Sometimes learning about the world around us means learning about people, cultures, and political boundaries. Other times it means learning about the Earth we are standing on or the breeze that is scattering the leaves on a crisp fall day. Covering rocks, weather, and green living, this season’s natural science series have a lot to offer curious readers. Nature’s destructive potential is explored alongside the alarming effects of its destruction, and the basics of Earth science give students solid ground to stand on as they explore their world.

Elementary

Andrews, E. C. Wet. ISBN 9781534547445.
Phillips-Bartlett, Rebecca. Stormy. ISBN 9781534547414.
ea vol: 24p. (Weather Watchers). Greenhaven/KidHaven. Jul. 2024. Tr. $28.88.
K-Gr 2–Step into the shoes of a weather person to explore the science of weather. Follow the illustrated meteorologist as they explain what is happening in photographs of weather events, like stormy forked lightning and flooding. The text is accessible for young readers, featuring short facts and interactive elements to keep them engaged. Empathy-building information about the specific weather conditions animals both need and enjoy is a feature. The tone lingers between curious and positive around often-frightening topics such as destruction or loud, scary noises. VERDICT A must-have visual introduction to topics around weather for public libraries looking to expand their collections.

Brazzos, Ernest. Food Webs and Food Chains. ISBN 9781641901598.
––––. Habitats and Biomes. ISBN 9781641901628.
––––. Life Cycles. ISBN 9781641901659.
––––. Living and Nonliving Things. ISBN 9781641901680.
––––. Understanding Animal Structures. ISBN 9781641901710.
––––. Understanding Plant Structures. ISBN 9781641901741.
ea vol: 32p. (Discover More: Exploring Life Science). Rosen/Britannica. Jul. 2024. Tr. $29.53.
Gr 2-4–Life science, a fun area of biology that explores what connects all living things, is an open door that readers can use to explore plants, animals, and their interconnected food webs. The photographs give color to exciting living things like hungry snakes and rooting plants. The value of nonliving things explored as well. Throughout each title, the reader is asked to use the “Consider This” feature to apply critical thinking and connect the pieces they have just read about. VERDICT Asking readers to become scientists in an organic way, these titles are a welcome addition to both school and public libraries looking to build up their biology collections.

Hansen, Amy S. Curious about Clean Energy. ISBN 9781645496953.
––––. Curious about Composting. ISBN 9781645496960.
––––. Curious about Recycling. ISBN 9781645496977.
––––. Curious about Saving Earth. ISBN 9781645496984.
––––. Curious about Saving Water. ISBN 9781645496991.
––––. Curious about Upcycling. ISBN 9781645497004.
ea vol: 24p. (Curious about Green Living). Amicus. Jul. 2024. Tr. $24.95.
Gr 1-3–Including everything from energy workers to kids recycling, these books allow readers to learn more about what greener living entails. Great respect is paid to the intelligence of young people as this series explores complex answers to questions about environmental topics. The realism of these titles makes them such an excellent choice for green-focused readers. While there are primarily photographs shown throughout, there are also illustrated sections that explain processes like decomposition in simple, visual terms. In addition to looking at big ideas like global warming, local topics are also covered, such as compost smell and the numbers on plastic bottles for recycling. VERDICT An informative exploration of eco-consciousness for young readers who are curious about global and local impact.

Harts, Marie. Air Masses and Weather Fronts. ISBN 9781641901239.
––––. Earth’s Atmosphere. ISBN 9781641901260.
––––. The Elements of Weather. ISBN 9781641901291.
––––. Forecasting the Weather. ISBN 9781641901321.
––––. Weather and Climate. ISBN 9781641901352.
––––. Weather Instruments. ISBN 9781641901383.
ea vol: 32p. (Discover More: A Look at Weather and Climate). Rosen/Britannica. Jul. 2024. Tr. $29.53.
Gr 2-4–For those who want to know why the sky is blue and where fog comes from, these titles offer a solid introduction to weather and climate science. Through photographs and meteorological illustrations, readers get a look both outside and inside of common weather phenomena. Scientific literacy is one of the highlights as the “Word Wise” feature goes a bit beyond bolded terms to explore core concepts in visual and textual context. The difficult task of informing without overwhelming young readers with climate anxiety is incredibly well done here. The topics are addressed and explored, but not the central discussions. VERDICT A balanced overview of both weather and climate that would be at home in school libraries.

