Written in 1941 and recently reprinted, this is a classic story about the love between animal mothers and their babies. Follows a little girl during a day on the farm. Includes award winning colour illustrations. Very appropriate for agriculture, language arts. Text beautifully written. A joy to read.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten
Grade 1 - Animals

Baby Animals Series (Print-Fiction). Please refer to the titles: Balega the Elephant, Khana the Tiger, Kylee the Otter, Laska the Polar Bear, and Simba the Gorilla.

Baby Bears and How They Grow (Print-Non-Fiction). Jane Heath Buxton. (Books for Young Explorers-Set XIII). National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. (NGS), 1986. 34 p. ISBN 0-87044-639-8 ($20.35 set, hdc.)

This book gives an excellent description of bears: how baby bears are raised, eating habits, other animals in its habitat, and seasonal cycle. Includes black, polar, brown and grizzly bears. Good photos. Well written text. A very useful research book. Available only as a set which also includes: Animals and their Hiding Places, Animals that Live in Trees, and Saving our Animal Friends.

Suggested Use:
Grade 3 - Animals

Baby Rabbits (Print-Non-Fiction). Christine Butterworth. (My World Series - Green Level). Macmillan Education, London, England (CMC), 1988. 16 p. ISBN 0-333-45206-2 ($4.36 pbk.)

Tells the story of a mother rabbit and her babies, from mating to leaving the nest. Talks about food, the nest, and dangers to the baby rabbits when they leave the nest. Simple text and pictures make this suitable for early readers. Companion book to Rabbit's Day. Includes index.

Suggested Use:
Grade 1 - Animals
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Animals

Balega the Elephant (Print-Fiction). Derek Hall and John Butler. (Baby Animals Series). Walker Books, London, England (UTP), 1989. 16 p. ISBN 0-7445-1308-1 ($3.95 pbk.)

Balega, the elephant and his mother are the focus of the story. They eat, then Balega gets in trouble investigating a hornet's nest. He and his mother take a bath and play in the river, then cover themselves with dust to keep away the insects. Provides lovely illustrations and an accurate portrayal of elephant habits in story form. Each animal in this series is an endangered species.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten
Grade 1 - Animals
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Animals

A Bamboo in the Wind (Print-Fiction). Hugh Lewin and Lisa Kopper. (Second Chance Series). Hamish Hamilton, London (PBC), 1989. 26 p. ISBN 0-241-12214-7 ($16.95 hdc.)

Takenaka, a Japanese boy, explains the use of bamboo and how it grows outside his home. He tells of the day a terrible storm came and knocked over his small dwelling. He pulled himself out of the debris by hanging onto a bamboo root. His family began to rebuild their home alongside the bamboo. Artistic watercolour illustrations. Thought provoking.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten
Grade 1 - Motion, Plants
Grade 2 - Weather
Grade 3 - Plant Structures and Adaptations

Bats (Print-Non-Fiction). Sylvia A. Johnson. (Lerner Natural Science Books). Lerner Publications, Minneapolis (GEA), 1985. 48 p. ISBN 0-8225-1461-3 ($20.50 hdc.)

A fascinating look at bats. Gives a lot of valuable information. Covers: flight, eating habits, echolocation, seasons, baby bats and their care, tropical bats, bats and people, and dangers to bats. Excellent photos. Grade four may need some assistance with text. Won New York Academy of Science Award. Includes glossary and index. Metric measures.

Suggested Use:
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 5 - Communities and Ecosystems
Grade 6 - Ecosystems; Plant and Animal Adapations

Bears and Berries (Print-Fiction). Trisha Gessler. (A Queen Charlotte Islands Reader). Wedge, British Columbia (PEP), 1983. 24 p. ISBN 0-88865-020-5 ($16.00 hdc.)

