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A Tree Is A Home by Pamela Hickman ill. Zafouko Yamamoto

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from the review in KIRKUS:
“The illustrations are deceptively simple—primitive and childlike, using crayons among other media—but the details go beyond complementing the scientific text. For example, astute readers will see the “sold” sign on the empty house on the verdant, summery initial page. Successive, alternating double-page spreads show first the tree and house on the verso, with brief text that describes seasonal changes in the tree, then present what’s happening at the same time in the life cycles of six winsome animals: raccoon, acorn weevil, opossum, gray squirrel, blue jay, chipmunk. All, even the weevils, are depicted with plenty of personality.”

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Be a Tree! by Maria Gianferrari ill. Felicita Sala

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 29 Jul 2021

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“This is a book that will appeal to adults/teens as well as younger readers. Pleasing compositions and expressive characters draw us into Felicita Sala’s artwork, which has a confident sophistication and cheerful accessibility that gives it wide appeal. Intriguing visual ideas are explored, and Sala adds layers of meaning to the text (introducing trees in different habitats; using snails to extend the idea of curling and coiling; providing a context for change over time) without losing sight of the need to engage children who may have little experience of picturebooks.” BfK 5-star review
“This book has the advantage of lyrical, accessible poetry and vibrant watercolors from an ever changing palette. The book consists almost entirely of double-page spreads, and each page turn but one yields images of trees or parts of trees—and many show gloriously diverse children and adults enjoying their time with, under, and among equally varied kinds of trees.” KIRKUS
“In strong, sweeping lines, Sala draws massive trees with trunks of green and brown, but also lilac, rust, and deep blue, that often dwarf the children playing underneath them; visitors of many ages and ethnicities stroll under the trees in a park.” Publishers Weekly

A lyrical, gorgeously illustrated look at the majesty of trees-and what humans can learn from them.
Stand tall.
Stretch your branches to the sun.
Be a tree!
We are all like trees: our spines, trunks; our skin, bark; our hearts giving us strength and support, like heartwood. We are fueled by air and sun. And, like humans, trees are social. They “talk” to spread information; they share food and resources. They shelter and take care of one another. They are stronger together.
In this gorgeous and poetic celebration of one of nature’s greatest creations, acclaimed author Maria Gianferrari and illustrator Felicita Sala both compare us to the beauty and majesty of trees-and gently share the ways in which trees can inspire us to be better people.

Follow Felicita Sala on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felicita.sala/

 

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Dear Treefrog by Joyce Sidman ill. Diana Sudyka

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 30 Jun 2021

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“The language in these poems is simple but not ­simplistic: “I hope you are / somewhere / safe / ­Treefrog // holding on tight / with those grippy toes / riding your / snug saddle of leaves.” Each entry crafts a single episode; together the poems construct a clear narrative arc. Appended with a four-part discussion, nicely organized with pertinent headings, about treefrogs and their survival. Altogether lovely.” Horn Book
“Sudyka’s bold lines and vivid watercolor palette paint an immersive, verdant world, with occasional color pops. Whimsical flourishes often blur the child’s real and imaginary worlds while concealed in the illustrations are names of birds, bugs, flowers, and more for young scientists to discover.” KIRKUS
“This artful picture book seamlessly blends science, poetry, and mindfulness, encouraging little ones to get outside, slow down, and look closely at what’s around them.” Booklist

When a shy girl moves to a strange new home, she discovers a treefrog perched in a secret spot nearby and learns that sometimes all it takes to connect with the people and the world around us is a little patience, a curious mind, and a willingness to see the world through a different perspective than your own.

With beautiful gouache illustrations by Diana Sudyka and magical, perceptive poems from Newbery Honor winning author Joyce Sidman, the lives of tree frog and girl converge

The Newbery Honor winner and Sibert Medalist Joyce Sidman is one of America’s foremost nature poets for children. Accolades for her books include two Caldecott Honors, a Lee Bennet Hopkins Award, winner of the Claudia Lews Award, and many stars and best of lists. For her award-winning body of work, she won the Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children. She lives in Wayzata, Minnesota.
Diana Sudyka‘s paintings are largely informed by a deep passion for the natural world. She has illustrated several volumes of the award-winning book series The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart  as well as the picture books like What Miss Mitchell Saw by Hayley Barrett.

Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tinyaviary/
Follow the author on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joycesidman/

“When I discovered gray treefrogs in my yard, I became obsessed with finding and taking pictures of them. I didn’t end up using photos in my book, but the act of seeking them out and capturing them digitally helped me study their habits and understand them.” Joyce Sidman

Etty Darwin And The Four Pebble Problem by Lauren Soloy

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ACHUKA Book of the Day 26 May 2021

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Lush, layered illustrations give a sense of the Victorian era while they capture a realistic natural landscape with forays into fantasy, Etty always at its center; a spread featuring yellow butterflies is particularly dazzling. Etty’s heavy brows and quizzical expressions show a girl unconcerned with looking pretty, deep in thought and an intrinsic part of the flora and fauna that surround both her father and herself. The two White characters are joined by Polly the dog, a detail sure to appeal. An excellent introduction to the natural sciences, Darwin, fairies, and inquiry, sure to inspire and fascinate young readers and listeners. Scientific investigation meets magic in this glowing selection.
KIRKUS

Etty Darwin and her famous father go for a walk to ponder life, science . . . and fairies! Inspired by the real-life daughter of Charles Darwin.

