29 Best Animal Books of 2020

Here are the 29 best animal books of 2020 according to Google. Find your new favorite book from the local library with one click.

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1. Bedtime for Sweet Creatures

by: Nikki Grimes
Release date: Jan 14, 2020
Number of Pages: 32
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A beloved and very sleepy little boy resists his mother’s efforts to put him to bed.

2. The Barnabus Project

by: Terry FanEric FanDevin Fan
Release date: Sep 01, 2020
Number of Pages: 72
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In a world built for Perfect Pets, Barnabus is a Failed Project, half mouse, half elephant, kept out of sight until his dreams of freedom lead him and his misfit friends on a perilous adventure. A stunning picture book from international bestsellers The Fan Brothers, joined by their brother Devin Fan. Deep underground beneath Perfect Pets, where children can buy genetically engineered “perfect” creatures, there is a secret lab. Barnabus and his friends live in this lab, but none of them is perfect. They are all Failed Projects. Barnabus has never been outside his tiny bell jar, yet he dreams of one day seeing the world above ground that his pal Pip the cockroach has told him about: a world with green hills and trees, and buildings that reach all the way to the sky, lit with their own stars. But Barnabus may have to reach the outside world sooner than he thought, because the Green Rubber Suits are about to recycle all Failed Projects . . . and Barnabus doesn’t want to be made into a fluffier pet with bigger eyes. He just wants to be himself. So he decides it’s time for he and the others to escape. With his little trunk and a lot of cooperation and courage, Barnabus sets out to find freedom — and a place where he and his friends can finally be accepted for who they are. This suspenseful, poignant and magical story about following your dreams and finding where you truly belong will draw readers into a surreal, lushly detailed world in which perfection really means being true to yourself and your friends.

3. Becoming Wild

by: Carl Safina
Release date: Apr 14, 2020
Number of Pages: 384
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A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2020 “In this superbly articulate cri de coeur, Safina gives us a new way of looking at the natural world that is radically different.”—The Washington Post New York Times bestselling author Carl Safina brings readers close to three non-human cultures—what they do, why they do it, and how life is for them. A New York Times Notable Books of 2020 Some believe that culture is strictly a human phenomenon. But this book reveals cultures of other-than-human beings in some of Earth’s remaining wild places. It shows how if you’re a sperm whale, a scarlet macaw, or a chimpanzee, you too come to understand yourself as an individual within a particular community that does things in specific ways, that has traditions. Alongside genes, culture is a second form of inheritance, passed through generations as pools of learned knowledge. As situations change, social learning—culture—allows behaviors to adjust much faster than genes can adapt. Becoming Wild brings readers into intimate proximity with various nonhuman individuals in their free-living communities. It presents a revelatory account of how animals function beyond our usual view. Safina shows that for non-humans and humans alike, culture comprises the answers to the question, “How do we live here?” It unites individuals within a group identity. But cultural groups often seek to avoid, or even be hostile toward, other factions. By showing that this is true across species, Safina illuminates why human cultural tensions remain maddeningly intractable despite the arbitrariness of many of our differences. Becoming Wild takes readers behind the curtain of life on Earth, to witness from a new vantage point the most world-saving of perceptions: how we are all connected.

4. The Zoologist’s Guide to the Galaxy

by: Arik Kershenbaum
Release date: Sep 24, 2020
Number of Pages: 368
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A Times/Sunday Times Book of the Year DISCOVER HOW LIFE REALLY WORKS – ON EARTH AND IN SPACE ‘A wonderfully insightful sidelong look at Earthly biology’ Richard Dawkins ‘Crawls with curious facts’ Sunday Times _________________________ We are unprepared for the greatest discovery of modern science. Scientists are confident that there is alien life across the universe yet we have not moved beyond our perception of ‘aliens’ as Hollywood stereotypes. The time has come to abandon our fixation on alien monsters and place our expectations on solid scientific footing. Using his own expert understanding of life on Earth and Darwin’s theory of evolution – which applies throughout the universe – Cambridge zoologist Dr Arik Kershenbaum explains what alien life must be like. This is the story of how life really works, on Earth and in space. _________________________ ‘An entertaining, eye-opening and, above all, a hopeful view of what – or who – might be out there in the cosmos’ Philip Ball, author of Nature’s Patterns ‘A fascinating insight into the deepest of questions: what might an alien actually look like’ Lewis Dartnell, author of Origins ‘If you don’t want to be surprised by extraterrestrial life, look no further than this lively overview of the laws of evolution that have produced life on earth’ Frans de Waal, author of Mama’s Last Hug