A charming introduction to the Haida understanding of animals. A little girl going berry-picking encounters a bear. Her mother tells a legend about bears. Lovely illustrations recreate village of Skedans as it was in 1878. A read-aloud book for younger grades. Relevant to social studies.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten
Grade 1 - Animals
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Animals

Beaver's Home (Print-Non-Fiction). Christine Butterworth. (My World Series - Green Level). Macmillan Education, London, England (CMC), 1988. 16 p. ISBN 0-333-45208-9 ($4.36 pbk.)

Follows a family of beavers through the seasons. Discusses mating, caring for babies, food sources, construction of the beaver lodge, and dangers to beavers. Large print and simple text make this suitable for young students. Good photos. Includes index.

Suggested Use:
Grade 1 - Animals
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Animals

Beekeeper (Videotape). (Harriet's Magic Hats I Series). ACCESS Network, Calgary (MGR), 1980. 14:26 min. Available for duplication, Order No. V02354. Teacher's guide available for series. (BB) Order No. 5892 ($4.95 pbk.)

To find out where honey comes from, and to prove to Ralph, the parrot, that bees are helpful insects seven year old Susan visits a beekeeper. Susan learns how beehives are set up, how the bees make honey, and how it is extracted from the hives. Series I is a bit dated, but could still be useful.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten
Grade 1 - Animals
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Animals

Bees and Their Hive (Print-Non-Fiction). Christine Butterworth. (My World Series - Green Level). Macmillan Education, London, England (CMC), 1988. 16 p. ISBN 0-333-45215-1 ($4.36 pbk.)

Bees and their ways are described in this book for early elementary grades. Discusses food sources, hive organization, and communication among bees. Shows beekeepers taking care of the hive. Good for agriculture studies. Provides large print, simple text, and good photos. Companion book to Inside a Beehive. Indexed.

Suggested Use:
Grade 1 - Animals
Grade 2 - Habitats; Foods
Grade 3 - Animals

Beluga Baby (Videotape). (Animals, Animals, Animals Series). National Film Board (MGR), 1978. 12:51 min. Available for duplication, Order No. V03409

The rarely witnessed birth of a beluga whale is captured on film at the Vancouver Aquarium. Shows the excitement before the event and the sadness experienced when the baby dies.

Suggested Use:
Grade 3 - Animals
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 5 - Communities and Ecosystems
Grade 6 - Ecosystems; Plant and Animal Adaptations

Big Bears and Little Bears (Print-Non-Fiction). Pierre Pfeffer. (Pocket Worlds Series). Moonlight Publishing, London, England (UTP), 1988. 37 p. ISBN 1-85103-033-6 ($7.95 hdc.)

Coloured illustrations and relatively simple text make this an interesting book for younger children. A map shows locations of bears throughout the world. Discusses eating habits, hibernation, and bear cubs. Touches on grizzlies, black bears, brown bears, moon bears, sun bears, pandas, sloth bears, and polar bears. Includes a balanced discussion about the connections between polar bears and Inuit peoples. Indexed.

Suggested Use:
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Animals

The Big Tree and the Little Tree (Print-Fiction). Margaret Augusta Tappage. Pemmican Publications, Winnipeg (PEM), 1986. 27 p. ISBN 0-919143-21-0 ($6.95 pbk.) ISBN 0-919143-23-7 ($16.00 big book.)

A story told by a Shuswap woman from British Columbia. A small tree struggles to grow larger so it can be as useful to animals as a nearby large mature tree. When the small tree grows up it treats the old tree well. Graceful black and white illustrations fill each page. A read-aloud story.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten
Grade 1 - Plants
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Plant Structures & Adaptations
Grade 4 - Plant Diversity

Bighorn (Videotape). (Animals, Animals, Animals Series). National Film Board (MGR), 1970. 10:22 min. Available for duplication, Order No. V03413

Without narration, this video offers spectacular footage of these timid mountain dwellers.

