Allaby, Michael, Droughts (Weather Science), Facts on File, 2011. (Grades 6-8)

Technical, comprehensive entry in the Dangerous Weather series explores the mystery of rain and what happens when it does not come. Allaby first defines drought before discussing the reasons for and results of long periods without rain.

Armentrout, David, Biofuels, Rourke, 2010. (Grades 4-6)

Large photos accompany past and present examples of how different energy sources can fuel human activity.

Bial, Raymond, A Handful of Dirt, Walker and Co., 2000. (Grades 3-6)

Introduces dirt dwellers, from the tiniest protozoans through myriad invertebrates, to the mammals and reptiles whose burrows aerate the earth, all depicted in large, sharp, full-color photos. The author includes basic instructions for setting up a home compost heap.

Bramwell, Martyn, Food Watch: Protecting Our Planet, DK Children, 2001. (Grades 5-7)

Overview of fundamental issues surrounding global food conservation. The book covers basic production problems in both first-world and developing countries, focusing on the challenges of feeding an ever-increasing population with shrinking resources.

Brandenburg, Jim, An American Safari: Adventures on the North American Prairie, Walker Co., 1996. (Grades 4-7)

Mingling facts with personal reflections, Brandenburg acquaints readers with the American prairie. He introduces various types of prairies, the animals that live there, what threatens their habitat, and how it can be saved. The descriptions of bison and prairie dogs are quite informative, but young readers will probably find Brandenburg's encounter with a rattlesnake the most memorable part of the book. Excellent, full-color photographs appear on nearly every page, illustrating the text clearly and sometimes stealing the show. A good resource for children studying the prairie ecosystem.

Branley, Franklin M., Sunshine Makes the Seasons, Collins, 2005. (Grades 1-4)

An excellent resource for explaining the concept of seasons, using a pencil and orange and focusing on the sun-earth relationship.

Brendler, Carol, and Ard Hoyt, Winnie Finn, Worm Farmer, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2009. (Grades PreK-3)

Winnie Finn is passionate about earthworms, going so far as to take them for rides in her wagon. With the Quincy County Fair approaching, Winnie hopes to win a prize for best worms. Fertilizer from her farm helps Mr. Abernathy grow tall corn which is then used by Mrs. Yamasaki-O'Sheridan to feed her Plymouth Rock hens whose eggs are used by Mr. Peasley to make his Afghan puppies coats shine, causing all three to win first prize at the fair. Includes instructions for building your own worm farm.

Chambers, Catherine, Drought (Wild Weather), Heinemann, 2007. (Grades 4-6)

The series uses dramatic aspects and effects of weather to develop geographical skills such as vocabulary, using maps, primary and secondary sources of information. Emphasizes that weather extremes have the same causes as weather we experience every day and discusses how people defend their homes and adapt their lifestyles to cope.

Defoe, Daniel, Robinson Crusoe, Collector's Library, 2011. (Grades 3-6)

Story of a man marooned on an island for nearly 30 years. First-person account shows how his intelligence and education helped him survive for many years, and how he used technology he salvaged from the ship.

Desonie, Dana, Geosphere: The Land and Its Uses (Our Fragile Planet), Chelsea House, 2008. (Young Adult)

How people use the land, how they transform natural landscapes to human landscapes, and the environmental consequences of changing land use. Each of the six sections looks at how land area is used today and considers more environmentally sound ways to use areas like forests, work in agricultural areas, mine minerals, generate power, plan urban areas and dispose of waste.

Ditchfield, Christin, Water (True Books; Natural Resources), Children's, 2003. (Grades 4-6)

Examines the elements and forms of water and explains the water cycle from evaporation to precipitation. Interesting facts on how much water is required for simple tasks such as brushing teeth and flushing toilets. Simply written, informative and well-organized for research.

Ernst, Lisa Campbell, Round Like a Ball, Blue Apple, 2008. (Grades PreK-3)

A family responds to a series of clues to discover what is "round like a ball." The clues are placed in large letters on the left side of a double-paged spread, encircling progressively larger cutout circles. The cutout on each successive page offers a glimpse of the next article guessed. When the pages are flipped, a rainbow of cutout circles, large to small, is created on the previous page. After 12 guesses, the pages fold and out to a four-page spread revealing a beautiful likeness of our planet.

