Book Category: Natural Cycles

  • Worm Makes a Sandwich
    Fiction

    Brianne Farley
    A very humorous introduction to composting for preschool to younger elementary school kids! Worm keeps telling us he’ll make us a sandwich but it looks like he’s only playing with garbage. Finally, a tomato grows in the dirt enhanced with compost and the issue is nicely resolved. Who wouldn’t want to help worm out with some lovely food scraps!
    Ages: 3-7
    ISBN 13: 978-0593697801

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     composting
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Watching and Waiting: What Hatches from Nature’s Nurseries
    Non-Fiction

    Sara Levine (A veterinarian and an Assistant Professor of Biology)
    This is a compelling look at eggs, egg cases, and galls in nature, gently encouraging kids to be curious and patient to discover the mystery of what grows inside.
    Ages: 4-9
    ISBN 13: Watching and Waiting: What Hatches from Nature’s Nurseries

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, Nature
    Keywords:     egg cases, eggs
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • A Terrible Place for a Nest
    Fiction

    Sara Levine, author; Erika Meza, illustrator
    Having lost their home, Juno and his mom find a new place to live alongside a mourning dove nest But when the birds lose their eggs in an accident, Juno has to determine if this really is a “terrible” place to live.
    Ages: 4-8
    ISBN 10: 1250861225
    ISBN 13: 978-1250861221

    Category(ies): Birds, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     bird nest
    Age Group:

  • I’m a Little Deer
    Fiction

    Francois Crozat
    Older book, but again, plenty of relatable information – A young deer describes his life with his mother, from his first wobbly steps through joining the herd to beginning to grow antlers
    Ages 1-8, grades 1-2
    ISBN-10: ‎ 0812064186
    ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0812064186

    Category(ies): Mammals, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     antlers, deer, fawn
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Go to Sleep, Groundhog!
    Fiction

    Judy Cox, author; Paul Meisel, illustrator
    Poor Groundhog just can’t sleep. He tosses. He turns. Finally, he gets out of bed and goes exploring. Outside his burrow he finds amazing sights he has never seen before: glowing jack-o’-lanterns, gobbling turkeys, and sparkling holiday lights. But shouldn’t Groundhog be in bed? With no sleep how will he be able to get up for his big day?
    Ages 4-8
    ISBN-10: ‎ 0823416453
    ISBN-13: ‎ 978-0823416455

    Category(ies): Mammals, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     mammal, natural cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall
    Fiction, Non-Fiction

    Written by: Lynn Brunelle
    Illustrated by: Jason Chin
    Published 2024, Neal Porter Books/Holiday House
    ISBN-13: 978-0823452286

    Death for one whale means life for an entire ecosystem of creatures. Take a deep dive into the fascinating science behind a single whale’s contribution to ocean life. 2025 Siebert Award Winner. Best for ages 4-8 years.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Mammals, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Log Life

    Written by: Amy Hevron
    Published by Beach Lane Books, February 20, 2024
    ISBN-13: 978-1665934985

    A deep dive into a nurse-log habitat. When one of  the oldest evergreen on the planet falls, it becomes food, a home, and more to an entire ecosystem. Best for ages 4-8 years.

    Category(ies): Forest/Trees, Natural Cycles, Plants
    Keywords:
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Bears: Polar Bears, Black Bears and Grizzly Bears
    Non-Fiction

    Deborah Hodge

    Introduces three North American bear species, including the habitat, lifecycle, diet, and many interesting facts. Ages 5-8

    ISBN-10: 1550743555

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Mammals, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • A Log’s Life
    Non-Fiction

    Wendy Pfeffer

    Explore the various functions of a fallen oak tree in the ecosystem. Ages 4-8

    ISBN-10: 1416934837

    Category(ies): Forest/Trees, Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles, Prairie
    Keywords:
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Secrets of Inland Waters
    Non-Fiction

    Amov, B. 1965. Little, Brown & Company.

    Category(ies): Fish, Habitats & Ecosystems, Insects & Inverts, Natural Cycles, Plants, Pond/Lake, Reptiles and Amphibians, Water Quailty
    Keywords:     aquatic life
    Age Group:

  • The Grandad Tree
    Fiction

    Cooke, T. 2000. Candlewick Press.

