Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  The cycle of a tide pool is explored, starting with a wave crashing onto the shore, the water pooling in some rocks.  As the sun warms the water, all kinds of creatures gather in the pool–barnacles, mussels, an octopus–and they all wait.  Finally, the wait is over, as another wave crashes, connecting the tide pool to the rest of the ocean.  The animals swim around and eat, and slowly, the cycle begins all over again.  Includes thumbnail illustrations of the various animals mentioned with additional information, websites, and a diagram of the different parts of the tide zone.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  I loved the illustrations in this introduction to tide pools, which is a great resource for preschool and primary grade science lessons.  The colors are beautiful, and kids will enjoy learning about the different critters.

Cons:  If you’re seeking an action-packed thriller, you may have to look elsewhere.

Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  The husband-and-wife team of Jenkins and Page have created a picture book jam-packed with information about birds.  From their anatomy and physiology to their evolution from dinosaurs to record-holders in the avian world, readers will learn fascinating facts about birds, accompanied by Steve Jenkins’s trademark cut-paper illustrations.  Includes a four-page table listing every bird mentioned in the book, with its size, diet, range, and the page where it can be found; also, a list of books and websites with more information.  48 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  Another beautiful offering by Robin Page and the late Steve Jenkins, with a ton of information offered in an appealing format with stunning illustrations.

Cons:  Another childhood bubble was burst when I learned that the oldest bird on record is a pink cockatoo that lived to the age of 83, not Dr. Dolittle’s 199-year-old parrot Polynesia.

Published by Tilbury House Publishers

Summary:  When Lawrence Anthony gets a call saying that a herd of elephants will be shot if he can’t rescue them, he quickly sets up his wildlife reserve to accommodate them.  The animals have been traumatized after having members of their herd killed by poachers, including the matriarch and her baby.  Lawrence names the new matriarch Nana, and after the elephants trample the reserve’s electric fence and escape the first night, he sets out to earn Nana’s trust.  Slowly, she begins to let down her guard and allow Lawrence to come closer to her.  Over the years, Lawrence distances himself from the growing herd to help them remain wild, but he always keeps a connection with Nana.  When Lawrence dies of a heart attack, Nana leads the herd to his house and does so again on the same day for the next two years.  Includes an author’s note and three pages of additional information about elephants and Lawrence Anthony.  48 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  An incredibly moving story of a man dedicated to helping African wildlife and the amazing connection he made with elephants.  

Cons:  Some photos would have been a nice addition.

Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  In Your Place in the Universe, Jason Chin starts with a group of kids, then gradually moves out into the farthest reaches of the universe.  In this book, he goes in the opposite direction, beginning with the smallest bird–a Calliope Hummingbird–landing on a girl’s hand, then moving to the hair on her skin, then to cells, DNA, atoms, and eventually to elementary particles.  From there, the journey continues back outward, inviting a sense of wonder that everything in the universe is made of the same molecules, yet combines in a way to make a unique human.  Includes additional information on the building blocks of matter, as well as an author’s note and a note about the illustrations.  40 pages; grades 3-7.

Pros:  Another mind-blowing offering from last year’s Caldecott medalist, Jason Chin, with amazingly detailed illustrations, some of things that are too small to be seen with the human eye.  A contender for a Caldecott or Sibert, both of which Chin has already won.

Cons:  I’m more wowed by the larger universe than the subatomic one.

Published by Neal Porter Books

Summary:  The award-winning team behind Giant Squid, Honeybee, and Strongheart has created a new book that explores the world of a mother polar bear and her two cubs.  Emerging from five months in the den, during which time she gave birth and nursed her offspring, the mother bear emerges emaciated and hungry.  She heads for the ice where she knows she can hunt seals.  The narrative follows the bears through the year, showing how climate change affects their ability to hunt and perilously strands them on some floating ice.  They survive the dangers, and the final pages show them back on the ice in the 24-hour darkness of an Arctic winter.  Includes a two-page labeled diagram of a polar bear, additional facts about polar bears and the effects of warming in the Arctic, and a list of resources.  32 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  Another breathtaking science book with poetic informative text and detailed realistic paintings of the polar bears and their environment.  With a Sibert Medal and Honor on their resumé, this team can expect awards consideration again for this book.

Cons:  As always, I found it stressful to read about the effects of climate change.

Published by Greystone Kids

Summary:  A mother and child travel through the night, walking, boating, and swimming to observe bioluminescence in many different forms.  The pages are all in black, making the colors glow brightly.  Each page has a single phrase or sentence in a larger font, then a few sentences in smaller print that give additional information.  A sense of wonder is conveyed in the last few pages, sharing the information that many life forms have yet to be discovered, and encouraging readers to look closely at the world around them.  44 pages; ages 4-10.

Pros:  A beautiful introduction to bioluminescence that will encourage kids to look for other wonders in the world as well.  The illustrations are striking and there is plenty of interesting information.

Cons:  No back matter.

Published by Clarion Books

Summary:  The narrator takes readers on a dive into the ocean at the tip of South Africa.  Underwater, they observe all kinds of animals including a seal, an octopus, a cuttlefish, and a couple of different sharks.  On the way back, they see tiny snail eggs and a whale, which likes to snack on the sea snails, an example of how ocean animals are all connected.  Includes a note from the authors and additional information about each photo in the book.  56 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  A gorgeous picture book from the creators of The Octopus Teacher, now streaming on Netflix. Their joy and enthusiasm for diving and exploring the ocean really shines through in both the photos and the text.  From the eye-catching cover to the farewell from the dolphins, kids will be captivated by this journey.

Cons:  There’s just a little bit of information about each animal, so some additional resources would have been nice.

Published by Chronicle Books

Summary:  Digestion: The Musical unfolds in three acts, featuring Your Body, L’il Candy, Gum, and the Baby Carrot Singers.  Starting from the moment the brain gets the signal to open the mouth and let in L’il Candy, the story continues down the esophagus and into the stomach, where Candy meets up with Gum (has he really been stuck there for years? “Nah, that’s a myth.”).  She’s consistently dismissed as junk food by the heart, lungs, gallbladder, and even the seemingly useless appendix.  But Candy persists and is eventually shown to have a nutritional core that can be used by the body.  The final number [two], “Let’s Get This Potty Started”, will leave audiences with a smile on their faces.  Includes a glossary and a literal appendix, which it turns out, is actually useful for storing good bacteria. 76 pages; grades 2-6.

Pros:  I laughed, I cried, I gasped aloud at this fascinating and hilarious mix of fiction and nonfiction that’s presented in both horizontal and vertical spreads.  You’ll probably want to supplement this with other material, but the basic facts are here and likely to stick in kids’ heads due to the high entertainment factor of the presentation.

Cons:  It’s tough to let yourself get too attached to a protagonist that you know is about to be pulverized by the digestive system.