Exploring Nature: Part Two
Exploring Nature: Children's and Young Adult Collections
The selection that follows includes attractive nonfiction in picture book form and also plenty of classic or new junior, middle grade, and young adult fiction. Recent publications such as Dinosaur Lady and Honeybee incorporate stunning visual illustration combined with techniques of narrative, or creative nonfiction.
Classic Fiction Stories on Nature
Watership Down Richard Adams Children’s Fiction ADA
Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain Edward Ardizzone Picture Books A
This story was first published in 1936, and is the first of the many adventures of Little Tim written and illustrated by the first Kate Greenaway medallist, Ardizzone.
The Secret Garden Frances Hodgson Burnett Children’s Fiction BUR and Children's Literature Research Collection 813 BUR
Many editions and adaptations of this story are available in various formats including eBook and eAudio.
The Moomins and the Great Flood Tove Jansson Children’s Fiction JAN
Heidi Johanna Spyri Children's Fiction SPY
Children’s Fiction on Nature
Kākāpō Keeper Gay Buckingham (NZ) Children’s Fiction BUC
Inspired by a true story, this is a tale of New Zealand history and conservation efforts. Written as a fictional diary by Andrew Burt (14), who is employed as the assistant to Richard Henry, the Chief Conservator based in Dusky Sound from July 1894 to June 1908. You can find a review of Kākāpō Keeper, and an interview with the author in this issue of NB.
Swimming Against the Storm Jess Butterworth Children’s Fiction BUT
Also look for Butterworth’s other books which are focused on climate change and nature.
World Burn Down Steve Cole Children’s Fiction COL
Dyslexic-friendly font and also available as an eBook.
Into the Wild Anh Do Children’s Fiction DO
The first in the popular Wolf Girl series. Available as eBook as well.
The Tindims of Rubbish Island Sally Gardner, illustrated by Lydia Corry Children’s Fiction GAR
Sequel: The Tindims and the Turtle Tangle.
Red Edge Des Hunt (NZ) Children’s Fiction HUN
A Good Day for Climbing Trees Jaco Jacobs Children’s Fiction JAC
Translated from the Afrikaans.
A Place of Stone and Darkness Chris Mousdale (NZ) Children’s Fiction MOU
Turtle Trackers Samantha Wheeler Children’s Fiction WHE
Young Adult Fiction on Nature
The Tomorrow Code Brian Falkner (NZ) Young Adult Fiction FAL
The Confusion of Laurel Graham Adrienne Kisner Young Adult Fiction KIS
The Wild Owen Laukkanen Young Adult Fiction LAU
Where the World Ends Geraldine McCaughrean Young Adult Fiction MCC
In the summer of 1727, a group of men and boys are put ashore on a remote sea stac to harvest birds for food. Winner of the 2018 Carnegie Medal.
Switchback Danika Stone Young Adult Fiction STO
Picture Books on Nature
The Lighthouse Keeper’s Mystery Ronda Armitage, illustrated by David Armitage (NZ) Picture Books A
A new addition to this modern classic series.
A Polar Bear in the Snow Mac Barnett, illustrated by Shawn Harris Picture Books B
The Tree Graeme Base Picture Books B
The Weed Quentin Blake Picture Books B
Last: The Story of a White Rhino Nicola Davies Picture Books D
Also look for other books on the environment by Nicola Davies in both non-fiction and picture book collections.
We are Water Protectors Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade Picture Books L
Winner of 2021 Caldecott Medal.
My Friend Earth Patricia MacLachlan, illustrated by Francesca Sanna Picture Books M
Hike Pete Oswald Picture Books O
From Tree to Sea Shelley Thomas, illustrated by Christopher Neal Picture Books T
Outside In Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Cindy Derby Picture Books U
Peter and the Tree Children Peter Wohlleben, illustrated by Cale Atkinson, translated by Jane Billinghurst Picture Books W
Children's Non-Fiction on Nature
Sometimes it is hard to decide whether beautiful picture books on nature and natural history should end up in the picture book collection or nonfiction. Recent titles like Aroha Knows could easily go in either collection.
