Sources: Bugs, Bogs, Bats, and Books: Sharing Nature with Children through Reading

Bugs, Bogs, Bats, and Books: Sharing Nature with Children through Reading. By Kathleen T. Isaacs. Chicago: Huron Street Press, 2014. 260 p. Paper $19.95 (ISBN: 978-1-937589-58-5).

Teacher and librarian Kathleen Isaacs offers a carefully compiled book on a timely topic. Seeking to help parents and caregivers combat "nature deficit" in their children, the author lists and describes books about nature that are appropriate for children from birth through age ten. Both fiction and nonfiction are included, and most of the titles were published in the last four years.

Each chapter begins with a helpful introduction to the topic. The chapters are further subdivided into more specific areas. For example, the chapter "More Animals" is divided into sections on sea creatures, birds, and mammals. Isaacs also includes a chapter on naturalists who later became children's authors and illustrators. The sections in this chapter begin with a brief biography of the naturalist followed by a thoughtful description of his or her individual style and focus.

Each annotation is about 150 words in length and provides a thorough sense of the title's tone and flavor. The beginning of each entry indicates the appropriate audience or suggested use for the book. Although most books are tagged as informational picture books, other suggestions for use include "early reader" and "bedtime story." The entry also indicates a suggested age range.

Interspersed throughout the book are easy and approachable science activities, such as planting an avocado pit, counting birds in the backyard, or taking a walk. For each of these activities, Isaacs mentions related real-life projects and provides links to relevant web sites.

For the layperson, perhaps the most helpful portion of the book is Chapter 2, "Choosing Good Nature Books." Indeed, the guidelines presented here are relevant to the selection of books on any topic: Using the child's interests to guide selection; choosing books written with clarity and enthusiasm as well as accuracy; and selecting books whose illustrations enhance the text and deepen one's understanding of the topic.

Librarians will find no surprises here: The titles discussed in this book will be familiar to most library staff. Bugs, Bogs, Bats, and Books will be most useful to parents hoping to find nature books for their children. As such, it would be helpful in the circulating collection or as an at-home reference.

Kathleen Isaacs is also the author of the well-received Picturing the World: Informational Picture Books for Children, published in 2013.—Gina Petrie, Children's Librarian, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, Charlotte, North Carolina