Whale Fall by Melissa Stewart illustrated by Rob Dunlavey

 Ms. Stewart reveals how vital a whale's death is to a myriad of sea creatures. Enlarged inserts of the creatures support the text and help the reader comprehend. In the back Ms. Stewart provides more information about each of the creatures mentioned (scientific name, size, diet, predators, life span, & field note).  

A fascinating topic! This picture book will appeal to elementary students.

Pair with Life After Whale (Life After Whale presents more information about whale falls and has better illustrations.)

-Borrowed from the library.

Begin with a Bee by Liza Ketchum, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, and Phyliss Root illustrations by Claudia McGehee

 The life-cycle of a queen rusty-patched bumble bee is displayed in this book featuring scratchboard illustrations. The wonder of this bee points to an amazing Creator! Additional facts are included in the back. I did not know that native bees (like the rusty-patched bumble bee) are better pollinators than honey bees. Buzz pollination is also an interesting ability!

-Borrowed from the library.

Bloom Boom! by April Pulley Sayre

Stunning photographs of a variety of flowers and blooms!
With nouns and verbs, Ms. Sayre celebrates the miracle of blossoms! 
I shared this book with my sons to reinforce the importance and impact of strong verbs.
-Borrowed from the library.

Seeds, Bees, Butterflies, and More! by Carole Gerber illustrated by Eugene Yelchin

Poems for Two Voices
Fun poems for two different readers that offer insight about the life cycle of plants and other aspects of their development.
Perfect addition to units about plant life cycles.
-Borrowed via Inter-library Loan (My county does not own it.).

The Night Flower by Lara Hawthorne*

This book celebrates the saguaro cactus.
With rhyming text, the author reveals the necessity of this desert beauty and miracle.
My nine year old and I learned about some unique desert animals as we read this book.  The grasshopper mouse sort of freaked us out!
*Highly recommend.
Pair with Cactus Hotel by Brenda Guiberson  and Desert Giant by Barbara Bash.
-Borrowed from the library.

Badger's Perfect Garden by Marsha Diane Arnold illustrated by Ramona Kaulitzki*

A sweet, sweet book!
Another book that Sarah Mackenzie recommended on her "book of the week" feature. 
Badger has saved seeds from the previous growing season and carefully plants them in an organized garden.  Then the rains come . . . heavy downpours which wash away his seeds.  He bemoans to his friends how his hard work has been a waste. 
His friends are delighted to show him a surprise later that summer.
Strategies: connections, predicting
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library. 

Watersong by Tim McCanna illustrated by Richard Smythe

Readers follow a fox through a rainstorm.  He also meets a "Mrs. Fox" and a family life is brought into the world!
The entire story is told via onomatopoeia!
On the last page the author discusses habitats, watersheds, ecosystems and the water cycle.
This book was one of Sarah Mackenzie's book of the week from Read Aloud Revival.
-Borrowed from the library.

Plant the Tiny Seed by Christie Matheson*

Perfect book for spring and for seed units.
I think this is my favorite one by Ms. Matheson.
Once again Ms. Matheson involves the reader by telling them to press, count, wiggle fingers etc.  Before their eyes, a zinnia garden grows and reseeds itself!
*Highly recommend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Bean and Plant by Christine Back and Barrie Watts

My eight year old read through this book to help him research the life cycle of a bean.
This book had more text than the other ones he used.
-Borrowed from the library.

Learning About Life Cycles-The Life Cycle of a Bean by Ruth Thomson

My eight year old read this as he researched for a writing piece about the life cycle of a bean.
Well organized via the different stages and close up photographs made it easy to read and comprehend.
-Borrowed from the library.

Life Cycle of a Bean by Angela Royston

My eight year old used this book for research to write a report about the life cycle of a bean.
The book is divided up into the stages and amble photographs enhance comprehension.
Lots of text features .
-Borrowed from the library.

Tree of Life by Barbara Bash

The World of the African Baobab
This book reveals how the life cycle of the Baobab tree and how many creatures it supports the African Savannah.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Hidden Life of a Toad by Doug Wechsler**

My sons and I leisurely read this book with wonder as we witness the changes and development in toads via magnified photographs.
Each photograph and page is labeled which day of its development it is.
**Highly, highly recommend.

Plants Can't Sit Still by Rebecca E. Hirsch illustrated by Mia Posada

Ms. Hirsch begins with the seed and points out all the ways plants move throughout their life time.
I like how some of the verbs were in bold, green font.
The illustrations were beautiful cut paper collage with watercolor.
In the back, each of the plants featured were discussed in greater detail.  Glossary is also included.
Mrs. Hirsch researched extensively to write this book.  She mentions a website that has a time-lapse video of plants.
A necessary addition to plant units.
-Borrowed from the library.

Tree by Britta Teckentrup*

A Peek Through Picture Book
I liked Bee so much by Ms.Teckentrup that I wanted to read this one by her too.
The story begins with a tree in winter with an owl nestled inside it.  Gradually, the season changes and more creatures appear through the cut-aways.  The book ends with winter again.
The rhyming text will appeal to the younger crowd and beginning readers.
-Borrowed from the library.