24 Hours in the Kiwi Bush Gillian Torckler, photographs by Darryl Torckler (NZ) Children's Nonfiction 577.3 TOR
Aotearoa: Lost Worlds Dave Gunson (NZ) Children's Nonfiction 560 GUN
Also check out Gunson’s new book Inside New Zealand Wildlife published in Oct 2021.
Aroha Knows Craig Phillips (NZ) Children's Nonfiction 152.4 PHI
Birds of New Zealand = Ngā Manu o Aotearoa: Collective Nouns= Ngā Kupuingoa Tōpū Melissa Boardman (NZ) CNFNZ 499.442 BOA (With the Maori language books)
Dinosaur Lady: The Daring Discoveries of Mary Anning, the First Paleontologist Linda Skeers, illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns Children's Nonfiction 920 ANN (SKE)
Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature Natural History Museum Children's Nonfiction 791.4372 FAN
Also available as an eBook.
Honeybee: The Busy Life of Apis Mellifera Candace Fleming, illustrated by Eric Rohmann Children's Nonfiction 595.799 FLE
The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals Sami Bayly Children's Nonfiction 591.65 BAY
Look Down and See Natural Wonders of the World Bethany Lord Children's Nonfiction 910 LOR
The Lost Spells Robert Macfarlane, illustrated by Jackie Morris Children's Nonfiction 821 MACF
Lost Wonders: Vanished Creatures of Aotearoa Sarah Ell, illustrated by Phoebe Morris (NZ) Children's Nonfiction 591.68 ELL
My Family and Other Animals Gerald Durrell Adult Nonfiction 590.92 DUR and Children's Nonfiction 920 DUR
Also available as eAudio.
National Geographic Book of Nature Poetry: With Favourites From Langston Hughes, Naomi Shihab Nye, Billy Collins, and More: More Than 200 Poems With Photographs That Float, Zoom, and Bloom! Edited by J. Patrick Lewis Children's Nonfiction 821.08 NAT
New Zealand Nature Heroes Gillian Candler (NZ) Children's Nonfiction 578.993 CAN
The Sense of Wonder Rachel Carson
I have included this classic work on our need for nature, held in both adult's and children’s non-fiction collections. (How could we miss this book when the children's book discussion group is called Continued Sense of Wonder?)
Tarka the Otter Henry Williamson Children’s Fiction WIL and Children's Nonfiction & Adult Nonfiction 599.74447 WIL
Also available on eAudio.
Three Kiwi Tales: More Fabulous Fix-it Stories from Wildbase Hospital Janet Hunt (NZ) Children's Nonfiction 636.0832 HUN
This follow-up to How to Mend a Kea focuses on the tales of three kiwi who have been treated at the Wildbase Hospital in Palmerston North.
Treasure Beyond Measure: A Collective Noun Safari Helen Griffiths, illustrated by Simon Chadwick (NZ) On order for Picture Books
Tree Beings Raymond Huber, illustrated by Sandra Servergnini (NZ) Children's Nonfiction 582.16 HUB
Find out more about nonfiction and fiction books that feature the natural world by Raymond Huber.
Whiti: Colossal Squid of the Deep Victoria Cleal, illustrated by Isobel Te Aho-White (NZ) Children's Nonfiction 594.58 CLE
The colossal squid has been the most popular exhibit at Te Papa since it arrived there in 2007.
Young Adult Non-fiction on Nature
Challenge Everything: An Extinction Rebellion Youth Guide to Saving the Planet Blue Sandford Young Adult Nonfiction 363.7 SAN
The official handbook from Extinction Rebellion Youth will help you to change your life and change the world for the better. Written by the coordinator of Extinction Rebellion Youth London.
Diary of a Young Naturalist Dara McAnulty Young Adult Nonfiction 577 MCA and Adult Nonfiction 577.092 MCA
Also available as an eBook.
United We Are Unstoppable: 60 Inspiring Young People Saving the World Edited by Akshat Rathi Young Adult Nonfiction 363.73874 UNI