by Lara Neel, Trade Marketing Manager

April showers bring May flowers, so maybe you want some spring-time books for your displays or featured reads. Also, the 14th annual Endangered Species Day is May 17, 2019, so let’s start with some recommendations for that!

Endangered Species

The Woolly Monkey Mysteries: The Quest to Save a Rain Forest Species

Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 6

In the cloud forests of the Amazon Basin, scientists are installing extraordinary numbers of camera traps in the hopes of learning more about an elusive species—woolly monkeys.

No one knows for sure how many woolly monkeys are left in the wild. But they play a key role in their ecosystem, and without them the rain forest is in trouble.

Join scientists on their quest to solve the mysteries surrounding the lives of woolly monkeys before it’s too late.

Scan QR codes inside the book to see and hear the monkeys!

The Great Rhino Rescue: Saving the Southern White Rhinos

Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 6

Southern white rhinos are in trouble. For years, a rumor has been spreading that their horns can be used to cure cancer, and poachers have been targeting these gentle creatures. Sandra Markle takes readers behind the scenes to see how civilians, volunteer organizations, and African governments are working together to protect rhinos.

Shark Quest: Protecting the Ocean’s Top Predators

Interest Level: Grade 8 – Grade 12

Sharks are in trouble. Fifty shark species are at high risk of extinction, and another sixty-three are threatened. Discover the work of scientists and conservationists as they study shark biology and morphology; research migration, feeding, and mating patterns; delve into human, climate, and other threats to shark habitat; and develop sophisticated technologies to aid sharks and shark research. See how scientists also educate the public about real and imagined fear of sharks and encourage citizen participation in shark conservation efforts. You can even adopt a shark!

Whale Quest: Working Together to Save Endangered Species

Interest Level: Grade 8 – Grade 12

Decades of commercial whaling nearly decimated a variety of whales considered a keystone species. Keystone species are indicators of the overall health of Earth’s habitats. While whales have made a comeback through an international ban on commercial whaling, they are still threatened with extinction. Global warming, water and noise pollution, and commercial shipping and fishing are among the most serious threats to whale survival. Meet the scientists, citizen scientists, researchers, whale watching guides, and other concerned citizens who are working together to protect whale populations around the globe. Learn about whale biology, habitats, and behavior, and discover more about the high-technology tools that help researchers in their work.

The Great Penguin Rescue: Saving the African Penguins

Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 6   ·   Reading Level: Grade 5

African penguins waddle around nesting colonies in lower numbers than ever before. Despite South African government efforts to protect the penguin colonies and their ocean fish supply, young penguins still struggle to survive. Fuzzy chicks waiting for food in open nests may overheat in the sun or become prey. Others simply may not get enough food to survive on their own once their parents leave. But new conservation methods, including rescuing and hand-feeding vulnerable chicks, are giving experts hope. Can volunteers and scientists help save Africa’s only penguins before it’s too late?

Flowers, Gardening, and Plants

Parts of a Flower

Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 2

The flower is the part of a plant that makes seeds or fruit. Readers will identify the main parts of a flower and learn about the process of pollination. Simple text and supportive photos and diagrams help students comprehend this important science concept.

Plants Can’t Sit Still

Interest Level: Kindergarten – Grade 4

Do plants really move? Absolutely! You might be surprised by all ways plants can move. Plants might not pick up their roots and walk away, but they definitely don’t sit still! Discover the many ways plants (and their seeds) move. Whether it’s a sunflower, a Venus flytrap, or an exotic plant like an exploding cucumber, this fascinating picture book shows just how excitingly active plants really are.

Flower Talk: How Plants Use Color to Communicate

Interest Level: Grade 2 – Grade 5

This new book from Sara Levine features a cantankerous talking cactus as a narrator, revealing to readers the significance of different colors of flowers in terms of which pollinators (bees, bats, birds, etc.) different colors “talk” to. A fun nonfiction presentation of science info that may be new to many kids—and adults!

Investigating Plant Life Cycles

Interest Level: Grade 3 – Grade 5

Flowering plants, cone-bearing plants, ferns, and mosses make up the four main plant groups. But did you know that each of these groups has a different life cycle? Or that some plants reproduce with seeds and others reproduce with spores? This fascinating book investigates the life cycles of each of the four main plant groups.

The Nitty-Gritty Gardening Book: Fun Projects for All Seasons

Interest Level: Grade 4 – Grade 8

Grow your own fruits, vegetables, and flowers! Become a gardener in any season with these fun and easy projects. You don’t even need a garden space—many of these activities can be done by planting in containers to set on a porch or a patio or even in a window. Try your hand at growing potatoes and strawberries. Plant bright flowers that attract butterflies, birds, and bees. Learn how to get daffodils to bloom in the winter! You can even make your own compost. Colorful photographs and simple step-by-step drawings make each project easy to follow for gardening success. Ready to get your hands dirty and your garden growing?

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More posts by Lara Neel.