Farrell, Jeanette, Invisible Allies: Microbes That Shape Our Lives, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2005. (Young Adult)

Broad-ranging book on the beneficial roles of microbes. Considers benefical microbes in the production of bread, cheese and chocolate as well as their vital role in the gut, where they break down certain foods, kill harmful microbes and enable certain genes in the intestines to maximize digestion. Also explains the process by which microbes dispose of human waste in sewage treatment plants.

Fleming, Denise, Where Once There Was a Wood, Henry Holt, 2000. (Grades PreK-3)

Inspired by events in her own backyard, the author creates a poignant yet hopeful portrait of our disappearing natural environment. The last pages of the book teach children how to make a more "creature friendly" backyard, including information about what types of food, trees and flowers attract different kinds of animals. Where Once There Was a Wood also suggests projects families can do together.

Fridell, Ron, Protecting Earth's Water Supply (Saving Our Living Earth, Lerner Classroom, 2008. (Grades 4-6)

Gardner, Robert, Super Science Projects About Earth's Soil and Water (Rockin' Earth Science Experiments), Enslow, 2007. (Grades 3-5)

Each experiment is clearly explained in step-by-step instructions, illustrated with diagrams and formatted on uncluttered pages. Immediately following each experiment is a spread that further explains the scientific principles involved and notes examples of real world applications. Environmentally focused projects, such as a demonstration of how groundwater becomes polluted, offers great Earth Day ideas.

Gifford, Clive, Flooding and Drought (Looking at Landscapes), Evans Brothers, 2005. (Young Adult)

Informative and lively discussion of drought, showing how specific features of the Earth are formed, their causes and effects, patterns and processes, and our study and understanding of them. The series aims to inspire questions about different environments and landscapes and our relationships with some of the greatest forces of nature we experience on Earth.

Groundwater Foundation, Rainmakers: A Photographic Story of Center Pivots, Groundwater Foundation, 2005.

The regular pumping sound and motion of a center pivot irrigation system is the heartbeat of many successful farming operations. Flying over agriculture regions, many airline passengers look down on the circles of green. This book explains how center pivot irrigation contributes to the food on which we depend. This important story is presented through instructive photos which convey the history and complexity of center pivots and show how the technology has become an integral part of nourishing our world.

Hamilton, Virginia, Drylongso, Sandpiper, 1997. (Grades 4-6)

Lindy and her parents rescue a tall, "stick-fella" from a sudden dust storm. Named Drylongso for the periods of drought that "lasted so long, folks thought it was just ordinary. The adults cautiously accept his peculiar nature - his mysterious arrival, his unknown origins, his prophetic statements on growth and life. In contrast, Lindy bombards him with her curiousity. An afterword offers both a historical account of US drought cycles and cultural context for the central character.

Kerley, Barbara, A Cool Drink of Water, National Geographic Children's, 2006. (Grades 4-6)

International tour of water gathering around the world. A boy fills a jug from a drainpipe; women in burqua balance brass pots on their heads. A concluding section expands briefly on each image's location and story. A final essay provides statistics about water conservation. Excellent for cross-cultural discussions.

Kirkland, Jane, Take a City Nature Walk (Take a Walk Series), Stillwater, 2005. (Grades 4-6)

Promotes observation, discovery and wonder and provides activities, artwork and stories that explore the world of nature in human-built surroundings. Sidebars supply definitions and pronunciations of new words and concepts and details important plants of the urban landscape.

Lafarge, Oliver, The Mother Ditch, Sunstone, 1983.

The mother ditch, or acequia madre, is the main water line that is dug by hand and feeds many of the smaller acequias that cover the fertile land of Northern New Mexico. The acequias, water ditches, were used to irrigate the fields of crops for many farmers in the early days of settlement in New Mexico. A unique technology, the acequia, especially the mother ditch, had to be taken care of by everyone in the community that benefited from its generosity. A governing body was established to watch over the utilization and maintenance of the ditch. The acequia was truly one of the last vestiges of a life where people depended on each other for survival. The life of the community revolved around the acequia. Cooperation was essential to ensure everyone’s sustenance. (English and Spanish)

Lamadrid, Enrique R., Arrellano, Juan Estevan and Amy Cordova, Juan the Bear and the Water of Life: La Acequia de Juan del Oso, University of New Mexico, 2008. (Grades 4-6)

From the mountains of northern Spain to the Andes in South America, Spanish-speaking people have told ancient legends of Juan del Oso and his friends. In this children's tale, agriculturalist Juan Estevan Arellano and folklorist Enrique Lamadrid share a unique version of a celebrated story that has been told in northern New Mexico for centuries. (English and Spanish)

Lichtenheld, Tom, Cloudette, Holt, 2011. (Grades PreK-2)

Cloudette is just a small cloud, but she wants to make a brook babble, a waterfall fall and give some kids a day off from school. Her tale raises questions relevant to little children: "Is there anything good about being small?" "Will I ever be as good as the big kids?" "What do clouds do, anyway?"