5. Everything You Know About Animals is Wrong

by: Matt Brown
Release date: Apr 02, 2020
Number of Pages: 160
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A humorous and informative book, debunking a range of commonly held myths about animals. Camels store water in their humps and magpies love to steal shiny objects. Or do they? A must-read in the Everything you Know series, this book debunks a range of old-cod stories about animals in author Matt Brown’s inimitable humorous and fascinating style. Covering everything from the myth that lemmings throw themselves off cliffs in suicide (they don’t, but on occasion some just fall off) to the one about bats being blind (they’re not, and they can see but use the more sophisticated echolocation for certain hunting). From head in the sand ostriches to cats landing on their feet, a wealth of information on our beloved pets to creepy crawlies and wild giants, this book will set the marvel of the animal word straight. Plus, there are special features on the odd diets of animals and how wrongly they are portrayed in the movies. All the old stories and myths about animals we’ve had since childhood are gleefully debunked in a hugely entertaining book.

6. 30-Second Zoology

by: Mark Fellowes
Release date: Mar 03, 2020
Number of Pages: 160
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30-Second Zoology showcases 50 of the most fundamental categories and concepts from the study of Zoology, each explained in 300 words and one illustration.

7. The Most Amazing Bird

by: Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak
Release date: Nov 10, 2020
Number of Pages: 40
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A young girl discovers nature’s surprising beauty in this tale from a renowned Inuit storyteller. When Aggataa goes for a cold winter walk with her grandmother, she’s surprised by a sudden CRAH! All the birds have flown south for the winter except one kind–the tulugarguat, the ravens. They’re the ugliest birds that Aggaataa has ever seen. They look like they slept in their coats–coats that don’t even fit! However, as the winter slowly moves towards spring, Aggataa connects with one small raven in particular. As the seasons change in full, the ravens leave and are replaced by seagulls, cranes, geese, ducks, and swans–all of them far more elegant than the “Ugly Bird.” But where Aggataa once thought the ravens odd for visiting during the harshest part of the year, she now finds herself watching the horizon, waiting for the return of the most amazing bird. This touching story by award-winning author Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak reminds us of our lasting connection to nature, while art by celebrated illustrator Andrew Qappik, CM, illuminates the enduring magic of the changing seasons.

8. A Story for Small Bear

by: Alice B. McGinty
Release date: Jan 01, 2020
Number of Pages: 40
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Small Bear’s mother promises stories before their winter slumber if Small Bear will help prepare with no dilly dallying, but the playful cub finds it hard to stick to her tasks.

9. A Stranger Comes to Town

by: Maria Kristjansdottir
Release date: Nov 01, 2020
Number of Pages: 32
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A boy tries to help a hungry polar bear stranded in his island village but needs his grandpa’s help to get the bear home.

10. A Mystery in the Forest

by: Susanna Isern
Release date: Sep 15, 2020
Number of Pages: 32
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A deer who cooks the best pies in the forest. A missing recipe book. An unsolved mystery. The delightful characters from the hugely successful book The Lonely Mailman return, in a charming tale that invites readers to think about the emotional impact of jealousy, the importance of empathy, and the ability to forgive.

