Looking for gifts to help young minds grow? This list includes books I've personally bought for my own kids, along with more from my wish list. Each book was chosen based on illustrations to captivate young readers and content geared toward children. These books will help spark curiosity, interest in the natural world around them, and creativity.
Habitats
With amazing illustrations on every page, this book teaches about habitats around the world, from tropical rain forests to the snowy reaches of the Arctic. Reviewers find this book best for children 8+.
What the publisher says:
Celebrates and explains the astonishing range of habitats on Earth and the intricate balance of their animal and plant communities
This book is a beautiful visual reference to the world’s natural habitats and the plants and animals that live there. It explores global habitat types, including desert, Arctic tundra, and tropical forest – and distinctive regional habitats, such as the windswept puna grasslands of the Andes or the dripping, fern-clad rainforests of New Zealand.
Packed with fascinating illustrations, the book analyzes how each habitat works and examines its unique combination of plants and animals, along with the features that suit them to live there. It then goes deeper, telling stories about how the inhabitants relate to one another and interact. Stories are told using images and graphics, showing what is going on in the natural ecosystem. The stories include survival strategies and life cycles, how pollinators fertilize plants, and how animals distribute the seeds, how similar species divide up food or living space to avoid competition, and how some species cooperate in intimate partnerships.
Earth’s pristine wildernesses are dwindling, so the book includes national parks, wildlife reserves, and other protected areas, and the conservation efforts needed to preserve our precious biological diversity.
Aesop's Fables
Classic tales like the Tortoise and the Hare, The Lion and the Mouse, and others. These cute stories teach morals for children ages 4-8.
What the publisher says:
Cuddle up with your little one and share the wonder of Aesop's Fables with the most exquisitely illustrated edition—featuring breathtaking original artwork by acclaimed illustrator Charles Santore! Get ready for an adventurous bedtime story full of trickster deeds, moral lessons, and age old fables in this favorite childhood fairy tale anthology that is sure to delight and inspire.
Captivating the hearts and minds of kids and adults for generations, Aesop, a former Greek slave, developed simple and meaningful adventures featuring animals or insects to teach a moral standard or lesson for living. The most well known and well loved of Aesop's fables are included here.
An Anthology of Aquatic Life
The sea calls. An Anthology of Aquatic Life is part of a broad collection of children's books from DK Children's Anthologies (and if you watch for sales like I do, these books can sometimes be found for around $10-$12 in the US). I've ordered two books from this collection, and I'm not disappointed. These books are best for children ages 6-8.
What the publisher says:
Dive into the wondrous world of water and discover the stories of more than 100 incredible aquatic lifeforms.
The underwater world is so much bigger than young minds can fathom and there is always more to learn. An Anthology of Aquatic Life is a stunning ocean encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information, little learners will be captivated as they discover the facts, stories and myths behind their favourite sea-life animals.
From the deepest, widest ocean to the tiniest puddle, this beautiful compendium takes young readers on an enthralling journey through the aquatic world, meeting amazing animals, ingenious plants, and much more along the way. Stunning photography and gorgeous illustrations complement storybook descriptions about each lifeform, and children can uncover hundreds of fascinating facts as they read. Did you know that elephant seals can hold their breath underwater for more than an hour, or that the brown basilisk reptile can run across water? Discover the science of how plants have learnt to live, feed, and breathe in water, and take a look at the unique challenges of distinct ecosystems on feature spreads about rivers, lakes, wetlands, and more.
The Secret World of Plants by Ben Hoare
#1 bestseller on Amazon in children's gardening books. This book covers everything from the fascinating Venus flytrap to the giant sequoia. Learn about flowers, fruit, leaves, and even plants that move! Did you know that seagrass is the only plant that flowers on the ocean floor?
What the publisher says:
Plants are found almost everywhere on Earth, but to many people their lives are a mystery. Learn how seagrass flowers underwater, how the Venus flytrap counts to make sure it catches its prey, and why some tulips used to cost more than a house! This fascinating book for kids explores the vast plant kingdom and explains how plants work, as well as the weird and wonderful relationships they have with animals.