Etty loves make-believe.
Her dad loves science.
Etty believes in fairies.
Her dad would need to see some proof that they exist.
But they both love nature, conversation and each other.

A gorgeous rumination on belief and imagination featuring Henrietta (Etty) Darwin and her famous father, Charles. Etty went on to become a valued and keen editor of Charles’s work and a thoughtful and intellectual being in her own right. This imagined conversation between Etty and Charles as they stroll around Charles’s real-life “thinking track” explores their close relationship and shows that even science is nothing without an open mind and imagination.

Follow Lauren Soloy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurensoloy/

By Ash, Oak and Thorn by Melissa Harrison

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Sunday Times Children’s Book of the Week 30 May 2021

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A breathtaking tale of the rich, wild world and all its wonder from acclaimed nature writer and Costa Award-shortlisted novelist, Melissa Harrison – the perfect read for children for summer.

Three tiny, ancient beings – Moss, Burnet and Cumulus, once revered as Guardians of the Wild World – wake from winter hibernation in their beloved ash tree home. When it is destroyed, they set off on an adventure to find more of their kind, a journey which takes them first into the deep countryside and then the heart of a city. Helped along the way by birds and animals, the trio search for a way to survive and thrive in a precious yet disappearing world …

Inspired by 1942 classic The Little Grey Men by BB, with shades ofThe Borrowers, this is a tale of disappearing wilderness that couldn’t be more relevant in today’s environmental crisis, brought to life for children by three tiny, funny, eternal beings – the hidden folk.

Cover illustration by Lauren O’Hara.

Swim, Shark, Swim! – Wild Wanderers 2 by Dom Conlon ill. Anastasia Izlesou

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“A sumptuously illustrated, powerful poem with a repeated refrain (“he opens a tunnel / of bubbles and light and / swim, Shark, SWIM!”). It circumnavigates the globe, brushing fins with various shark species and conveying the dangerous beauty of their lives.” Imogen Russell Williams GUARDIAN

Swim around the world with Shark as he explores ocean forests and coastal reefs, meeting Hammerheads and Great Whites, stingrays and dolphins in a search for the place he calls home. This is the second book in the Wild Wanderers series written by Dom Conlon and illustrated by Anastasia Izlesou. Some of the species covered include: Blacktip reef shark, Tiger shark, Humpback whale, Bottlenose dolphin, Great white shark and many more.

The Book of Tiny Creatures by Nathalie Tordjman ill. Julien Norwood & Emmanuelle Tchoukriel

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In the air, on the ground, and in the water, incredible tiny creatures are all around us! They may be small, but they live remarkable lives. This wonderfully illustrated book introduces young readers to spiders, butterflies, worms, snails, and even the world’s heaviest insect, the Little Barrier Island giant weta. Filled with fun facts, children also learn through interactive quizzes, detailed seek-and-find scenes, and hands-on activities, like how to make a snail terrarium.

Nathalie Tordjman is a Paris-based journalist specializing in nature and the environment. She is the author of more than forty books and writes for numerous publications.
Julien Norwood is a French author and illustrator educated at the Museum of Natural History in Paris.
Emmanuelle Tchoukriel is a French illustrator who trained in medical and scientific illustration at the Estienne School in Paris.

Follow Emmanuelle Tchoukriel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manutchouk/

Omar, The Bees And Me by Helen Mortimer ill. Katie Cottle

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Omar, The Bees and Me encourages children to look after nature in local communities planting wild flowers to form bee corridors. The theme of cultural identity is also explored via the friendship between Omar (a new boy from Syria) and Maisie. The book offers insight into international beekeeping and is illustrated by award-winning picture book creator Katie Cottle. There are bee facts on endpapers and a recipe for honey cake on the end page.

Follow the illustrator on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_katiecottle/

 

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Swan Song by Gill Lewis

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Times Children’s Book of the Week 13 Feb 2021

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“This moving novel sensitively explores some of the pressures faced by teenagers and their potential impact on mental health.” BookTrst

A profoundly moving novel on the redemptive, healing power of nature from bestseller Gill Lewis.

Dylan is struggling. Since he started high school, everything has become too much to handle. Now he’s been expelled and is forced to move to the tiny village in Wales where his grandad lives. But when Grandad invites Dylan out on his boat to watch the Whooper swans return to their winter feeding ground, things begin to change. Grandad doesn’t judge or question; he just lets Dylan be. Out on the water, with no distractions or pressure, Dylan begins to feel like himself again. But when the swans and their home are threatened, and tragedy strikes at home, can Dylan keep going when it feels like everything is slipping out of control again?

Kaleidoscope Of Creatures – The colours of nature explained by Cath Are ill. Greer Stothers

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Why are animals so amazingly colourful? Find out in this kaleidoscopic look at the technicolour world of animals. Meet animals of every colour of the rainbow and find out why they are the colours and patterns they are. Discover the reason why some animals are stripy and others are spotty.

Why do some creatures deliberately pop out while others strive to blend in?
Why are some bright to warn off others while others only pretend to look toxic?
Why are some male animals so much more flamboyant than their female counterparts?Why do some babies look so different from the grown-ups in their families?

A beautifully illustrated first look at the colourful and kaleidoscopic world of animals for young children.

Greer Stothers is an award-winning Canadian illustrator with a background in evolutionary biology.