11. The Bear and the Moon

by: Matthew Burgess
Release date: Sep 29, 2020
Number of Pages: 52
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The Bear and the Moon is a picture book that follows what happens when the gift of a balloon floats into Bear’s life. The two companions embark on a journey—a magical tale that encompasses the joys of friendship and discovery. This is a gentle book filled with humor, while tackling complex topics like the transcendence of loss and forgiveness. • Filled with emotive text and radiant illustrations • Simply told and profoundly felt • Award winning author-illustrator team The Bear and the Moon is a compassionate tale that honors the small but profound world of the very young. This sweet book teaches social and emotional skills to kids, and offers a clever way to soothe some of our most difficult feelings: loss and guilt. • Just as ideal for gently soothing young readers to sleep as it is for encouraging a contemplative break from an energetic day • Great for parents, grandparents, and caregivers looking for a beautiful friendship or bedtime story • Perfect for children ages 3 to 5 years old • You’ll love this book if you love books like Waiting by Kevin Henkes, Emily’s Balloon by Komako Sakai, and Stellaluna by Janell Cannon.

12. Perestroika in Paris

by: Jane Smiley
Release date: Dec 01, 2020
Number of Pages: 288
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NATIONAL BEST SELLER • From the Pulitzer Prize-winning and best-selling author: a captivating, brilliantly imaginative story of three extraordinary animals—and a young boy—whose lives intersect in Paris in this “feel-good escape” (The New York Times). Paras, short for “Perestroika,” is a spirited racehorse at a racetrack west of Paris. One afternoon at dusk, she finds the door of her stall open and—she’s a curious filly—wanders all the way to the City of Light. She’s dazzled and often mystified by the sights, sounds, and smells around her, but she isn’t afraid. Soon she meets an elegant dog, a German shorthaired pointer named Frida, who knows how to get by without attracting the attention of suspicious Parisians. Paras and Frida coexist for a time in the city’s lush green spaces, nourished by Frida’s strategic trips to the vegetable market. They keep company with two irrepressible ducks and an opinionated raven. But then Paras meets a human boy, Etienne, and discovers a new, otherworldly part of Paris: the ivy-walled house where the boy and his nearly-one-hundred-year-old great-grandmother live in seclusion. As the cold weather nears, the unlikeliest of friendships bloom. But how long can a runaway horse stay undiscovered in Paris? How long can a boy keep her hidden and all to himself? Jane Smiley’s beguiling new novel is itself an adventure that celebrates curiosity, ingenuity, and the desire of all creatures for true love and freedom.

13. Vesper Flights

by: Helen Macdonald
Release date: Aug 25, 2020
Number of Pages: 288
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NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the bestselling author of H is for Hawk, a brilliant and insightful work about our relationship to the natural world Our world is a fascinating place, teeming not only with natural wonders that defy description, but complex interactions that create layers of meaning. Helen Macdonald is gifted with a special lens that seems to peer right through it all, and she shares her insights–at times startling, nostalgic, weighty, or simply entertaining–in this masterful collection of essays. From reflections on science fiction to the true story of an Iranian refugee’s flight to the UK, Macdonald has a truly omnivorous taste when it comes to observations of both the banal and sublime. Peppered throughout are reminisces of her own life, from her strange childhood in an estate owned by the Theosophical Society to watching total eclipses of the sun, visits to Uzbek solar power plants, eccentric English country shows, and desert hunting camps in the Gulf States. These essays move from personal experiences into wider meditations about love and loss and how we build the world around us. Whether more journalistic in tone, or literary–even formally experimental–each piece is generous, lyrical, and speaks to one another. Macdonald creates a strong thematic undertow that quietly takes the reader along piece to piece and sets them down, finally, at a place they’ve never been before.