Suggested Use:
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 5 - Communities and Ecosystems
Grade 6 - Ecosystems; Plant and Animal Adaptations

Biology for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments That Really Work (Print-Non-Fiction). Janice Pratt Vancleave. (Wiley Science Editions Series). John Wiley, New York (WIL), 1990. 224 p. ISBN 0-471-50381-9 ($13.95 pbk.)

The experiments are simple and well diagramed and explained in this excellent book. There are three sections: "Plants," "Animals," and "Humans." Describes the purpose, materials needed, procedure, and expected results for each experiment. Includes table of contents, glossary and index. Metric measures.

Suggested Use:
Grade 4 - Cells and Systems; Nutrition and Digestion, Plant
Diversity, Senses
Grade 5 - Plant Structure and Function; Human Circulation and
Breathing

Bird (Print-Non-Fiction). David Burnie. (Eyewitness Books). Stoddart, Toronto (IRW), 1988. 64 p. ISBN 0-7737-2177-0 ($12.76 hdc.)

Colourful, very detailed full-sized photographs of birds, feathers, feet, skeletons, beaks, food pellets, nests, eggs, chicks hatching and chicks in the nest, make this book something special. Explains why birds have various features. Birds are from around the world. Originally published in London, England. Grade four may need some assistance with the text, but will learn much from the photos. Includes table of contents and index. Provides metric and imperial measures.

Suggested Use:
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 6 - Plant and Animal Adaptations

Birds (Videotape). (Take a Look Series). TVOntario (MGR), 1986. 9:35 min. Available for duplication, Order No. V03237. Teacher's guide for series available, (BB) Order No. 5987 ($3.30 pbk.)

Kate, a woman science writer who lives in the country, and Jeffrey, a city boy, look at birds. They examine the special shapes of birds' beaks, and find out how they are suited to diet. We see how to make two simple bird feeders.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten
Grade 3 - Animals
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates

Birds and How They Grow (Print-Non-Fiction Kit). (Wonders of Learning Kits). National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. (NGS), 1982. Order No. 04834. ($42.00 kit.)

Kit includes one seven minute audiocassette, thirty 15-fifteen page student's booklets entitled Birds and How They Grow, a teacher's guide and six activity sheets. The booklet can be used with or without the audiocassette provided. Touches on the characteristics of birds and describes features which enable them to fly. Shows birds hatching and at various stages of growth. Includes colour photos of the snow goose, little owl, robin, mallard duck, great egret, eastern bluebird, barn swallow and bluejay.

Suggested Use:
Grade 1 - Animals
Grade 2 - Habitats

Birds at My Feeder (Print-Non-Fiction). Bobbie Kalman. (The Glen Loates North American Wildlife Series). Crabtree Publishing, New York (CRA), 1987. ISBN 0-86505-167-4 ($15.96 hdc.) ISBN 0-86505-187-9 ($8.96 pbk.)

Well written text points out general characteristics of birds, and describes 14 different birds, some common to Saskatchewan. Covers feeding, nesting and migration. Full colour illustrations by Glen Loates. Includes sample sketching page. Useful for art classes. A glossary is provided.

Suggested Use:
Grade 1 - Animals
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Animals
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 6 - Plant and Animal Adaptations

Birds Can Fly, Why Can't I? (Videotape). (Look Up Series). TVOntario (MGR), 1989. 14:25 min. Available for duplication, Order No. V03442

A robot and an animated character, Imagination, teach children how birds fly and the forces of flight: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Related activities include tracing a bird's wing, examining bird feathers and a bird's skeleton, building bridges with straws and running with an umbrella.

Suggested Use:
Grade 5 - Machines and Work
Grade 6 - Plant and Animal Adaptations

The Birds of Chokecherry Hollow - Volume I (Videotape). Chokecherry Hollow Productions, Nipawin, Saskatchewan. (CHP), 1989. 25 min. No Order No. ($49.00 1/2" VHS)

Produced in Saskatchewan, this video has lovely photography of birds in a farmyard. The slow motion of hummingbirds is a real delight. Also features barn swallows, kestrels (sparrow hawks) cedar waxwings and many others. Their nesting habits, diet and feeding patterns, adaptation to weather conditions, and flight patterns are shown. Followed by Nesting Birds of Chokecherry Hollow - Volume II.

