Beautiful Books to Teach Children ‘how nature works’

Wildlife in the Balance is a beautifully illustrated book that teaches us about 12 of the world’s keystone species, which means that their existence is paramount to life on earth.

An obvious example in England is the beaver, the world’s second-largest rodent, which although previously hunted almost to extinction for its fur in the past, is now being successfully ‘rewilded’ to help prevent floods, due to its dam-building skills.

After learning exactly what a keystone species is (and benefits to our environment and food chains), you’ll learn about various keystone species around the world, grouped by area:

• Australia (fish that shape the reefs)
• Europe (beavers and Mediterranean rabbits)
• South America (pollinators of Patagonia)
• Antarctica (krill that powers the Atlantic)
• North America – apex predators
• Asia – China’s little pika

Plus you’ll learn the importance of keystone areas like the African Savannah, and how to protect keystone species around the world.

The book also focuses on exactly what an ecosystem is. We hear the word, but what does it mean? In short, it means somewhere that supports a wide range of life, a community of living things on land or sea, that interact to support each other.

From a small pond to an Amazon rainforest. The main ecosystems on earth are:

• Deserts on dry land, which receive little rainfall
• Temperate rainforests that drop leaves in winter
• Open oceans away from coastlines
• Temperature grasslands with little trees and little rain
• Coral reefs, made up of thousands of coral
• Savannah grasslands, maintained by grazing animals
• Tropical forests (warm and humid, near the Equator
• Tundra (cold windy areas with few trees)

Along the way, you’ll learn fascinating facts like:

• Beavers can hold their breath underwater, for 15 minutes
• Most saguaro cactus live from 150 to 175 years
• Parrotfish have a second set of jaws, that grind coral into a fine powder. Coral goes in, and sand comes out!

Sharon Wismer is a marine biologist, mother and children’s book author, who loves to share her passion for wildlife. Currently funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, she leads a project that focuses on impacts of mass coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef, and how it affects fish.

Stories from the Wild (a celebration of nature)

Stories from the Wild is a stunning illustrated compendium of stories, to instil in young people a love of nature and all the creatures. Get whisked away on an unforgettable journey, through the wild places of our world.

From the deepest oceans to tropical rainforests to snowy mountain peaks and mighty desert plains, discover awe-inspiring wildlife moments that are taking place, right now in different habitats across the world.

With lyrical stories, fascinating facts and gorgeous illustrations, children will:

• See colourful reefs of the Great Barrier Reef
• Meet a koala joey on his first climb, outside his mother’s pouch
• Fly high with golden eagles, above Himalayan mountains

Emily Hibbs grew up in the West Midlands, and studied English Literature with Creative Writing, before working for children’s book publishers. She now lives in the countryside near the River Thames, where she writes book on nature and the amazing creatures within it.

This Phenomenal Life (a whacky guide to how nature works!)

This Phenomenal Life is one of our favourite books! It’s packed with science facts on how the world works, yet colourful and entertaining and funny at the same time. This books the story of the wondrous ways that humans are at one with our surrounding world.

From the vast galaxies above to the miniature microbes within, humans are organically connected to nature.

Every single atom of our body is made of remnants of stars, and massive explosions in the galaxy. And we share the same biochemical basis of life with all living beings (from a single-celled amoeba to a giant blue whale).

In this book, you’ll learn how we are related to mushrooms, and share the way that birds communicate. Beautiful art will inspire you to look at the world in a whole new way.

I have a new favourite book in the universe. It explodes with the wonders of creation, and the beauty of being alive. Rainn Wilson

Covering everything from the Big Bang to plant neurotransmitters, this book is a sweet-spirited reminder that all humans are more alike than different, and the entire cosmos is connected. Publishers Weekly 

Misha Maynerick Blaise is a writer and artist, who runs a green building company with her husband in Texas, USA.

Discover Five Wonders of the Ocean Realm!

Wonders of the Ocean Realm is a unique book for children. Not only does it portray five realistic stories of marine creatures, but it’s co-written by two devout Christians (one a marine biologist) to combine their faith with teaching of marine creature welfare.

Suitable for children age 8 to 12, readers will travel from the sun-soaked tidepools of Hawaii to the wide expanse of Atlantic waters to meet:

• Astrid (the vibrant colourful sea star)
• Maximus (a powerful peacock mantis shrimp)
• Dexter (a clever mimic octopus)
• Wendell (a massive humpback whale)
• Luna (a mysterious deep-sea anglerfish)

While enjoying captivating tales, readers will explore each ocean creature’s life cycle, habits and environment. Plus enjoy fascinating scientific truths about God’s incredible underwater world! With stunning colour art on each page, the Deep Sea Dive explores faith themes in each creature’s story.

Throughout the book are ‘ocean notion’ fact boxes:

A sea star doesn’t have a brain like ours. But it has a circle of nerves around its mouth that connect to each of its arms. These nerves help the sea star move and feel what’s happening around it. Each arm has  a tiny eye at the end, allowing it to see large objects.

Tricia Goyer is a best-selling writer and home-schooling mother, who inspires families with her faith-filled stories. Sherri Seligson is a marine biologist and science writer, who has written several textbooks.

An Illustrated Guide to 20 Nature Cycles

Nature Explained is a beautiful children’s book, illustrating 20 cycles of nature, to blend art and science in a fascinating visual tour.

Discover:

• How trees lose their leaves
• What makes flowers bloom
• Why seeds travel

The book is split into six sections:

• Trees
• Leaves
• Flowers
• Seeds
• Mushrooms
• Seasons

The spreads present different scenes and explain the stories of nature, including:

• Pollination
• Photosynthesis
• Germination
• Decomposition

Anatomical profiles feature at the start of each section, so children will learn as they go, with detailed diagrams to pour over. Learning about how nature works has never been so much fun!

Helen Brown is a writer/editor based in London. She studied English Literature at University of Sussex, before deciding to write children’s books, which have been translated into over 15 languages.

Illustrator Claire Scully works in pen, ink and digital. She loves to explore themes of nature and environment, from her London studio.