Search Results: 78 books from 1 publisher. Learn more

Take Me Home, Country Roads

John Denver (author), Christopher Canyon (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691426

This brilliant picture book adaptation of the first hit song of John Denver is all about roots, family, and country. Set in Appalachia, a humorously diverse bunch of relatives and their in-laws go up, down and around the hills of West Virginia to converge by car, pickup, and motorcycle to a family reunion at Grandma and Grandpa's country home. True to Appalachian style, Canyon portrays it all as if on a quilt, complete with little stitches between the fabric.

Nature's Patchwork Quilt: Understanding Habitats

Mary Miche' (author), Consie Powell (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692300

Just imagine all of nature - mountains, prairies, oceans, and all - lying on your bed as a patchwork quilt! Take flora and fauna in their unique habitats, fold them up and you have a book, this book. Earth's major habitats are spread before you, ready to be examined. Here in this beautiful package are revealed the key concepts of natural science. This patchwork quilt of nature covers the whole Earth, your home - yours to learn about, to enjoy, to care for, and to love.

Salmon Stream

Carol Reed-Jones (author), Michael S. Maydak (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692867

Named a prestigious CBC/NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book, this is a poetic yet accurate description of the life cycle of salmon. For kids, it is fun and eye-opening. For teachers, it is a valuable supplement to a unit on water, fish and ocean animals, and life cycles. Fast-paced prose and brilliant illustrations follow the salmon from their form as eggs in a stream to the wide ocean, eventually making a hazardous journey home to their stream of origin. As in her earlier best-selling book, The Tree in the Ancient Forest, author Carol Reed-Jones uses cumulative verse--a literary technique that is not only enjoyable but suggests how interconnected salmon are with their habitat. At the back is a section on salmon facts and what makes a good habitat for them, teaching the basics of ecology and why clean streams and waters are so important.

In a Nutshell

Joseph Anthony (author), Cris Arbo (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691464

Here, in luminous illustrations, is the life cycle of an oak - and how it supports life even after it is gone. An acorn drops from a great oak and grows. Animals nibble at it, a fire threatens it, but overcoming many challenges it eventually towers high in the forest, observing the changing human scene below. Eventually its energy passes into many other life forms - even the cherry pie enjoyed by the boy in the house below.

Sunshine On My Shoulders

John Denver (author), Christopher Canyon (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691419

This heartwarming book--an adaptation of one of John Denver's best-loved songs--is a lovely reminder of the good, pure things in life. "Sunshine On My Shoulders" celebrates friendship, sunshine and simple joy. Children and adults alike will love Christopher Canyon's whimsical and humorous illustrations, that capture the innocence of childhood. This is one of a series of picture book adaptations of John Denver's songs that reflect the gift of friendship and nature.

Near One Cattail: Turtles, Logs and Leaping Frogs

Anthony D. Fredericks (author), Jennifer DiRubbio (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691983

Teachers! Here is another field trip between covers from Tony Fredericks, a funny but very astute professor. Here he visits wetlands inhabited by leaping frogs and zip-zipping dragonflies. Teachers will appreciate the accurate science and great illustrations. Kids will appreciate the humor and cadence of the text, while learning how the wetland creatures interact in their community. Two pages of Field Notes and fun facts at the back of the book offer intriguing information on these creatures.

Over in Australia: Amazing Animals Down Under

Marianne Berkes (author), Jill Dubin (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691853

Australian animals are unique. Their babies may be riding in mama's pouch, or hitching a ride on daddy, piggy-back! Children will sing, clap and count to the rhyme of "Over in the Meadow" as they learn about wallabies, koalas, wombats, and more. Cut-paper illustrations add to the fun.

In the Trees, Honey Bees

Lori Mortensen (author), Cris Arbo (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692713

Here is the ideal introduction for preschoolers and early elementary children to insects that are not only amazing but also critically important to humans. Inside-the-hive views of a wild colony of honey bees offer close-ups of the queen, the cells, even bee eggs. Simple verse will engage a young child, while sidebars with fascinating information satisfy the somewhat older child. Parents, teachers, and interested children will enjoy much more information about both wild and domestic hives in the back of the book. The detailed art shimmers with life, highlighting each hair or grain of pollen on the bees. A wild hive in a tree in her own backyard served as a model for the artist!

Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs & Other Ughs

Anthony D. Fredericks (author), Jennifer DiRubbio (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691938

Elementary science teachers! Here is a low-cost field trip between covers from Tony Fredericks, a funny but very astute professor. Plus, the habitat lies under just about every rock. A whole community of insects and other creatures lives under rocks--worms and ants, spiders and slugs, crickets and beetles. Dr. Fredericks focuses on the whole community of neighbors where the ground beneath a big old rock is home to them all. Two pages of Field Notes and fun facts at the back of the book offer intriguing information on these creatures.