Suggested Use:
Grade 3 - Animals
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 6 - Plant and Animal Adaptations

Birds of North America (Print-Non-Fiction). Barbara A. McKean. (Hayes Book Series). Hayes Publishing, Burlington, Ontario (DHP), 1986. 32 p. ISBN 0-88625-116-8 ($4.95 pbk.)

Describes bird structure, feeding, adaptations, nesting, migration, winter birds, nocturnal birds, birds in cities, fields, forests, arctic, desert, ocean, shore, and endangered species. Each page illustrates several birds. Text is spaced out in short paragraphs. Very good examples of bird homes and feeders that children could easily make. Includes a glossary.

Suggested Use:
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Animals
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates

Birds of North America (Print-Non-Fiction). Chandler S. Robbins, et al. (A Golden Guide). Golden Press, New York (EBP), 1983. ISBN 0-307-63660-7 ($23.95 hdc.)

A classic field guide of North American birds. Describes habits, range, physical characteristics for over six hundred species. Includes illustrations of birds, and maps of their ranges. A teacher's resource for younger grades. Includes table of contents and index. Imperial measures.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten - Teacher's resource
Grade 1 - Teacher's resource for Animals
Grade 2 - Teacher's resource for Habitats
Grade 3 - Teacher's resource for Animals
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 5 - Communities and Ecosystems
Grade 6 - Ecosystems; Plant and Animal Adaptations

Birds of Prey (Print-Non-Fiction). Kate Petty. (First Sight Series). Gloucester Press, New York (FRK), 1987. 32 p. ISBN 0-531-17050-0 ($15.50 hdc.)

Birds of prey and their characteristics are introduced in this book. Shows the use of eyesight, talons, beaks, and wings. Discusses nesting, feeding, and birds of prey as nature's cleaners. Points out the reasons birds of prey are endangered species, ways they can be protected. Features spotter's guide chart. Clear colour illustrations and full page photos are visually appealing. Table of contents and index included. Provides metric and imperial measures.

Suggested Use:
Grade 3 - Animals
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 5 - Communities and Ecosystems

Birds of the Islands (Print-Non-Fiction). Dawn Adams. (A Queen Charlotte Islands Reader). Wedge, British Columbia (PEP), 1984. 23 p. ISBN 0-88865-027-2 ($16.00 hdc.)

Sixteen birds found in the Queen Charlotte Islands are pictured here in beautiful colour illustrations. Easy-to-read text accompanies the pictures relating lifestyles and habitats of these creatures.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten
Grade 1 - Animals
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Animals

The Birth and Death of Stars (Print-Non-Fiction). Isaac Asimov. (Isaac Asimov's Library of the Universe). Gareth Stevens, Milwaukee (SBC), 1989. 32 p. ISBN 1-55532-367-7 ($14.95 hdc.)

Considers how stars come into being, change, grow older, and eventually come to an end. Discusses our sun, giant stars, red giants, neutron stars, the death of Earth, and white dwarfs. Excellent photos and diagrams. Thought provoking. Includes table of contents, glossary and index. Metric and imperial measures.

Suggested Use:
Grade 3 - The Solar System
Grade 6 - Exploring Space

Birth of a Foal (Print-Non-Fiction). Hans-Heinrich Isenbart. (Carolrhoda Nature Watch Books). Carolrhoda Books, Minneapolis (GEA), 1983. 48 p. ISBN 0-87614-239-0 ($20.50 hdc.)

Clear pictures are a big attraction accompanying this description of a foal's birth. The text is well written. Explains the reproductive cycle and phases of fetal development. Photos show the mare in labour, foal being born, first few days of life, and herd instincts. Good for agriculture studies. Includes a glossary.