Howell, Izzi. Earth’s Resources. ISBN 9781978539358.
––––. Mountains. ISBN 9781978539235.
––––. Pollution. ISBN 9781978539297.
––––. Volcanoes. ISBN 9781978539327.
ea vol: 32p. (Fact Planet). Enslow. Jul. 2024. Tr. $26.93.
Gr 2-4–Take a look under the hood of Earth science, from the mountains up high to the resources down below. Quick facts are central to the snappy text style, and a question feature in each chapter gives readers a chance to pause and reflect. The short text and illustrations give these titles some broader age appeal for scaled content. Photographs are sparingly used to show real images of things like volcanic eruptions and pollution; this limited use allows for them to have a greater impact by contrast. VERDICT Solid information and interactive features make this series useful for classrooms and libraries.

Longoria, Taron. Earth’s Minerals. ISBN 9781725351004.
––––. Igneous Rocks. ISBN 9781725351035.
––––. Metamorphic Rocks. ISBN 9781725351066.
––––. The Rock Cycle. ISBN 9781725351097.
––––. Sedimentary Rocks. ISBN 9781725351127.
––––. Weathering and Erosion. ISBN 9781725351158.
ea vol: 24p. (Scientific American Investigates Geology). Rosen. Jul. 2024. Tr. $26.27.
Gr 3-5–Stunning photographs of a variety of rocks splash across the page, enticing readers to ask how they were formed. Paragraph sections are broken up with annotated images full of quick facts and identification information. While the primary visual medium used throughout is photography, there are also occasional scientific charts used to explain aspects of formation. Interconnection of external factors, time, and even living creatures help to show not only how each rock is formed, but also how the smallest things can impact the cycle. VERDICT Great exploration of the rock cycle that would be at home in the hands of any geology enthusiasts.

Turner, Tracey. Bees and Other Bugs. ISBN 9781538396292.
––––. Clouds and Rain. ISBN 9781538396322.
––––. Humans and Other Animals. ISBN 9781538396353.
––––. Oceans and Seas. ISBN 9781538396384.
––––. Stars and the Moon. ISBN 9781538396414.
––––. Trees and Other Plants. ISBN 9781538396445.
ea vol: 32p. (I’m Glad There Are...). Rosen/Windmill. Jul. 2024. Tr. $28.93.
Gr 1-3–Leading with a feeling of appreciation, these books take a joyful look at what makes each subject, from the stars to bees, so nice to have in our world. For fans of the “What If There Were No” (Capstone) series, this is a lighter take on keystone species as well as various sorts of weather. Sentences are short and meaningful, with plenty of room to allow the illustrations to do their work. Blending the fantastic worlds of children’s picture books with the biodiversity of our world, the illustrations pull you into each page with a bit of STEM-tinged whimsy. VERDICT An excellent choice for school or public libraries.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Vale, Jenna. Earthquakes: The Worst in History. ISBN 9781482466614.
––––. Fires: The Worst in History. ISBN 9781482466645.
––––. Floods: The Worst in History. ISBN 9781482466676.
––––. Hurricanes: The Worst in History. ISBN 9781482466706.
––––. Tsunamis: The Worst in History. ISBN 9781482466737.
––––. Volcanic Eruptions: The Worst in History. ISBN 9781482466768.
ea vol: 32p. (World’s Worst Disasters). Gareth Stevens. Jul. 2024. Tr. $28.27.
Gr 5-8–Natural disasters happen all over, and some of the best-known ones from across the globe are in focus across these titles, which present information about the diverse causes and devastating casualties of disasters like floods, tsunamis, and fires. The complexities of nature and how our climate is changing is addressed in a considerate way. Context and connection to the human elements pull everything together in a respectful way that seeks to educate without exploiting tragedy. VERDICT A thoughtful addition for school and public libraries looking to add more depth to their climate science collections.

“I’m Glad There Are...” (Rosen/Windmill) leans into the wonder of nature, letting stunning photographs take center stage as the books guide readers through an appreciation of bees, trees, and the sky above. Incredible photographs are also the draw of “Scientific American Investigates Geology,” (Rosen), which focuses on the rock cycle. Young readers will be fascinated by the science behind familiar weather conditions in “Weather Watchers” (Greenhaven/KidHaven.)