    Category(ies): Forest/Trees, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • McCrephy’s Field
    Fiction

    Myers, C. and Myers, L.B. 1991. Houghton Mifflin & Com.

    Category(ies): Environmental Issues, Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles, Natural Resources & Land Use, Plants, Prairie, Stewardship, Wildlife
    Keywords:     change over time
    Age Group:

  • River Food Chains
    Non-Fiction

    Lynch, E. 2004. Heinemann Library.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, River/Riparian
    Keywords:     food chains
    Age Group:

  • Freshwater Feeders: Studying food Webs in Freshwater
    Non-Fiction

    Hook, G. 2010. Rourke Publishing LLC.

    Category(ies): Fish, Habitats & Ecosystems, Insects & Inverts, Natural Cycles, Plants, Pond/Lake, Reptiles and Amphibians, River/Riparian, Wetlands
    Keywords:     food chains
    Age Group:

  • Chains, Webs and Pyramids: The Flow of Energy in Nature
    Non-Fiction

    Pringle, L.P. 1975. Harper Collins Publishers.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     food chains
    Age Group:

  • Lake and Pond Food Webs
    Non-Fiction

    Fleisher, P. 2013. Lerner Publishing Group.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles, Pond/Lake
    Keywords:     food chains
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • When Hunger Calls
    Fiction

    Kitchen, B. 1994. Candlewick Press.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     food chains
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Gobble It Up! A Fun Song About Eating!
    Fiction

    Arnosky, J. 2008. Scholastic, Inc.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, Wildlife
    Keywords:     eating
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • This is Your Life Cycle
    Fiction

    Miller, H.L. 2008. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, Wildlife
    Keywords:
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Animal Life Cycles: Growing
    Non-Fiction

    Kalman, B. 2006. Crabtree Publishing Company.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, Wildlife
    Keywords:     Life Cycles
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Clouds (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Series)
    Non-Fiction

    Rockwell, A. and F. Lessac. 2008. HarperCollins Publishers.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, Nature, Weather
    Keywords:     clouds
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Hungry Animals: My First Look at a Foodchain
    Fiction

    Hickman, P. 1997. Kids Can Press Ltd.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     food webs
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • The Drop in My Drink: The Story of Water on Our Planet
    Fiction

    Hooper, M. Viking Press.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • The Magic School Bus Wet All Over: A Book About The Water Cycle
    Fiction

    Relf, P. 1996. Scholastic Paperbacks.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • The Fall of Freddie the Leaf: A Story of Life for All Ages
    Fiction

    Buscagalia, L. 1982. SLACK, Inc.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, Plants, Seasons
    Keywords:     leaves/death
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • A Cool Drink of Water
    Non-Fiction

    Kerley, B. 2006. National Geographic Society.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, Stewardship, Water Quailty, Weather
    Keywords:     drinking water
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • A Drop Around the World
    Non-Fiction

    Mckinney, B. 1998. Dawn Publications.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, Water Quailty
    Keywords:     water issues
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Why Does It Rain?
    Non-Fiction

    Jango-Cohen, J. 2005. Lerner Publishing Group.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, Weather
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Raindrops
    Fiction

    Brimner, L.D. 1999. Scholastic Library Publishing.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles, Weather
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • The Tortilla Factory
    Non-Fiction

    Paulsen, G. and R. Paulsen. 1998. Voyager Books.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     corn
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Wolf Island
    Fiction

    Godkin, C. 2006. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Limited.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     food webs
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Snowflake: A Water Cycle Story
    Non-Fiction

    Waldman, N. 2003. Millbrook Press.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • The Incredible Water Show
    Fiction

    Fraiser, D. 2004. Harcourt.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Drip! Drop!: How Water Gets to Your Tap
    Non-Fiction

    Seuling, B. 2000. Holiday House, Inc.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • There Goes the Water: A Song About the Water Cycle
    Non-Fiction

    Salas, L.P., and S. De Giorgi. 2010. Picture Window Books.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Water: Up, Down, and All Around
    Non-Fiction

    Rosinsky, N.M. 2002. Capstone Press.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Magic School Bus Gets Eaten: A Book about Food Chains
    Non-Fiction

    Relf, P. 1996. Scholastic, Inc.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     food webs
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Freezing and Melting
    Non-Fiction

    Nelson, R. 2003. Lerner Publications.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • The Water Cycle
    Non-Fiction