Over in the Ocean: In a Coral Reef

Marianne Berkes (author), Jeanette Canyon (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691396

Teachers and parents, take note: this book is already a classic. Two geniuses--author and illustrator--came into perfect alignment to create this book. The author has kids thinking it is entertainment while adults think it is a great lesson about the ocean. The genius of the illustrator is obvious. With painstaking detail each illustration is created entirely of polymer clay, then photographed, creating a 3-D impression of tremendous vitality. Kids will sing, clap, and count their way among pufferfish that puff, gruntfish that grunt, and seahorses that flutter, and begin to appreciate life in the ocean. And the art will inspire many a project. Plus there are several pages of extension ideas for curriculum and art projects as well as resources on the web and elsewhere.

Mammals Who Morph: The Universe Tells Our Evolution Story

Jennifer Morgan (author), Dana Lynne Anderson (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584693000

This remarkable evolution series, narrated by the Universe itself, concludes with this third book, the amazing story of mammals and humans. It picks up after From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth Story with the extinction of dinosaurs, and tells how tiny mammals survived and morphed into lots of new Earthlings ... horses, whales and a kind of mammal with a powerful imagination--you! It is a story of chaos, creativity and heroes--the greatest adventure on Earth! And it is a personal story...about our bodies, our minds, and spirits. It is our story. As the president of the American Montessori Society said, These books are alive with wonder, radiance, and deep relevance.

Seashells by the Seashore

Marianne Berkes (author), Robert Noreika (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691877

Both classroom teachers and vacationing parents will find this little book to be a charmer. Counting from one to twelve, Sue picks up shells--periwinkle, kittens paw, scallop--and carefully adds them to her bucket as a gift for Grandma. She and her friend identify the shells, and when they discover one that still has the mollusk living inside they put it back in the water--learning that shells are actually the abandoned homes of sea animals--but sometimes the animal is still home! The paperback edition contains a tear-out shell identification card to enhance the hands-on lesson in simple wonders from nature.

Jo MacDonald Had a Garden

Mary Quattlebaum (author), Laura J. Bryant (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692287

Old MacDonald had a...garden? Yes! Sing along with young Jo MacDonald as she grows healthy food for people and wild creatures. E-I-E-I-O! Find out how butterflies, bumblebees, and birds help a garden to thrive - and how you can help them too. And keep an eye on one mysterious plant. What will it become? Youngsters learn about garden ecosystems and stewardship through this playful adaptation of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm."

Jo MacDonald Saw a Pond

Mary Quattlebaum (author), Laura J. Bryant (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692270

Old MacDonald had a...pond? Yes! Come along with Jo MacDonald and learn about the wild creatures at the farm pond. You'll find fish, frogs, ducks--and a few surprises. This delightful riff on "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" playfully introduces youngsters to the concept of ecosystems. Quattlebaum engages little ones with rhythm, repetition, wordplay, and onomatopoeia, while Bryant charms them with lively watercolors of a pond community. A resource section in the back features both outdoor and indoor activities and games sure to encourage young naturalists at home and school. Jo MacDonald's pond discoveries closely resemble those that Mary discovered, too, when she grew up in the country with fields, gardens and ponds.

Pass the Energy, Please!

Barbara Shaw McKinney (author), Chad Wallace (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692225

Here is a favorite of elementary science teachers for the food chain. Each of the creatures passes the energy in its own unique way. In this upbeat rhyming story, the food chain connects herbivores, carnivores, insects and plants together in a fascinating circle of players. All beings on Earth--from the anchovy to the zooplankton--depend upon the green plant, which is the hero of the story. The special talent of the author shines again (see also A Drop Around the World) for being able to present the science curriculum so concisely, creatively, and cleverly. A 48-page Teacher Guide based on the book is also available.

Over in the Arctic: Where the Cold Winds Blow

Marianne Berkes (author), Jill Dubin (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691846

Teachers and parents, here is another favorite from Marianne, who has a special talent. The kids think it is entertainment while teachers and parents think it is a great lesson about the Arctic! This book combines singing, counting, and full-body action with terrific cut-paper illustrations that kids will want to imitate. Over in the Arctic, the snow goose honks and the wolf howls. Children too will joyfully honk and howl while they count the baby animals and sing to the tune of Over in the Meadow. And they will hunt for hidden animals on each page. A big plus for educators are several pages of extension ideas for curriculum and art projects as well as resources on the web and elsewhere.

Around One Cactus: Owls, Bats and Leaping Rats

Anthony D. Fredericks (author), Jennifer DiRubbio (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691969

This wonderful book is natural science - in this case, about desert animals - with a flair. A boy walks up to an impressive saguaro cactus and wonders who could be living on this arid ground? As night falls, he walks away. And then the place comes alive! A haven for creatures in a waterless land. The entertaining, repetitive rhyme is an attention-grabbing read-aloud that culminates in successful learning. Field Notes at the end of the book describe the animals in detail and include an unusual fact.

