Category: nature

animals, children, nature, science

Swamper: Letters from a Louisiana Swamp Rabbit

Bergers Book Reviews

Swamper
Author: Amy Griffin Ouchley
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press
Genre: Science / Nature
ISBN: 978-0-8071-5074-0
Pages: 72
Price: $22.50

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Swamper is a swamp rabbit living in a bottomland hardwood forest in Louisiana. In twelve fictitious letters, he explains what life is like for himself and the other dwellers in his neighborhood.

In each of these letters, Swamper covers a particular element of life in the swamp. Who lives there? What kinds of foods do they eat? How do the different animals handle flooding? And what is the life cycle of the plants and animals there? These and many other questions are answered through the letters and accompanying photos. Questions for further discussion and research are also provided.

Swamp rabbits look similar to the eastern cottontail, but there are physical as well as behavioral differences between them. Children will find Swamper fascinating as they not only learn about this interesting species of rabbit, but also about the swamp itself. This book would be a wonderful addition to a library or classroom science collection.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, nature

Nature Recycles – How About You?

Bergers Book Reviews

Nature Recycles - How About You?
Author: Michelle Lord
Illustrator: Cathy Morrison
Publisher: Sylvan Dell
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-1-60718-6274
Pages: 32
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
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A hermit crab borrows discarded shells to make his home. A caddisfly larva gathers small rocks and pebbles as camouflage against predators at the bottom of a stream. Termites munch on old wood, creating crevices for small animals to use as shelter.

In Nature Recycles – How About You? examples are presented of how these and other animals are using things they find in nature in a new and practical way. The final scene shows kids collecting plastic bottles and aluminum cans while cleaning up their environment, and recycling old clothes by using them as rags. Additional information on the animals in this book and the importance of recycling are included in the appendix.

Recycling is a necessity in today’s world, and this book presents the concept in fun way. Seeing how even the animals recycle provides a great example for kids. I highly recommend this book for classroom use.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, nature, science

Balloon Trees

Bergers Book Reviews

Balloon Trees
Author: Danna Smith
Illustrator: Laurie Allen Klein
Publisher: Sylvan Dell
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-60718-6243
Pages: 32
Price: $9.95

Author’s website
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Do you know where balloons come from? You may be surprised to find out that they come from trees – rubber trees. A spout is used to collect the milky liquid inside the rubber trees. Then it is processed to become the substance we see in balloons, tires, and other products we use every day.

Balloon Trees tells the story of this process in rhyme. Beginning with the harvest up to the end of the assembly line, this book shows how a balloon is created. Colorful illustrations bring this process to life, with a native bird guiding us through the narrative.

In addition to the descriptions of how balloons are made, this book also discusses rubber in general. It describes the plantations and tells us a little bit about the workers who harvest the rubber. Interesting and informative, Balloon Trees is perfect for classroom use and is a fun read.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, cats, nature

Fierce Beauty: Preserving the World of Wild Cats

Bergers Book Reviews

Fierce Beauty
Author: Bhagavan “Doc” Antle
Publisher: Earth Aware Editions
Genre: Nature / Cats
ISBN: 978-1-60109-061-4
Pages: 246
Price: $50.00

Author’s website
T.I.G.E.R.S. website
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The world’s big cat populations are dwindling at an alarming rate. Studies have determined that tigers may even be headed for extinction in the very near future. In an attempt to capture their images before they disappear forever, this beautiful book shows us these stunning creatures in all their majestic glory.

For the most part, Fierce Beauty is a photo album of some of the bigs cats currently residing at the TIGERS Institute. These impressive cats are protected from poachers, while also being bred for future posterity. Although many believe that big cats deserve to be wild, the author argues that there are no more wild places for these animals to roam safely, and their future may only be protected in captivity.

If you love big cats, you’ll enjoy these amazingly detailed, up-close photos taken against plain white or black backdrops. Fierce Beauty would make a wonderful gift for the cat lover in your life.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

history, nature

Right Where You Are Now

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Lisa Montierth
Illustrator: Ashley Burke
Publisher: Craigmore Creations
Genre: Nature / History
ISBN: 978-0-9844422-2-5
Pages: 32
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
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The landscape of the earth has not always looked as it does now. Buildings, roads, and bridges now cover the land where only forests and water used to be. And today’s animals look very different from those who roamed the planet in the past.

In Right Where You Are Now, kids can see things as they are now, and how they might have looked a long time ago. Colorful illustrations detail the different animals and natural elements that existed then. And a visual dictionary is provided, with more information on these extinct animals and monumental events in earth history.

Travel back in time and visit earth when it was still young. This is sure to be a journey kids will enjoy!

Check out this fun trailer, which can be found at Vimeo and YouTube

Reviewer: Alice Berger

adventure, animals, children, mystery, nature, tween

Monkey Magic: The Great Wall Mystery

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Grant S. Clark
Publisher: Monsoon Books
Genre: Children / Animals
ISBN: 978-981-08-6132-2
Pages: 160
Price: $9.95

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The mysterious appearance of a group of monkeys at the Great Wall of China has scientists baffled. These monkeys are not native to China, so where did they come from? And why are they there?

