Nature All Around: Trees & Nature All Around: Plants

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of reviewing Nature All Around: Birds, Pamela Hickman and Carolyn Gavin's newest book in Kids Can Press's Nature All Around series, and I was reminded of earlier books that I hadn't reviewed. Here are my reviews of two additional titles published earlier in the series.

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Nature All Around: Trees

Written by Pamela Hickman

Illustrated by Carolyn Gavin

Kids Can Press

978-1-77138-804-7

32 pp.

Ages 7-10

2019

 

Nature All Around: Plants

Written by Pamela Hickman

Illustrated by Carolyn Gavin

Kids Can Press

978-1-77138-819-1

32 pp.

Ages 7-10

2020  

As with Nature All Around: Birds, Pamela Hickman and Carolyn Gavin offer children a broad introduction to a group of living things in an illustrated text perfect for the early middle grade reader. They cover life cycles, behaviour, identification, seasonal variation, and unique species, as well as offering an opportunity for learning through activity

From Nature All Around: Trees by Pamela Hickman, illus. by Carolyn Gavin

In Nature All Around: Trees, children will become familiar with the basics of tree morphology (i.e., trunk, bark, roots, crown, leaves, seeds and branches) and the differences between deciduous and evergreen trees. The different types of leaves and their role in photosynthesis and respiration are also covered. Looking at the tree through the seasons, Pamela Hickman details pollination, fruit production, and the making of maple syrup from sap. She also reports on the forest regions of North America, the role of trees as habitat, and tree identification. Still as scientifically accurate as the details are, Nature All Around: Trees is also a celebration of trees and their wondrous role in different ecosystems, and Carolyn Gavin's illustrations of watercolour and gouache honour both the science and the magic. (The joy of colour and shape in the illustration below is just one superb example.)

From Nature All Around: Trees by Pamela Hickman, illus. by Carolyn Gavin

In Nature All Around: Plants, Pamela Hickman discusses flowering and non-flowering plants, life cycles, adaptations to the environment, to attract pollinators and for protection, and the many quirky species and anomalies to the norm. Of course, there is always the activity-based learning which here includes "Beginner Plant-Watching" and growing microgreens.

From Nature All Around: Plants by Pamela Hickman, illus. by Carolyn Gavin

Children are spending a lot more time indoors right now and being out in nature offers a plethora of opportunities for learning, for exercise, for quiet time and for connection. With the Nature All Around series from Pamela Hickman and illustrated by Carolyn Gavin, heading out to take in the natural world and make those worthwhile connections that remind us that we're much more than entities on screens is all the more possible. 

From Nature All Around: Plants by Pamela Hickman, illus. by Carolyn Gavin

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The complete Nature All Around series includes four books to date:

Nature All Around: Trees (2019)

Nature All Around: Bugs (2019)

Nature All Around: Plants (2020) 

Nature All Around: Birds (2020)

Nature All Around: Birds

Written by Pamela Hickman

Illustrated by Carolyn Gavin

Kids Can Press

978-1-77138-818-4

32 pp.

Ages 7-10

2020

 

With so many kids' activities curtailed, especially those involving team sports and getting together with others, it may be a great time to get your little ones involved in an activity like birding i.e., bird-watching which they can do alone, with family, or later with friends, developing it into the life-long passion enjoyed by many.

Pamela Hickman, whose collection of books about nature will astound, takes children through the basics about birds, from their life cycle to changes through the seasons, attributes of eggs, feathers, beaks, behaviour and more, and inviting them to watch birds.

From Nature All Around: Birds by Pamela Hickman, illus. by Carolyn Gavin

Organized with a simple table of contents, glossary and index, Nature All Around: Birds is an easy non-fiction read for early readers and middle grade children without bogging them down in scientific names and other minutiae that might dissuade them from learning. Pamela Hickman has made Nature All Around: Birds comprehensive but reader-friendly, drawing children in with the short blurbs of explanatory text.  Coupled with the colourful gouache and watercolour illustrations by Carolyn Gavin which blend realism with a touch of whimsy, it's all bright and informative without reading like a field guide or textbook.

From Nature All Around: Birds by Pamela Hickman, illus. by Carolyn Gavin

Learning about birds for young children will require looking out their windows or taking a walk and opening their eyes to the feathered creatures who share our landscapes. But, with Nature All Around: Birds, their focus will be bolstered by Pamela Hickman's descriptive and guiding text and Carolyn Gavin's detailed and communicative art and undoubtedly help establish an abiding appreciation for birds.

From Nature All Around: Birds by Pamela Hickman, illus. by Carolyn Gavin