctor-in-training Kara Orc works hard at Creature Clinic, trying to do the best job possible for her patients and live up to the expectations of her impossible-to-please mother, the chief of medicine. When an ailing giant is brought into the hospital with an unconscious human stuck to the bottom of his shoe, Dr. Orc instructs her staff to take the boy back to his own land (humans are dangerous and not to be treated at the clinic). Believing that all creatures deserve to be helped, Kara disobeys her mother, launching into an entertaining adventure — and ultimately making an unexpected new friend. This graphic novel blends well-drawn characters and slapstick humor with meaty themes of exploring family relationships and debunking stereotypes. Ages 8 - 12 Graphic Novels; Friendship; Families; Mythical Creatures; Humor |
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Pikes Peak Library District
P.O. Box 1579, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80901
(719) 531-6333https://ppld.org/ |
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