    Nelson, R. 2002. Lerner Publishing Group.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • A Drop of Water
    Non-Fiction

    Morrison, G. 2006. Houghton Mifflin Company.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Pass the Energy, Please!
    Non-Fiction

    Mckinney, B.S. 2000. Dawn Publications.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     food webs
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Who Eats What?: Food Chains and Food Webs
    Non-Fiction

    Lauber, P. 1995. HarperCollins Publishers.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     food webs
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Water Cycle
    Non-Fiction

    Kalman, B. 2006. Crabtree Publishing Company.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • What Do You Do When Something Wants To Eat You?
    Non-Fiction

    Jenkins, S. 2001. Houghton Mifflin Company.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     food webs
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Water Cycle
    Non-Fiction

    Greenaway, T. 2000. Raintree Publishers.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • It Could Still Be Water
    Non-Fiction

    Fowler, A. 1993. Children’s Press.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • My Water Comes from the Mountains
    Non-Fiction

    Fourment, T. 2004. Roberts Rinehart Publishers.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • The Water Cycle
    Non-Fiction

    Curry, D.L. 1999. Capstone Press.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Energy Makes Things Happen (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)
    Non-Fiction

    Bradley, K. B.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     energy
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Water, Water Everywhere
    Non-Fiction

    Berger, M. 1995. Ideals Publications.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • The Water’s Journey
    Non-Fiction

    Schmid, E. 1990. North-South Books.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Water
    Fiction

    Asch, F. 2000.HMH Books for Young Readers

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Bat Loves the Night
    Fiction

    Davies, N. 2014. Candlewick.

    Category(ies): Mammals, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     Bats
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Farm Crops
    Non-Fiction

    Gillis, J.B. 2004. Compass Point Books

    Category(ies): Insects & Inverts, Natural Cycles, Plants
    Keywords:     Farming
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • In the Small, Small Pond
    Fiction

    Fleming, D. 1993. Henry Holt and Co.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles, Pond/Lake, Wildlife
    Keywords:     succession
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • River Story
    Fiction

    Hooper, M. 2001. Walker Books Ltd.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles, River/Riparian
    Keywords:     aquatic
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • What Are Wetlands?
    Non-Fiction

    Kalman, B. 2002. Crabtree Publishing Company.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles, Wetlands, Wildlife
    Keywords:     wetlands
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Water
    Non-Fiction

    Pluckrose, H. 2001. Gareth Stevens Audio.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     aquatic
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Water Everywhere
    Non-Fiction

    DK Publishing. 2007. DK Publishing, Inc.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     aquatic
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Wonder in Water
    Non-Fiction

    Swanson, D. 2005. Annick Press, Limited.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     aquatic
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Did a Dinosaur Drink This Water?
    Non-Fiction

    Wells, R.E. 2006. Albert Whitman & Company.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles, Ocean/Marine, Pond/Lake, Water Quailty
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Trout Are Made of Trees
    Non-Fiction

    Sayre, A.P. and K. Endle. 2008. Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles, Plants, Wildlife
    Keywords:     food cycle
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • The Gift of a Tree
    Fiction

    Tresselt, A. 1992. Lothrop, Lee & Shephard Books.

    Category(ies): Forest/Trees, Natural Cycles, Nature, Plants
    Keywords:     trees
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • How the Forest Grew
    Non-Fiction

    Jaspersohn, W. 1992. HarperTrophy.

    Category(ies): Forest/Trees, Natural Cycles, Plants, Seasons
    Keywords:     succession
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Egg to Bird (Cycles of Life)
    Non-Fiction

    Scarce, C.

    Category(ies): Birds, Natural Cycles, Wildlife
    Keywords:     birds
    Age Group: Pre K-2nd grade

  • Splish Splash Science, Grades 1-3: Learning about Water with Easy Fun-Filled Activities
    Non-Fiction

    Olien, R. 1999. Scholastic, Inc.

    Category(ies): Natural Cycles
    Keywords:     water cycle
    Age Group: Parents & educators, Pre K-2nd grade

  • Experimenting with Water
    Non-Fiction

    Gardner, R. 2004. Dover Publications.

    Category(ies): Habitats & Ecosystems, Natural Cycles
    Keywords:
    Age Group: Parents & educators