Find It in Nature!

Well-chosen photos and simple descriptions introduce nature identification at its most basic level. Spreads offer one or two facts that identify key features of the organism. In Trees, a large photo of the tree is paired with a close-up view of its leaves, needles, or bark, while the text highlights key features, such as the five points of a maple leaf or the birch’s white bark. Most of the narrative addresses physical characteristics that will aid identification. A closing spread includes a brief picture glossary and a useful review page where readers are challenged to match the item to a spot illustration. Nature enthusiasts will require more information as they get older, but these books introduce the beginning components of identification in an appealing presentation that is just right for the youngest learners.

VERDICT: Appealing and practical nonfiction for emerging readers.