Monkey Magic worked before for 11-year old Romy, allowing her to communicate with orangutans in The Curse of Mukada. Now she uses it to discover the monkeys’ story, but what they tell her isn’t pleasant. She will need all her wits to help them, while also keeping herself out of danger. Her new friend, Pei, shares part of her adventure, as well as some intercultural humor. And when she learns of the possibility of using Monkey Magic whenever she wants, Romy is determined to know more.

Monkey Magic: The Great Wall Mystery shows us how human greed hurts wild animals, and why we need to take immediate action to try to protect them. I highly recommend this delightful, magical tale with a great environmental message.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

nature

Hide and Sneak

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Elizabeth Cook
Photography: Robert Yin
Publisher: Hameray Publishing Group
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 978-1-60559-098-1
Pages: 48
Price: $9.95

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Sea animals fascinate us because of their unique coloring and design. But have you ever thought about why they look this way? Elizabeth Cook and Robert Yin show us some of these unusual sea creatures in their natural habitat, as they attempt to hide and sneak.

Avoiding predators is a key to survival, and an animal’s ability to blend in with its surroundings can mean the difference between life and death. Predators also need to go unnoticed, in order to sneak up on their prey, so their coloring is intended to assist them. In these beautiful close-up photos, we see how these creatures sneak up on others as they try to eat, or hide to avoid being eaten.

Hide and Sneak is part of the Underwater Encounter series, designed to deliver intriguing facts and first-hand accounts from the depths of the seas. This colorful and interesting book provides detailed explanations of underwater camouflage with great photographic images to illustrate these points. I highly recommend it for classrooms and libraries.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, nature

Oh Where, Oh Where Is My Swallowtail?

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Kaleela Thompson
Illustrator: Trevor Lucas
Publisher: Eggleston Services
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-0-9845694-0-3
Pages: 24
Price: $10.95

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Where is Kaleela’s swallowtail hiding? As she explores her garden she searches for the missing butterfly,trying to locate him. The reader is invited to come along, answering questions about where he might be. Once he is found, interesting facts about the swallowtail butterfly, along with other critters is provided.

Kaleela Thompson was born in 1999, and already she’s working to make a difference in the world. She’s founded My Home, My History, and Our World, which helps Virginia youth through interactive historical gardens. In her quest to educate children about the natural world around them, she created Oh Where, Oh Where Is My Swallowtail?

This unique book was printed by Eggleston Services, which helps people with physical and mental challenges perform work geared towards their needs. Illustrator Trevor Lucas is colorblind, and he was able to use his own disability to create drawings that could be easily read by those who have vision impairments. Others also helped in the assembly of the book, and will assist in distribution.

It’s great to see our youth today take an interest in nature and helping others. I applaud Kaleela Thompson and Eggleston for putting together such a helpful and worthy production.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cartoon, nature

Green Pieces: Green From the Pond Up

Bergers Book Reviews


Author & Illustrator: Drew Aquilina
Publisher: Mariposa Press
Genre: Cartoon / Nature
ISBN: 978-0966689976
Pages: 197
Price $19.99

Author’s website
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Iggy: a turtle who suffers from claustrophobia
Radic: a dragonfly who likes to “bug” everyone, especially Iggy
Cabby: a frog with short legs and an overly enhanced brain
Roc: a rogue raccoon who always seems to find the trash

Green Pieces: The cartoon which somehow manages to bring these odd characters together, while also promoting care for the environment.

This comic strip takes a funny look at life at the pond, from the perspective of these four zany characters. Problems like turtle salmonella, a cartoon lawsuit demanding that these cartoon animals wear pants, and worries about how to survive hibernation keep them all busy. But ultimately preserving their little home is the most important thing to worry about, and they don’t take environmental issues lightly.

Green Pieces is a humorous look at life at the pond through the eyes of those who live there year-round. The pictures are well-drawn, and the clever plot lines keep the reader entertained, while often laughing out loud at some of these characters’ antics. I highly recommend this environmentally friendly cartoon book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

nature

Partnering With Nature

Bergers Book Reviews


Author: Catriona MacGregor
Publisher: Atria Books / Beyond Words
Genre:  Nature
ISBN: 978-1-58270-219-3
Pages:304
Price $16.00

Author’s website
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The world has become more complex and industrialized, and humans are losing their connection with nature. Being in tune with the seasons, the plants, and animals was what gave our ancestors the ability to survive. But even though we may not need to hunt for food anymore, that connection to nature helps us thrive, even in this modern society.

Catriona MacGregor has always felt a strong affinity for nature. Now she leads adults and youth on quests, in the attempt to bring our spirits back into alignment with the natural world. In Partnering With Nature, she shares some of her insights on why we still need to stay in tune with nature, and how we can do this, given the constraints of our current lifestyles.

Global warming is a real threat to us and the animal population. We continue to destroy natural habitats and pollute our land and water supplies. We’ve finally realized the destruction we’re causing, and we’re trying to reverse these alarming trends. But we also need to fully connect with the natural world, in order to heal the planet and ourselves.

In looking at the earth as Mother, we create a new relationship with her. When we act from love, rather than greed, we can restore her to health. And in restoring her, we restore our own souls. Partnering With Nature is a strong reminder that we need Mother Earth as much as she needs us. We have a responsibility to protect her, and her survival is key to our own.

Reviewed by: Alice Berger