It is good to realize that, if love and peace can prevail on earth, and if we can teach our children to honor nature's gifts, the joys, and beauties of the outdoors will be here forever -- President Jimmy Carter


Books are a great way to introduce yourself to nature. Over the next year, we'll expand this section to include nature books for both children and adults. We'll also include reviews, activities, and links to connected resources.

Favorite recent nature books for children:

Arnosky, Jim (2002). Field Trips. Harper Collins. ISBN 0-688-15172-8. This book encourages children to open their eyes and explore wildlife including bug hunting, animal tracking, bird watching, and shore walking.

Aruego, Jose & Dewey, Ariane (2002). Weird Friends: Unlikely Allies in the Animal Kingdom. San Diego: Gulliver. ISBN 0-15-202128-0. Explore the relationships among creatures.

Bjork, Christina & Anderson, Lena (1989). Linnea's Almanac. New York: R&S Books. ISBN 91-29-59176-7. Explore the seasons of the year.

Brady, Irene (200). Redrock Canyon Explorer. Talent, OR: Nature Works. ISBN 0-915965-04-6. This spiral bound book contains information and activities about life in the redrock canyon.

Christian, Peggy (2000). If You Find a Rock. San Diego: Harcourt. ISBN 0-15-239339-0. A story about finding a rock.

Collard, Sneed (2002). Leaving Home. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-618-11454-8. This picture book explores different environments, animals, and how the young leave home.

Doolittle, Bev (by Elise Maclay) (2001). Reading the Wild. Greenwich Workshop Press. ISBN 0-86713-061. Learn to observe nature through the artwork of Bev Doolittle.

Gibbons, Gail (2002). Tell Me, Tree. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company. ISBN 0-316-30903-6. This colorful, easy-to-read book explores many common types of trees.

Hoberman, Mary Ann (2002). Right Outside My Window. New York: Mondo. ISBN 1-59034-181-3. This picture book describes things that might be see outside a window.

Johnston, Tony (2002). Gopher Up Your Sleeve. Northland Pub. ISBN 0-87358-794-4. Explore cute illustrations and creature poems.

Locker, Thomas (1995). Sky Tree. Harper Collins. ISBN 0-06-024883-1. Explore how a tree changes.

Medley, Steven P. (2001). Antelope, Bison, Cougar. Yosemite National Park, California: Yosemite Association. This is a National Park alphabet book featuring a wide range of animals.

Russo, Monica (1998). Watching Nature. New York: Sterling. ISBN 0-8069-9515-7. Learn how to observe nature including plants, animals, and seasons.

Thornhill, Jan (1997). Before and After: A Book of Nature Timescapes. Washington, DC: National Geographic Society. This picture book contains information and activities related to natural places around the world.

Wright-Frierson, Virginia (1996). A Desert Scrapbook. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 0-689-80678-7. Explore dawn to dusk in the Sonoran desert.

Favorite recent nature books for adults:

Williams, Terry Tempest (2001). Red: passion and patience in the desert. New York: Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-375-42077-0. This book contains some wonderful short stories and insights into life in the desert.



Developed by Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson, 4/02. Updated 6/02.

All photographs were taken by Annette and Larry. Students and teachers have permission to use them in classroom activities as long as the website is cited. All other rights are reserved.