14. Devoted

by: Dean Koontz
Release date: Apr 16, 2020
Number of Pages: 384
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One boy with the power to save the world. One man with the will to destroy it. The chilling, unputdownable new standalone thriller from Dean Koontz, the master of suspense. ‘The master of our darkest dreams’ The Times

15. Entangled Life

by: Merlin Sheldrake
Release date: Sep 03, 2020
Number of Pages: 368
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The smash-hit Sunday Times bestseller that will transform your understanding of our planet and life itself. ‘Dazzling, vibrant, vision-changing’ Robert Macfarlane The more we learn about fungi, the less makes sense without them. They can change our minds, heal our bodies and even help us avoid environmental disaster; they are metabolic masters, earth-makers and key players in most of nature’s processes. In Entangled Life, Merlin Sheldrake takes us on a mind-altering journey into their spectacular world, and reveals how these extraordinary organisms transform our understanding of our planet and life itself. ‘Gorgeous!’ Margaret Atwood (on Twitter) ‘Reads like an adventure story… Wondrous’ Sunday Times ‘Urgent, astounding and necessary’ Helen Macdonald ‘A magical writer’ Russell Brand * A Sunday Times, Daily Telegraph, New Statesman, The Times, Evening Standard, Mail on Sunday, BBC Science Focus and Time Book of the Year *

16. Remembering Great Apes

by: Margot Raggett
Release date: Jul 17, 2020
Number of Pages: 144
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– The stunning third book in the Remembering Wildlife charity series – The aim of the creators is to make the most beautiful photographic book ever seen on a species and to use that to raise awareness of the plight facing that animal and also funds to protect it – Features images generously donated by many of the world’s top wildlife photographers – All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to projects working to protect great apes in Africa The ‘great apes’ – bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, are our closest cousins. Indeed anyone who has ever had the privilege of spending time with them will confirm the remarkable similarities and the deep and moving connection they felt. And yet we humans, the fifth great ape, seem callously able to turn a blind eye to their destruction for the sake of our own rapacious greed. Land, money, cheap ingredients and even components for our mobile phones are prioritized over our family, in a seemingly relentless and insatiable grab for what ‘we’ want, no matter the consequences. Remembering Great Apes is time for us to say no, no more. We cannot, we will not, let this continue. It is a celebration of the beauty of these species and a cry from those who photograph and love them that things need to change, before it is too late. This is the third book in the groundbreaking Remembering Wildlife series, a project only made possible by the generous wildlife photographers and supporters who march with us in our determination to give wildlife a voice. We cannot, we simply will not remember wildlife in pictures.

17. A Life on Our Planet

by: David Attenborough
Release date: Oct 01, 2020
Number of Pages: 272
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‘Read this book to learn, but also to honour the man. We shall never see his like again.’ – Sunday Times See the world. Then make it better. ‘I am 94. I’ve had an extraordinary life. It’s only now that I appreciate how extraordinary. As a young man, I felt I was out there in the wild, experiencing the untouched natural world – but it was an illusion. The tragedy of our time has been happening all around us, barely noticeable from day to day – the loss of our planet’s wild places, its biodiversity. I have been witness to this decline. A Life on Our Planet is my witness statement, and my vision for the future. It is the story of how we came to make this, our greatest mistake – and how, if we act now, we can yet put it right. We have one final chance to create the perfect home for ourselves and restore the wonderful world we inherited.’ All we need is the will to do so.’

18. Remembering Cheetahs

by: Margot Raggett
Release date: Oct 26, 2020
Number of Pages: 144
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– The stunning fifth book in the Remembering Wildlife charity series – The aim of the creators is to make the most beautiful book ever seen on a species and to use that to raise awareness of the plight facing that animal and also funds to protect it – Features images generously donated by many of the world’s top wildlife photographers – All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to projects working to protect cheetahs in Africa Remembering Cheetahs is the fifth book in the Remembering Wildlife fundraising series, which has so far raised more than USD $800,000 for conservation. The aim of the creators is to make the most beautiful book ever seen on a species and use that to raise awareness of the plight facing that animal and funds to protect it. Each book is full of images generously donated by many of the world’s top wildlife photographers. All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to projects working to protect cheetahs in Africa.