Suggested Use:
Grade 3 - Animals
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 6 - Growth and Development

Bison (Print-Non-Fiction). Laima Dingwall. (Nature's Children Series). Grolier, Toronto (GEA), 1986. 48 p. ISBN 0-7172-1925-9 ($14.95 hdc.)

Part of a nice series for Canadian elementary grades. Large print, well laid out pages and single photos per page make this book easy to follow. Covers physical structure, eating habits, adaptations to climate, group behaviour, mating, birth and growth, history of humans and bisons in North America. Includes table of contents, glossary and index. Metric and imperial measures.

Suggested Use:
Grade 3 - Animals
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 5 - Communities and Ecosystems

Boats (Videotape). (Take a Look Series). TVOntario (MGR), 1986. 9:35 min. Available for duplication, Order No. V03241. Teacher's guide for series available. (BB) Order No. 5987 ($3.30 pbk.)

Simple backyard experiments show why some objects float and some sink. We look at many different types of boats and see how to make a sailboat.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten
Grade 3 - Properties of Matter

The Body Symphony: The Inside Story of Your Whole Body (Videotape). (The Inside Story with Slim Goodbody Series). Agency for Instructional Technology, Bloomington, Aboriginala (MGR), 1981. 15 min. Available for duplication, Order No. V02130. Teacher's guide for series available, (BB) Order No. 5878 ($2.00 pbk.)

"Your body is incredible," Slim explains. "Billions of cells are working together all in harmony." With models, he shows cell structure and how cells are grouped into tissues, organs and organisms. Animation and film clips illustrate the never ending miracle of growth and change. Slim sings, "Be good to your body, and it's true: Your body will be good to you. Love yourself!"

Suggested Use:
Grade 4 - Cells and Systems
Special Education

A Book of Weather Clues (Print-Non-Fiction). Diane Kaiser. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, Toronto (FWH), 1986. 64 p. ISBN 0-88902-926-1 ($7.95 pbk.)

Points out clues for predicting weather found in: clouds, sun, moon and stars, wind, rainbows, animals, plants, households and personal indicators. Compiled from sayings of sailors, farmers, scientists and poets - test them and see whether they're true!

Suggested Use:
Grade 4 - Predicting Weather
Grade 6 - Earth's Climate

Books For World Explorers Series (Print-Non-Fiction). Please refer to the titles: Animal Architects, Exploring Your Solar System, and Fun with Physics.

Books for Young Explorers Series - Set XIII and XV (Print-Non-Fiction). Please refer to the titles: Animals and Their Hiding Places, Animals in Summer, Animals That Live in Trees, Baby Bears and How They Grow, Busy Beavers, and Saving Our Animal Friends.

Botanical Gardens (Software). R. Kimball, et al. Sunburst Communications, Pleasantville, New York (SUN), 1986. Includes 1 disk, backup, teacher's guide, 64K, Apple II family. Order No. 1477 ($87.00 5 1/4" disk.) Order No. 3519 ($87.00 3 1/2" disk.)

Very good for understanding plant growth. Students manipulate factors of heat, light, soil, and water. Program reacts to inputs in visuals and graph of plant growth. Canadian plants can be inputted by teacher. Develops critical thinking and problem solving skills. Manual includes lesson plans. Good for agriculture.

Suggested Use:
Grade 5 - Plant Structure and Function
Grade 6 - Plant and Animal Adaptations

Bread (Print-Non-Fiction). Dorothy Turner. (Food Series). Wayland, East Sussex, England (NEL), 1988. 32 p. ISBN 1-85210-252-7 ($16.50 hdc.)

Well illustrated with photos and diagrams this book covers: bread around the world, history of bread, flours, food value, making bakery and factory bread, beliefs about making bread. Activity includes recipes for wholemeal bread and chapatis. A good enrichment resource. Shows cultural differences very well. Ideal for agriculture and food production studies. Table of contents, glossary and index included. Metric measures.