Children can discover the secrets of more than 100 amazing plants in this treasury of fascinating flora, as well as the essentials of plant science, including photosynthesis, pollination, and germination. Each species is shown with remarkable photography and beautiful illustrations, all brought to life by Ben Hoare’s writing, filled with charm and infectious enthusiasm.
The Essential Beatrix Potter Storytime Collection
The classic and unforgettable tales of Peter Rabbit. Join Peter as he explores his world and inevitably gets himself in trouble. Ideal for children aged 4-8.
What the publisher says:
Follow the exciting and whimsical adventures of Peter Rabbit and some of his most famous feathery, furry, and froggy friends!
This colossal volume features all four original stories featuring the famous bunny, including The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Benjamin Bunny, The Tale of Mr. Tod, and The Tale of the Flopsy Bunnies as well as some of Potter's lesser-known, but equally-as-charming yarns, including The Tale of Tom Kitten, The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher, The Tailor of Gloucester, and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin.
The basis for countless television shows, films, and spin-offs, Peter Rabbit has been hailed as one of the bestselling stories of all time. The original story features a young rebellious rabbit who, despite his mother’s wishes, enters the dangerous garden of Mr. McGregor to feast on its endless bounty. From there on out, he gets himself into all kinds of trouble and learns a valuable lesson.
Smithsonian The Science of the Earth
A must-have for the curious science kid. Discover how mountains form and learn about the past. Did you know that before the dinosaurs went extinct, there were other mass extinctions? The Permian extinction was the most severe extinction event in the geologic record, leading to the death of over 80% of life on the planet.
What the publisher says:
Explore the Earth’s natural riches with this beautiful book that brings every corner of the planet, from core to atmosphere, to life!
Introducing The Science of Earth - an informative, visually arresting introduction to planet Earth.
Did you know that bubbles of ancient air trapped inside the Antarctic ice core can reveal how Earth’s climate has changed over time? Or that a piece of pumice thrown several miles into the air by a volcano helps to explain what happens when tectonic plates collide? Well, now you do! Learn all about our weird and wonderful planet with The Science of Earth.
The core of the book features large, detailed photographs of single objects, many of them small enough to be held in the hand, that each speaks volumes about an aspect of Earth’s environments and how they work. Structured around an imaginary journey that takes the reader from the inner core to Earth’s surface (including both land and oceans) and up to the top of the atmosphere, whilst taking in environments such as grasslands, forests, and reefs, the coverage includes both living and inanimate realms!
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
This list would be remiss without this classic tale of adventure. Reading age 7-10 years.
What the publisher says:
Come along on the adventures of Mole, Ratty, Badger, and Toad as they are brought to life for a new generation in this enchanting young reader adaptation of Kenneth Grahame’s beloved childhood classic.
One spring day, Mole peers out from his underground home to find a marvelous world awaits him. As the seasons pass, he picnics on the riverbank with Ratty, accompanies Toad on a chaotic caravan adventure, and even braves the snowy depths of the fearsome Wild Wood in search of Badger. But when Toad’s mischievous ways finally land him in trouble, can his friends come to his rescue and recapture Toad Hall from a gang of sneaky stoats and wheedling weasels?
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Get in the Christmas spirit with this award-winning story about a young boy's journey to the North Pole.
What the publisher says:
A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical train to the North Pole . . .
Through dark forests, over tall mountains, and across a barren desert of ice, the Polar Express makes its way to the huge city standing alone at the top of the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish.
For millions of readers around the world, this mysterious journey to the North Pole has become a beloved Christmas classic. In this thirtieth-anniversary edition, the inimitable artistry of Chris Van Allsburg is showcased with a bold new jacket design and expanded interior layout.
The Polar Express is a Caldecott Medal winner, and reading the story together is a beloved holiday tradition held by generations of families. It has also become a favorite holiday movie and been translated into stage productions that take place across the United States during the holiday season.
Janine Eaby loves to read, write, and garden. She is the author of the Beyond the Water's Edge fantasy book series and enjoys experimenting with poetry.
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