Forest Bright, Forest Night

Jennifer Ward (author), Jamichael Henterly (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692898

Someone is always awake in the forest--and someone else is always asleep! Some animals are alert in daytime and sleep at night. Others are alert at night, and are sleepyheads during the day. Plus be sure to count the animals. Teachers: this book is a very pleasant way to combine science and literature.

Going Home: The Mystery of Animal Migration

Marianne Berkes (author), Jennifer DiRubbio (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691884

Teachers! This book is like a whole unit on migration wrapped in a winning combination of easy verse, factual language, and beautiful illustrations. For animals, migration is a powerful compulsion to travel, sometimes over long distances, often skipping many meals. Sometimes, as in the case of the monarch butterfly, a round-trip takes several generations. Why do they do it? How do they succeed? The ten featured species offer a broad representation of migration: loggerhead turtles, monarch butterflies, manatees, ruby-throated hummingbirds, Pacific salmon, Canada geese, California gray whales, caribou, Arctic tern, and emperor penguin. The book is loaded with additional tips for teachers. Once again Marianne Berkes combines her teaching, writing, and theatrical skills to combine entertainment with education--creative non-fiction at its best.

Eliza and the Dragonfly

Susie Caldwell Rinehart (author), Anisa Claire Hovemann (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692836

This book is a rare find, well deserving of the prestigious Picture Book of the Year award from CBC-NSTA. The science about dragonflies is perfectly integrated into a story in which the remarkable metamorphosis of a dragonfly from a mucky nymph ("Eeeewww," says Eliza) to a beautiful winged creature ("Magnificent!" says Aunt Doris) is a metaphor for the magic of how Eliza, too, is growing up. Teachers will find it useful primarily in an elementary science unit on insects, life cycles and habitats, but also in for language arts lessons in theme, symbolism, and metaphor. The watercolor illustrations are rich, whimsical, and fun. There are two pages of additional science in the back. This is an exceptional example of creative non-fiction writing.

Do Animals Have Feelings, Too?

David Rice (author), Trudy Calvert (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692683

This collection of true stories of animal behavior is not only captivating and thought-provoking, but also a terrific way for teachers and parents to have children to consider feelings--whether animal or human. A young antelope was being dragged into a river by a crocodile. A nearby hippopotamus saw what was happening and charged the croc, which released the antelope. The hippo gently pulled the antelope up the riverbank, comforting and protecting it until it died. Was this compassion? A zoo monkey routinely used a banana to bribe a moose to carry him across a moat designed to keep him confined to a small island. Was this cleverness?

Because Brian Hugged His Mother

David Rice (author) K. Dyble Thompson (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692928

A simple, small act of kindness may go much farther than you think. Brian wasn't looking for anything in return when he gave his mother a great big hug. Brian's hug set in motion a series of unselfish acts that reached more people (and even animals) than he could ever know. This is a story that happens every day, with infinite variation, among good-hearted people everywhere. After all, kindness IS contagious.

A Drop Around the World

Barbara Shaw McKinney (author), Michael S. Maydak (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692232

This book is a year-after-year favorite with teachers. It engagingly leads readers around the world following a drop of water--whether as steam or snow, inside a plant or animal, or underground--teaching the wonders and importance of the water cycle. (There is lots of geography, too.) Four pages of science about the qualities of water are included.

Around One Log: Chipmunks, Spiders, and Creepy Insiders

Anthony D. Fredericks (author), Jennifer DiRubbio (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584691976

Years after a great oak tree tumbled to the ground, a whole community of animals made it their home. Roly-polies and daddy longlegs prowled here and there, while chipmunks and salamanders dashed everywhere. Question: Is the old tree alive? Or is it now dead? This lighthearted book offers a marvelous insight into a unique and easily-accessible community of forest animals. Jennifer DiRubbio's vivid close-up illustrations bring these fascinating creatures to life. Parents and teachers: the author offers over a dozen "activities, projects, and lots of cool ideas" ranging from suggestions for an animal diary, readers theatre, finger play, and much more that will help make learning fun.

Gobble, Gobble

Cathryn Falwell (author), Cathryn Falwell (illustrator)

Publisher: Dawn Publications ISBN: 9781584692263

Arrow-shaped footprints lead a young backyard naturalist to a flock of funny-looking birds with big strong feet - Wild Turkeys! Once nearly extinct, these comical critters now gobble their way across North America. Follow Jenny through a year of enchantment as she shares her discovery of these wonderful birds. Gobble, gobble! Jenny wrote a journal, too, with lots of fascinating stuff about a distinctly American bird. Although it once numbered in the millions, wild turkeys nearly disappeared with overhunting and habitat destruction, but are now making a comeback. The illustrations are block prints over collages. The collages are made from cut and torn paper plus all sorts of things from nature--bark, leaves, feathers, even wasp nests! The author also offers tips for children to make their own cut-paper pictures and how to keep a nature journal.