On this page: General Resources | Pollution | Biographies
general resources
📖 No Monkeys, No Chocolate by Melissa Stewart and Allen Young. This simple picture book nicely illustrates the interconnectedness of living things. No Monkeys, No Chocolate explains how the cocoa tree of the tropical rainforest relies on the activities of maggots, fungi, lizards, and, yes, monkeys. – Elementary
📖 Can We Save the Tiger? by Martin Jenkins. This nicely illustrated book discusses the endangered tiger, as well as a host of other endangered and extinct species. "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." – Elementary
▶️ Why is biodiversity so important? from TED-Ed. "Our planet’s diverse, thriving ecosystems may seem like permanent fixtures, but they’re actually vulnerable to collapse. Jungles can become deserts, and reefs can become lifeless rocks. What makes one ecosystem strong and another weak in the face of change? Kim Preshoff details why the answer, to a large extent, is biodiversity." – All
▶️ Invasive species from TED-Ed. “Massive vines that blanket the southern United States, climbing high as they uproot trees and swallow buildings. A ravenous snake that is capable of devouring an alligator. Rabbit populations that eat themselves into starvation. These aren’t horror movie concepts; they’re real stories. But how could such situations exist in nature?” – All
▶️ Attack of the killer algae from TED-Ed. “As benign as it may look up close, the tiny seaweed Caulerpa taxifolia can wreak quite a bit of havoc on coastal ecosystems. This super algae is very adaptable; it also grows fast and spreads easily. Eric Noel Muñoz gives the details of this plant’s incredible invasion, shedding light on the risks of introducing invasive species into new ecosystems.” – All
▶️ Feedback loops: How nature gets its rhythms from TED-Ed. “While feedback loops are a bummer at band practice, they are essential in nature. What does nature’s feedback look like, and how does it build the resilience of our world? Anje-Margriet Neutel describes some common positive and negative feedback loops, examining how an ecosystem’s many loops come together to make its ‘trademark sound.’” – All
pollution
📖 River of Dreams: The Story of the Hudson River by Hudson Talbott. This fascinating book explores 400 years of US history through the lens of the Hudson River. The book's focus on recent clean-up efforts lands it on the Conservation page but it's also a great resource for a New York history study. – Elementary
📖 A River Ran Wild: An Environmental History by Lynne Cherry. Blending history and ecology, this book gives a brief history of the Nashua River in Massachusetts, from Pre-Columbian people who called the region home to the Industrial Era factories that dumped so much waste into the water that the river’s ecology was destroyed. The book ends on a positive note with a successful clean-up effort spearheaded by a Native American descendent of the first inhabitants. The full-page pictures are lovely and detailed. – Preschool • Elementary
📖 Plastic Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by Patricia Newman. Follow a team of research scientists on a three-week journey to explore the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The book includes many photographs, and the detailed text nicely illustrates the process of scientific research. – Middle
🔗 Content Connection: Geology. Learn about the movement of Earth’s oceans.
▶️ Ocean Confetti! from MinuteEarth. Introduction to microplastics and how they may impact ocean habitats. – All
Scientist biographies
📖 John Muir: America’s Naturalist by Thomas Locker. Atmospheric illustrations accompany Locker’s biography of the famous 19th century naturalist and conservationist, John Muir. The text is accompanied by quotes from Muir himself. – Elementary • Middle
📖 Stickeen: John Muir and the Brave Little Dog by John Muir; retold by Donnell Rubay. This is an exciting adventure story of naturalist John Muir and his little dog, Stickeen, whom he befriends while exploring Alaska. – Elementary
📖 Rachel Carson and Her Book That Changed the World by Laurie Lawlor. Despite its title, this picture book biography devotes little space to Silent Spring, the book that arguably launched the environmental movement in the United States. Amy Ehrlich’s Rachel: The Story of Rachel Carson similarly portrays Rachel Carson’s life, from her childhood through her early career and (briefly) the writing of Silent Spring. – Elementary
