What are your favorite nature stories?

[aprons_and_acorns]

This summer I will be hosting twelve "Nature Story Times" at our local community center park and I am looking for all kinds of story suggestions.

Thanks in advance for any ideas!

[annettemarie]

I've had lots of luck finding great stories at The Baldwin Project. If you do a search for "nature" there are tons of great stories.

[aprons_and_acorns]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

I've had lots of luck finding great stories at The Baldwin Project. If you do a search for "nature" there are tons of great stories.

Thank you so much for posting that! What an amazing resource. I spent a ton of time looking around on that sight last night.

[annettemarie]

I've gotten lost there a few times myself.

[Owen'nZoe]

Just children's stories, yes?
What about:

- Forest Bright, Forest Night: http://www.amazon.com/Forest-Bright-.../dp/1584690674
- Big Tracks, Little Tracks: http://www.amazon.com/Big-Tracks-Lit...1103435&sr=1-6
- Any one of the "Who's Been Here" books: http://www.amazon.com/Woods-Whos-Bee...1103500&sr=1-3

[Amaranth]

I did a blog post on this a few years ago (tons of links to lists there):

Nature Books for Kids

Also, when picking books, I like to keep this article in mind: Beyond Ecophobia (it's about nature education for kids in general)

[aprons_and_acorns]

Originally Posted by Amaranth

I did a blog post on this a few years ago (tons of links to lists there):

Nature Books for Kids

Also, when picking books, I like to keep this article in mind: Beyond Ecophobia (it's about nature education for kids in general)

Thanks for the links Amaranth and OwennZoe! Those look great

Amaranth, I see you are in Michigan. I was an intern at the Kalamazoo Nature Center during 2000/2001 and I did my final project on ecophobia so I enjoyed reading that David Sobel article you linked. For our nature story times I am trying to find books that focus on aspects of our local ecology without overly anthropomorphized animals or a preachy theme about "saving the planet". It's actually been a bit of a challenge but when I find a keeper it really makes my day.

[Amaranth]

Originally Posted by aprons_and_acorns

For our nature story times I am trying to find books that focus on aspects of our local ecology without overly anthropomorphized animals or a preachy theme about "saving the planet".

Yeah, I can see that would be a challenge.

I really do love John Himmelman's "Nature Upclose" series. He almost always has a child intrude upon the creature's lifecycle (almost step on the pill bug, wearing a flowered shirt that the hummingbird thinks is a flower, etc.) so kids like that part. Plus his artwork is just gorgeous.

[Amaranth]

Oh, I just went and fixed the Univ. of IL link that wasn't working.

"Songs of the Water Boatman" by Joyce Sidman has become a big favorite since I wrote that, too.

[ChocolateNummies]

The Wolves are Back Love this book but can't remember if it was preachy.

A Log's Life

Diary of a Worm? Funny and cute but maybe not what you're looking for. Oops just realized this one would count as overly anthropomorphized.

[ChocolateNummies]

Just remembered this one. Vulture View We enjoyed it since IME vultures aren't a common subject matter for childrens' books.

And this one isn't necessarily a nature book - more a book about imagination - but shows two children enjoying nature in completely different ways. Dragon Scales and Willow Leaves

Owl Moon

Welcome to the River of Grass

An Egg is Quiet is so pretty.

Actual Size is interesting.

The Raft

Oh and If You Find a Rock


Okay I'll stop.

[jessjgh1]

ohhh subbing don't have time to look through these...

[aprons_and_acorns]

Thanks so much ChocolateNummies! Those are some awesome suggestions. I forgot all about The Wolves Are Back, which I think will be a perfect book since I have a really nice Folkmanis wolf puppet I am hoping to use. I don't remember it being preachy, but it gives a really good explanation about how all kinds of animals benefit from a large predator taking down its prey. And we live where there are timberwolves so the information is very applicable. Yay!

And I love Owl Moon, and even though they are summer Nature Story Times I might have to use it. Actually there are a lot of good winter books, maybe when its in the dog days it might be nice to look at pictures of snow.

[rainbringer]

I like the Are You a ... books by Judy Allen (She did ladybugs, bees, butterflies, ants and spiders)

Bumblebee Queen by April Pulley Sayre

Jim Arnosky is a good illustrator - he did Rabbits and Raindrops, Otters Under Water and many others

The Smithsonian Backyard series - Cottontail at Clover Crescent, Raccoon at Clear Creak Road, lots more

Have fun! There are so many good books out there.