Suggested Use:
Grade 2 - Foods
Grade 3 - Plant Structures and Adaptations

The Breath of Life: The Inside Story of Respiration (Videotape). (The Inside Story with Slim Goodbody Series). Agency for Instructional Technology, Bloomington, Aboriginala (MGR), 1981. 15 min. Available for duplication, Order No. V02124. Teacher's guide for series available, (BB) Order No. 5878 ($2.00 pbk.)

With giant models of the diaphragm and lungs, Slim Goodbody shows how breathing works. He traces the path oxygen takes from the air to the alveoli, capillaries, and body cells, and the path carbon dioxide takes back. Animation shows respiration and circulation at work together. Slim's hiccups remind him about coughing, and laughing and singing too. Close captioned.

Suggested Use:
Grade 5 - Human Circulation and Breathing
Special Education

Bubble-ology (Print-Non-Fiction). Jacqueline Barber. (LHS GEMS Series). Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California, Berkeley (EUR), 1986. 57 p. ($7.50 U.S. pbk.)

Outlines six activities dealing with bubble making. Students experiment, compare, predict. A creative set of activities emphasizing the higher thinking processes. Photos and drawings clarify how to carry out activities. Includes table of contents. Provides metric and imperial measures.

Suggested Use:
Grade 5 - Teacher's resource for Matter and Its Changes

Bubbles, Rainbows and Worms: Science Experiments for Pre-School Children (Print-Non-Fiction). Sam Ed Brown. Gryphon House, Mt. Rainier, Maryland (MON), 1981. 105 p. ISBN 0-87659-100-4 ($14.95 hdc.)

This book provides practical hands-on science activities to use children's natural drive to explore, question and manipulate, to clarify and understand the physical world. Covers: young children and science, materials to collect, air, animals, the environment, plants, the senses and water. Each activity notes what you are going to teach, materials, procedures, discussion. Includes table of contents.

Suggested Use:
Kindergarten to Grade 2 - Teacher's resource for several units

Bugs and Critters (Print-Non-Fiction). Brian Holley. (Hayes Book Series). Hayes Publishing, Burlington, Ontario (DHP), 1986. 32 p. ISBN 0-88625-118-4 ($4.95 pbk.)

A brief overview of insects and non-insects in their different habitats from field to forest, what happens to them in winter, reproduction, good and bad insects, insects in houses. Informative colour illustrations. Minor error which implies that insects are not animals could be used as a teaching point. Includes a glossary. Metric measures.

Suggested Use:
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 6 - Plant and Animal Adaptations

Busy Beavers (Print-Non-Fiction). Barbara Brownell. (Books for Young Explorers - Set XV). National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. (NGS), 1988. 34 p. ISBN 0-87044-745-9 ($20.95 set, hdc.)

A very informative book on beavers. Covers their life cycle and habitat in a comprehensive way. Provides photos and diagrams of beavers inside their lodges and beavers in winter. Teacher's section notes beavers were once an endangered species. Available only as a set which also includes these titles: Let's Explore a River, Animals at Play, and Animals in Summer.

Suggested Use:
Grade 2 - Habitats
Grade 3 - Animals
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates

Butterfly and Moth (Print-Non-Fiction). Paul Whalley. (Eyewitness Books). Stoddart, Toronto (IRW), 1988. 64 p. ISBN 0-7737-2182-7 ($12.76 hdc.)

Exquisitely detailed colour photos show the beauty of butterflies and moths to the fullest. Valuable information is presented about life cycles, eating habits, migration and hibernation, camouflage, endangered species and raising butterflies and moths. Grade four may need some assistance with text. Includes table of contents and index. Provides metric and imperial measures.

Suggested Use:
Grade 4 - Vertebrates and Invertebrates
Grade 6 - Plant and Animal Adaptations