19. Flights of Passage

by: Mike UnwinDavid Tipling
Release date: Mar 24, 2020
Number of Pages: 288
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A visually stunning, photographically driven celebration of bird migration–one of the great marvels of the natural world The vast transcontinental journeys made every year by millions of feathered migrants were not known to naturalists before the late nineteenth century. Even today, while cutting-edge technology such as geolocators and isotope analysis helps us map these journeys in detail, much of the science remains poorly understood. In this luxuriously illustrated volume, celebrated nature writer Mike Unwin and award-winning photographer David Tipling highlight sixty-seven different species of birds from around the world and explore how each has adapted to its migratory cycle. As they bring to life the drama of the Bar-headed Goose’s journey over the Himalayas and the amazing sixty-thousand-mile annual round trip taken by the Arctic Tern between the United Kingdom and Antarctica, Unwin and Tipling offer deep insights into the science, mysteries, and wonders of migration.

20. Remembering Lions

by: Margot Raggett
Release date: Jul 17, 2020
Number of Pages: 144
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– The stunning fourth book in the Remembering Wildlife charity series – The aim of the creators is to make the most beautiful photographic book ever seen on a species and to use that to raise awareness of the plight facing that animal and also funds to protect it – Features images generously donated by many of the world’s top wildlife photographers (including six overall winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year) – All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to projects working to protect lions in Africa The history of lions has been entwined with mankind for millions of years and they are surely the most celebrated of all animals. But, thanks to that same mankind who professes to revere them, their numbers have declined by half in the last quarter of a century alone. Wild lions are now just found in sub-Saharan Africa and a small pocket in India, with only around 20,000 left. The rapid reduction in the number of lions is one of the least-known stories in conservation, because their slaughter often happens out of sight. This book aims to open the eyes of the world to their plight before it’s too late. Remembering Lions is the fourth book in the Remembering Wildlife fundraising series, which has so far raised more than USD $800,000 for conservation. The aim of the creators is to make the most beautiful book ever seen on a species and use that to raise awareness of the plight facing that animal and funds to protect it. Each book is full of images generously donated by many of the world’s top wildlife photographers. All profits from the sale of this book will be donated to projects working to protect lions in Africa.

21. The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids

by: Ginjer Clarke
Release date: Jan 21, 2020
Number of Pages: 210
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From anteaters to zebras–incredible facts packed with pictures Are you a budding zookeeper or veterinarian, or are you just WILD about animals? Everything that animal books for kids ages 9-12 should be, The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids is packed with colorful photos and 500 ferocious facts about creatures from all over the world. Unlike other animal books for kids ages 9-12, all the super cool facts inside are organized by type of animal, so you can quickly find the critters you want to study. Animal books for kids ages 9-12 should be fun and educational. In this one, you’ll learn super cool facts like: Snow leopards keep themselves warm by wrapping their tails around their bodies like scarves. Fireflies use their lights to talk to each other. Immortal jellyfish can live forever. They grow to adulthood and then shrink back to babies, over and over again. Look no further for fun and colorful animal books for kids ages 9-12–this one has you covered.

22. The One and Only Bob

by: Katherine Applegate
Release date: May 05, 2020
Number of Pages: 352
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Return to the unforgettable world of the Newbery Medal-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling novel The One and Only Ivan (soon to be a major motion picture!) in this incredible sequel, starring Ivan’s friend Bob! Bob sets out on a dangerous journey in search of his long-lost sister with the help of his two best friends, Ivan and Ruby. As a hurricane approaches and time is running out, Bob finds courage he never knew he had and learns the true meaning of friendship and family. Bob, Ivan, and Ruby have touched the hearts of millions of readers, and their story isn’t over yet. Catch up with these beloved friends before the star-studded film adaptation of The One and Only Ivan hits theaters in August 2020!

23. Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind

by: Jessica Hische
Release date: Jan 14, 2020
Number of Pages: 40
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In a follow-up to Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave, award-winning illustrator Jessica Hische brings to life another series of inspirational words and scenes with her lovely hand-lettering and adorable illustrations. This uplifting and positive book encourages kids to promise that tomorrow, they will be grateful, helpful, and kind. Tomorrow I’ll be everything I strive to be each day And even when it’s difficult I’ll work to find a way. Immerse yourself in the beautifully hand-lettered words of widsom, hope, and positivity alongside adorable illustrations of love and caring. This book is a reminder to all readers, young and old, that the smallest kind gesture can make the biggest difference in the world–we just have to remember to be kind to one another. Praise for Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind “As an introduction to personality characteristics, beneficial behaviors, and social-emotional skills, this is a solid choice, and fans of the previous volume are likely to embrace this one as well. ‘I’ll dream of all the good that comes / when we all just do our best,’ the text explains–a sentiment that’s hard to rebut. Gently encourages empathy, compassion, and consideration.” — Kirkus Reviews “A welcome call to tenderness.” — PW Reviews Praise for Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave “Jessica Hische, one of the great designers and typographers, now shows herself equally adept at creating gorgeous and immersive images for young readers. This is a joyous burst of color.”–Dave Eggers, author of Her Right Foot

24. Jack at the Zoo

by: Mac Barnett
Release date: May 05, 2020
Number of Pages: 80
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From New York Times bestselling author Mac Barnett and Geisel Award-winning illustrator Greg Pizzoli, an uproarious early reader series about a mischievous rabbit, a cranky old lady, and a lovable dog. Jack, Rex, and the Lady visit the zoo. But when Jack gets hungry, he sneaks into a koala’s cage to steal some snacks. In a case of mistaken identity, the Lady takes the koala home and leaves Jack stuck in the cage. How will Jack escape, and will the Lady and Rex be happier with the new Jack? Welcome to the laugh-out-loud and irreverent world of Jack, a new early reader series by the New York Times bestselling and award-winning team of Mac Barnett and Greg Pizzoli.

25. Skunk and Badger

by: Amy Timberlake
Release date: Sep 15, 2020
Number of Pages: 128
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The first title in a warm and witty illustrated chapter-book series from Newbery Honor–winner Amy Timberlake and superstar illustrator Jon Klassen, about a pair of unlikely animal friends Analytical and set in his ways, Badger is taken aback when jolly, easygoing Skunk rings the doorbell to announce he’s Badger’s new roommate. (Badger may have been ignoring his landlord Aunt Lula’s letters . . . ) But as Badger begrudgingly opens up his home—and heart—to Skunk and his unconventional ways, the two characters become irrevocably changed by each other, establishing an odd-couple friendship that is timeless and real. Set in a brownstone in a town that evokes a slightly-more-urban Hundred Acre Wood, the story is part Wind in the Willows, part Wallace and Gromit. Filled with a delightful population of chickens, sheep, stoats, hedgehogs, voles and philosophical musings, it establishes the perfect scenario for illustrations by Caldecott Medal–winner (This Is Not My Hat) and Honor illustrator (Extra Yarn, Sam and Dave Dig a Hole) Jon Klassen.

27. Outside In

by: Deborah Underwood
Release date: Apr 14, 2020
Number of Pages: 40
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A 2020 Caldecott Honor Book From the New York Times best-selling author behind The Quiet Book comes a mindful contemplation on the many ways nature affects our everyday lives, even when we’re stuck inside. Five starred reviews! Perfect for fans of Joyce Sidman and Julie Fogliano, Outside In reminds emerging readers of the ways nature creates and touches our lives in homes, apartments, and cars, and is the perfect homeschooling tool to reflect on the world’s connectedness. Outside is waiting, the most patient playmate of all. The most generous friend. The most miraculous inventor. This thought-provoking picture book poetically underscores our powerful and enduring connection with nature, not so easily obscured by lives spent indoors. Rhythmic, powerful language shows us how our world is made and the many ways Outside comes in to help and heal us, and reminds us that we are all part of a much greater universe. Emotive illustrations evoke the beauty, simplicity, and wonder that await us all . . . outside.