Lindbo, David, SOIL! Get the Inside Scoop, American Society of Agronomy, 2008. (Grades 4-6)

Full-color book explores how soil is part of our life—the food we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink, the houses we live in, and more. Readers learn about different kinds of soil and meet the scientists who work with soil every day.

McKneally, Ranida, and Grace Lin, Our Seasons, Charlesbridge, 2007. (Grades K-5)

Haiku poetry accompanies season-related questions and answers about weather, the natural world and the human body.

Miller, Debra, Urban Sprawl (Current Controversies), Greenhaven, 2008. (Young Adult)

Nardi, James B., The World Beneath Our Feet: A Guide to Life in the Soil, Oxford, 2003. (Grades 4-6)

How soil is formed, symbiotic relationships between plants and lichens, algae, bacteria and fungi with an examination of more than 100 kinds of subterranean organisms. Also profiles soil, microbes, invertebrates and vertebrates. Entries describe the distinctive physical and behavioral characteristics or organisms, where they are found, their diets, feeding methods and roles in the ecosystem. Sidebars provide common names, scientific classification, ecological function and more.

Ostropowich, Melanie, Water Pollution (Water Science), Weigl, 2010. (Grades 4-6)

When a puddle dries up, where does all the water go? Format encourages reading and comprehension, introduces the topic through visual diagrams, hands-on experiments and fascinating biographies.

Peterson, Cris, Amazing Grazing, Boyd Mills, 2002. (Grades 3-5)

Using the stories of three Montana ranchers, the book's main focus is rangeland grazing, the love ranchers have for their land, and their efforts to preserve and enhance the environment.

Raum, Elizabeth, Potato Clocks and Solar Cars: Renewable and NonRewable Energy (Raintree Fusion: Physical Science), Raintree, 2007. (Grades 4-8)

Discusses topics such as fossil fuels, alternative energy sources and sustainable energy.

Rosinsky, Natalie M., Dirt: The Scoop on Soil, Picture Window, 2003. (Grades K-2)

Entertaining illustrations and clear, fact-filled text explore the amazing science of soil. Suggested activities/experiments and fun facts are included.

Sidman, Joyce, and Beckie Prange, Song of the Waterboatman and Other Pond Poems, Houghton-Mifflin, 2005. (Grades PreK-3)

Science facts combine with vivid poems about pond life through the seasons. Focusing on one pond creature or plant per spread, Sidman employs many poetic forms.

Silverstein, Alvin, and Virginia B. Silverstein, and Laura Silverstein Nunn, Symbiosis (Science Concepts, Second Series), 21st Century, 2007. (Young Adult)

Introduces key concepts of symbiosis by exploring their development, applications and relation to knowledge as a whole. Covers mutualism, commensalism and parasitism and gives numerous examples of these important partnerships. Further chapters consider the symbiotic relationships that humans have with animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms.

Stille, Darlene R., and Hossain and Farhana, Soil: Digging Into Earth's Vital Resource (Exploring Science: Earth Science Series), Compass Point, 2005. (Young Adult)

Provides an overview of the components of soil and how it is formed. In addition it also explains some of the different soil horizons or layers and different soil types.

Wallace, Marianne, America's Prairies and Grasslands: Guides to Plants and Animals, Fulcrum, 2001. (Grades 4-7)

Prickly Pear, needlegrass, deer mouse, roadrunner. Where can you find these fascinating plants and animals? In the vast ecosystem of North America's prairies and grasslands! In this guide you will learn about these huge, open areas and unique habitats. Find out how plants survive after wild prairie fires. Learn where to find water sources and when best to view the animals in these habitats. Identify the many different plants and animals in colorful illustrations. Each prairie or grassland region-Tallgrass Prairie, Mixed Grass Prairie, Shortgrass Prairie, Palouse Prairie, California Valley Grassland, and Semidesert Grassland-features full-color illustrations which helps you identify plants and animals. The "hard to find" sections point out unusual finds such as pocket gophers, vernal pools, and the living rock cactus. Maps, a list of common scientific names, and additional resources make America's Prairies and Grasslands a complete guide to North America's prairie habitats.