Cotton Tales
Non-fiction

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Birds

 

 

Simply and charmingly, author and elementary school teacher Cathryn Sill explains to children what birds are, what they do, and how they live. Accompanied by beautifully detailed illustrations from noted wildlife illustrator John Sill. 15 full-color, full-page illustrations.

 

  • Birdwise: Forty Fun Feats for Finding Out About Our Feathered Friends (Ages 9-12)

    by Pamela M. Hickman    , Judie Shore

From hummingbirds to herons, learn how different species build their nests, raise their families, and find their food. Plus there are complete directions for building four fun birdhouses, 6 different kinds of feeders and many more activities.

 

  • It Could Still Be a Bird (Ages 4-8)

    by Allan Fowler

Identifies the characteristics of birds and provides specific examples including the penguin, ostrich, peacock, and pelican

 

Briefly describes the physical characteristics and habits of ducks and geese.

 

  • All About Owls (Ages 4-8)

    by Jim Arnosky (Illustrator)

A children's introduction to the night-time world of owls addresses such questions as why their eyes are so big, where they stay during the daytime, and what they eat, and the text is accompanied by lavish watercolor illustrations.  

 

Mammals

Read aloud book with realistic color illustrations.  Explains the widely varying physical characteristics, feeding habits, and habitats of mammals.  

 

Identifies the characteristics of mammals and provides specific examples, including the whale, bat, kangaroo, and puppy.  

 

Field guide to North American mammals for young naturalists.  

 

Readers are introduced to a number of bat species, from the tiny Kitti's hognose bat  - the size of a jellybean - to flying foxes with six-foot wingspans.

by Sabrina Crewe, Robert Morton (Illustrator)  

This series also includes books on mammals such as the beaver, buffalo, chimpanzee, kangaroo, mountain lion, prairie dog, and whale.

 

Reptiles

 

Read aloud book with realistic color illustrations.  Explains the widely varying physical characteristics, feeding habits, and habitats of reptiles.

 

Introduces fifteen of the Western Hemisphere's thirty-one species of rattlesnakes.  The straightforward explanations of body structure, senses, hunting and eating, the live birth of snake babies, skin-shedding, and the often quiet life of rattlesnakes don't minimize the animal's poisonous power.  Arnosky reminds the reader that rattlesnakes are eaten by other animals and are especially threatened by humans.

 

With text carefully written for the six-to-eight-year-old age group, these information books also include projects, true and false questions and answers, and myths and legends.

 

  • Box Turtle at Long Pond (Age 4-8)

    by William T. George    , Lindsay B. George (Illustrator)  

The Georges follow one animal's odyssey from the beginning of his day until the end. Beautiful, lifelike illustrations will capture young readers.

 

 

Amphibians

 

Each book includes chapters on unique characteristics of the organism, senses, metabolism, reproduction and growth, food webs and food chains, fitting into the web of life.

 

 

 

Fishes

 

 

 

 

Insects

 

 

 

Endangered Species

 

Examines the many reasons for the extinction and near-extinction of animal species. Discusses how some near-extinctions have been reversed through special breeding programs and legislation to save endangered species.

 

Chronicles the success of the reintroduction into the wild of the black-footed ferret, a species almost wiped out when ranching activities destroyed its natural food sources.

 

 

 

Environment

 

All around the world, frogs, toads, and salamanders are dying at an alarming rate, and scientists want to know why. Fridell focuses on how field scientists devise and conduct research, how studies lead to varying inferences and interpretations, and on recent steps taken to address the amphibian decline.

 

This poignant tale of ecological pollution and recovery will delight all those who care about the environment. Barry Moser's sensitive portrayal of the turtle, the embodiment of faith in a more caring time, makes this a book to be treasured by all readers.

 

  • Come Back, Salmon : How a Group of Dedicated Kids Adopted Pigeon Creek and Brought It Back to Life (Ages 9-12)

    by Molly Cone, Sidnee Wheelwright (Illustrator)

This lively and inspiring true account, featuring more than 40 full-color photographs, follows the progress of the Jackson School students as they adopt Pigeon Creek and work to bring it back to life. Readers will cheer as the students stock the river with salmon they raised from eggs and watch for the first mature salmon.

 

A baby manatee nuzzles under his 1,200-pound mother's flipper for a drink of her rich milk. Soon they will migrate, though on the way they will have to dodge speedboats, swim through locks, and endure polluted waters. Read about what makes up a habitat and what is happening to the manatees as theirs is destroyed.

 

 

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