The EARTH Book by Todd Parr
Ages 4-8
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (March 17, 2010)
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Todd Parr has a way of getting positive messages across to kids without being preachy. And, his simple boldly colored drawings, literally jump off the page. The formula works well and this book is another winner in his catalogue of 30 or more books.

The message is easily understood and powerful; if I bring my own bags to the store I am showing my love for trees and making sure owls have a place to live. The book follows along with simple tips that any child can do and what the wonderful result will be. Every one of us can (and should) do all of these things.

My favorite was the gigantic pull-out poster of ten things we can all do, including putting our underwear in the freezer on hot days. Love Todd.

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Night Lights by Susan Gal
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (November 10, 2009)
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
All of the lights of the night feature brightly in this sweet, creative book. There is no plot line, but the series of illustrations of the lights such as flashlights and lightening would make for a great discussion for bedtime reading.

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The Backyard Birdsong Guide: Eastern and Central North America By Donald Kroodsma
A Cornell Lab of Ornithology Audio Field Guide A Guide to Listening By Donald Kroodsma
Chronicle Books - April, 2008
Ages: It’s for adults, but kids LOVE it
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I received this book as a birthday gift and I can not pry it out of my kindergartner’s hands. Although we have dozens of guides to flora and fauna in our area, this is the first book that plays each bird’s song or songs and helps us really identify what’s flying, nesting and feeding nearby. At night, when we can hear the birds, but not see them, we could tell for sure we had a female Great Horned Owl on the prowl. This book goes with us everywhere we travel now in our quest to know with who-o-o-m we’re sharing our piece of the planet. I can’t wait to share it with my girl scout troop!

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Life in the Boreal Forest by Brenda Z. Guiberson
Gennady Spirin (Illustrator)
Ages 9-12
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) (September 29, 2009)
Cautions: Survival of the fittest scenes

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Sometimes a book literally leaps from the shelf and into your hands and it insists on becoming a part of your home library. The cover alone speaks volumes about the gorgeous illustrations within this book about the Boreal Forest. This lively book is a cautionary tale about our responsibility to take care of our planet and all of its inhabitants.

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Truce by Jim Murphy
Scholastic Press (October 1, 2009)
Ages 9-12
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Kudos to Jim Murphy for telling a story that most people have never heard. On the front lines of World War I where lives are lost and soldiers are tested, Jim Murphy tells the true stories of soldiers from opposite sides exchanging kind words, gifts and human kindness. An impromptu truce between British and German soldiers enables the men to take a break from the cacophony and misery of war on Christmas Day. Defying orders not to fraternize with ‘the enemy,’ soldiers paused for a handshake and friendship and found that they had more in common than different. The book has archival photos to accompany the text which makes this fascinating story even more interesting.

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Reef by Scubazoo
DK ADULT - August 17, 2009

Kiwi Magazine Review:
I am absolutely wild about nature books and have a giant and ever-expanding collection. This one, is, without exception, the most beautiful photographic collection of the beauty of the ocean’s occupants. The whole family will enjoy looking at this collection. Warning: you will definitely see your children leaning toward careers in marine biology.

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The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum by Candace Fleming
Ray Fenwick (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Schwartz & Wade (September 8, 2009)Kiwi Magazine Review:
It’s an amazing story of courage, creativity and cunning which brought the Greatest Show on Earth to fruition. The history of PT Barnum and the circus will never cease to amaze.

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Open Me Up by DK Publishing 
Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: DK CHILDREN (September 21, 2009)
Cautions: Lots of body parts

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Once a DK Publishing book enters my home, it never leaves. The photography, text and illustrations are incredible and make all of my family members, regardless of age, want to cuddle up with a book about anatomy. That’s a most impressive feat. This book has accurate information about the body but also interjects humor and a dose of gross just to keep the readers interested.

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Mission to the Moon: (Book and DVD) by Alan Dyer
Simon & Schuster, 2009
Ages 9-12
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Description:
This wonderful book and DVD would make a great gift for the space explorer in your family. Every possible angle is covered in this 40th Anniversary celebration of the first lunar landing. I found that the adults were just as mesmerized as the kids while watching the DVD. An absolute must-have for all home libraries.

The Family Kitchen Garden: How to Plant, Grow, and Cook Together by Karen Liebreich, Jutta Wagner, Annette Wendland
Timber Press, Incorporated, April 2009
Ages: Whole Family
Cautions: None

Kiwi Magazine Review:
Parents and teachers, have we found the book for you! These three London-based authors were not kidding around when they invited school children from all over their city to participate in a growing project. This book is an excellent primer for gardening with kids and is long on useful information and growing plans, and doesn’t rely on tired pinecone critters to entertain. The book has gorgeous color photos, quotes from the children and seriously simple tips for getting started and sustaining a garden.