Bookworms

One of my son’s favorite books is Fun with Nature by Northword Press.   It’s a take along guide that gives him detailed information regarding all sorts of bugs and critters.  In fact, it was he who knew right off the bat that the enormous green worm devouring our tomato plants was called a Tomato Hornworm.  I dared to doubt the veracity of his words – my son tends to know everything about everything – hence his nick name: Nickapedia – so he ran full tilt for the house, secured his book in hand, and raced back to correct me.  “See, Mom.”  He pointed to the perfectly illustrated picture of a worm on a tomato and said, “It’s right there.”

Looking over his shoulder, I replied, “Ah, so it is.”  Raising a brow in his direction, my skepticism was quickly replaced with admiration.   “I should have never doubted you.”

Pleased with himself, he agreed.  “That’s right.  I know my worms.”

Yes, he does.  And not only informative, this book is loaded with fun things to do, like make a toad house, build a rabbit refuge (preferably far from your garden – VERY far), devise a cricket thermometer, grow your own pine tree…  Why the list goes on, but you get the point.

For the wee ones, try Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert.  Not only delicious, it connects children with the vegetables they grow and the food they eat.  And let me assure you, the vegetables kids grow themselves taste WAY better than anything you can buy at the market.  They’ll plop it in their mouth direct from the vine if you let them!  But don’t.  Wash first.  Like I always tell the kids, you don’t know who’s been crawling over your veggies or WHAT they’ve been doing. 😉  Works every time!

Tomato soup and grilled cheese, anyone?

And speaking of kids, how about a little book on the birds and the bees?  The honey bees, of course!  Author Virginia Wright has written a wonderful book detailing everything a kid would want to know about honey bees–adults, too.  Buzzzzzzzz….What Honeybees Do gives a detailed look into the life of the honey bee with a host of photos to keep your child engaged.  But be forewarned:  first thing they’ll do is head outdoors and begin the search for these amazing creatures.  For more books and activity pages, visit her website.