Books of the Month
Can We Save the Tiger?
by Martin Jenkins; illustrated by Vicky White
Tigers are pretty special - and so are ground iguanas and partulasnails and even white-rumped vultures. But these and many other animals are in danger of disappearing altogether, joining the dodo, the marsupial wolf, the great auk, and countless other animals we will never see again. Using the experiences of a few endangered species as examples, Martin Jenkins highlights the ways human behavior can either threaten or conserve the amazing animals that share our planet. Vicky White's stunning portraits of rare creatures offer a glimpse of nature's grace and beauty - and give us a powerful reason to preserve it (from GoodReads). Click here to reserve a copy. The Mangrove Tree : Planting Trees to Feed Families by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore
Dr. Gordon Santo had a brainstorm: Why not plant mangrove trees in the waters off Hargigo? The leaves would feed the town's hungry herds of sheep and goats and provide wood for fuel; the trees' root system would attract fish; and the trees themselves would convert carbon dioxide to oxygen. Roth's artwork is a treat, cut-paper and fabric collages of intense, shimmering color on a ground of paper that is electric with thick veins of fiber. Roth and Trumbore's cumulative verse goes about its merry way on the left page. . .while a narrative on the right takes readers on Santo's journey. Hitting home hard is the project's simple practicality: no high-tech, no great infusions of capital or energy- in a word, motivating, in the best possible way. --Kirkus Reviews Click here to reserve a copy.  All the Water in the World by George Ella Lyon and Katherine Tillotson Lots of picture books introduce young children to the water cycle, but few have such an infectious beat and eye-catching illustrations as this title, which begs to be read aloud. With occasional rhymes, the short, poetic lines are conversational and instructive and evoke a sense of mystery. What kids will respond to immediately, though, are the noisy, delicious sounds and rhythms in the words as well as the kinetic energy in the beautifully composed, atmospheric digital illustrations, which have the richly patterned and textured look of paint-and-paper collage. Playfully arranged type in changing fonts adds to the visual fun while giving cues for energizing read-alouds. On the final, stunning spreads, a mother's hair swirls into a wave of water that becomes a joyful spiral of living creatures, all reinforcing the simple, profound message: our lives depend on "so precious" water (Booklist). Click here to reserve a copy. | 