28. Owls of the Eastern Ice

by: Jonathan C. Slaght
Release date: Aug 04, 2020
Number of Pages: 368
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A New York Times Notable Book of 2020 Longlisted for the National Book Award Winner of the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award and the Minnesota Book Award for General Nonfiction A Finalist for the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year Award A Best Book of the Year: NPR, The Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, The Globe and Mail, The BirdBooker Report, Geographical, Open Letter Review Best Nature Book of the Year: The Times (London) “A terrifically exciting account of [Slaght’s] time in the Russian Far East studying Blakiston’s fish owls, huge, shaggy-feathered, yellow-eyed, and elusive birds that hunt fish by wading in icy water . . . Even on the hottest summer days this book will transport you.” —Helen Macdonald, author of H is for Hawk, in Kirkus I saw my first Blakiston’s fish owl in the Russian province of Primorye, a coastal talon of land hooking south into the belly of Northeast Asia . . . No scientist had seen a Blakiston’s fish owl so far south in a hundred years . . . When he was just a fledgling birdwatcher, Jonathan C. Slaght had a chance encounter with one of the most mysterious birds on Earth. Bigger than any owl he knew, it looked like a small bear with decorative feathers. He snapped a quick photo and shared it with experts. Soon he was on a five-year journey, searching for this enormous, enigmatic creature in the lush, remote forests of eastern Russia. That first sighting set his calling as a scientist. Despite a wingspan of six feet and a height of over two feet, the Blakiston’s fish owl is highly elusive. They are easiest to find in winter, when their tracks mark the snowy banks of the rivers where they feed. They are also endangered. And so, as Slaght and his devoted team set out to locate the owls, they aim to craft a conservation plan that helps ensure the species’ survival. This quest sends them on all-night monitoring missions in freezing tents, mad dashes across thawing rivers, and free-climbs up rotting trees to check nests for precious eggs. They use cutting-edge tracking technology and improvise ingenious traps. And all along, they must keep watch against a run-in with a bear or an Amur tiger. At the heart of Slaght’s story are the fish owls themselves: cunning hunters, devoted parents, singers of eerie duets, and survivors in a harsh and shrinking habitat. Through this rare glimpse into the everyday life of a field scientist and conservationist, Owls of the Eastern Ice testifies to the determination and creativity essential to scientific advancement and serves as a powerful reminder of the beauty, strength, and vulnerability of the natural world.

29. A Whale of the Wild

by: Rosanne Parry
Release date: Sep 01, 2020
Number of Pages: 336
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“A spellbinding, heart-stopping adventure.” —Booklist (starred review) “A dreamily written, slyly educational, rousing maritime adventure.” —New York Times Book Review In the stand-alone companion to the New York Times–bestselling A Wolf Called Wander, a young orca whale must lead her brother on a tumultuous journey to be reunited with their pod. This gorgeously illustrated animal adventure novel explores family bonds, survival, global warming, and a changing seascape. Includes information about orcas and their habitats. For Vega and her family, salmon is life. And Vega is learning to be a salmon finder, preparing for the day when she will be her family’s matriarch. But then she and her brother Deneb are separated from their pod when a devastating earthquake and tsunami render the seascape unrecognizable. Vega must use every skill she has to lead her brother back to their family. The young orcas face a shark attack, hunger, the deep ocean, and polluted waters on their journey. Will Vega become the leader she’s destined to be? A Whale of the Wild weaves a heart-stopping tale of survival with impeccable research on a delicate ecosystem and threats to marine life. New York Times-bestselling author Rosanne Parry’s fluid writing and Lindsay Moore’s stunning artwork bring the Salish Sea and its inhabitants to vivid life. An excellent read-aloud and read-alone, this companion to A Wolf Called Wander will captivate fans of The One and Only Ivan and Pax. Includes black-and-white illustrations throughout, a map, and extensive backmatter about orcas and their habitats.

Last updated on October 17, 2021