The Prairie That Nature BuiltBy Marybeth LorbieckiIllustrated by Cathy Morrison
Prairies are absolutely filled with life, from the worms and prairie dogs underground to the insects and birds of the air. Plants that grow toward the sun also plunge long roots deep into the dirt. Antelopes, bunnies and bison travel the land, grazing on the grasses and flowers. Foxes and coyotes emerge at night to hunt. Lightning sets the prairie grasses afire but does not harm the living roots below. All of this life is described in rhythmic repetition, with gorgeous imagery in The Prairie That Nature Built. At the end of the story is A Prairie Primer that provides fascinating and in-depth information about the animals and plants of the prairie. (Did you know that prairies are called different names in different countries, such as savannas and rangelands?) Prairie-themed games, websites and books are also listed. This is a great resource for teachers and homeschoolers! You can even download a “pop-up app” to accompany the book.
The Dandelion Seed’s Big DreamBy Joseph AnthonyIllustrated by Cris Arbo
What happens when you blow on a dandelion and send the seeds into the sky? The little dandelion seed in this story gets trapped in a spider’s web, swatted by a broom, lost in a city, and stuck in a fast-food container! But through it all, it never loses its dream of becoming a flower like its parents. One day, someone picks up the container and the seed falls to the dirt. A walker’s foot pushes it into the soil, and it begins to grow! A bright yellow flower pops out -- its dream has come true! And the circle of life continues as many more dandelion seeds are released into the air. An “Explore More” section at the end of the book provides little-known information about dandelions (which grow on every continent except Antarctica) and asks the question: Are dandelions flowers or weeds? Ask kids what they think!
Visit www.dawnpub.com to learn more about these and other wonderful nature-themed children's books from Dawn Publications!
