Books with author Annette Meredith

This delightful book lets us share the adventures of a pair of Eastern Bluebirds, Belle and Beau, as they raise a family in early spring in North Carolina. We see inside the nest box and are given insights into how birds raise their young, and then how the fledglings learn to fend for themselves after leaving the nest. This book provides an inside look at the lives of a family of birds and teaches children to respect all creatures and to see that in many ways they are not much different from us. Annette Meredith is the author and photographer of several children's nature books, including the series "Nature on Our Doorstep", which aims to inspire children to learn more about the natural world around us.

Called "flying jewels" by the early explorers, hummingbirds delight people of all ages with their antics, but many do not realize their important role in plant pollination or their usefulness in controlling insect pests like aphids and mosquitoes. Featuring stunning photographs taken by the author, "Helping the Hummingbirds" introduces children of elementary school age to the fascinating world of hummingbirds and teaches them how we can help these tiny, skilled aviators to flourish in our backyards. The print is large and the text accessible to competent elementary school readers; definitions of words that might be new are integrated into the text. There is a limited number of sentences on each page, so that children can enjoy the pictures and either read the book themselves, read it with help, or have the book read to them, depending on their age and reading ability. The main part of the book talks about the ruby-throated hummingbird, but there is a section near the back that briefly describes some of the hummingbirds found on the west coast and in southern states. Project ideas and a helpful and informative section at the end of the book are intended to engage the children and be a springboard for discussions on a number of interesting topics such as migration, the food chain, pollination and the principles of flight. This book is in the "Nature On Our Doorstep" series. “Nature On Our Doorstep” books are designed for children of elementary school age, but the real-life photos and attention to detail will make them attractive to people of all ages. Young children and their parents and grandparents will have fun learning about various aspects of nature in all its wonder and it is the author’s hope that they will be inspired to learn more about life in their back yard and to actively encourage it.

Bee populations worldwide have been declining and many people are not aware of the bees' importance in the ecosystem and how their disappearance would affect our food supply. In this book for children of elementary school age, the author brings the message of the bees with stunning, original photographs and simple text to explain what the bees do, how they are endangered, and how we can help them. The print is large and the text accessible to competent elementary school readers; definitions of words that might be new are integrated into the text. There is a limited number of sentences on each page, so that children can enjoy the pictures and either read the book themselves, with help, or have the book read to them, depending on their age and reading ability. A section for parents and teachers at the end of the book provides useful information on possible causes of declining bee numbers and steps that can be taken at an individual and local level. There are also ideas for projects and suggestions on which plants to grow to attract bees to your back yard. This book is part of the "Nature On Our Doorstep" series. “Nature On Our Doorstep” books are designed for children of elementary school age, but the real-life photos and attention to detail will make them attractive to people of all ages. Young children and their parents and grandparents will have fun learning about nature in all its wonder and it is the author’s hope that they will be inspired to learn more about life in their back yard and to actively encourage it.

This is the second edition, revised and updated January 2107. Featuring stunning photos taken by the author almost entirely in her own back yard, "Birds in Our Back Yard" is a beginner's guide to understanding and identifying the most widely distributed birds in North America. Intended for use by children at the higher end of elementary school, it also conveys a strong environmental message. Younger children will enjoy the photos and may be able to use them to identify birds commonly seen in back yards across the country. Children of any age will get a lot more from the book if shared with an adult, as there is plenty of opportunity for discussion. The importance of habitat, the food chain and protection of the environment are just some of the topics touched upon in this information-packed book. Unlike many birding books that overwhelm the reader with the sheer number of different birds, most of which are never seen, this book concentrates on the most common visitors to back yards across North America. Integrated into the book are text boxes with word definitions and fun facts to entertain and inform the children. This book is part of the "Nature on Our Doorstep" series, designed to inspire children to learn more about the world around us. There is also a study guide by the same author to accompany this book, with the title "Learning About Nature - Birds in Our Back Yard".

These five rhyming stories for kindergarten or first grade will delight young children and help them to master new words. "Busy Bee", "Hummingbird", "Butterfly", "Seasons" and "Little Seed" build on a child's reading vocabulary and each one also carries an environmental message. Young children will enjoy the rhymes and the visual cues will help them master each story more easily. The stories also teach children basic facts about the natural world. To assist parents and teachers, a list of core words can be found at the back of the book, followed by a list of the words in each of the respective stories. Children will soon learn the rhymes, and the stunning photos will encourage further discussion on a range of subjects. "Three First Readers", a very simple reading book by the same author for pre-school or kindergarten, introduces children to some of the words found in this book.

This is a first reader book for children in kindergarten that introduces children to some of the words found in the slightly more advanced book, "Five First Rhyming Readers". It will delight everyone with its enchanting photos of cats and kittens and simple, amusing text. There are three stories, "Kitten", Pudgy Wants to Sleep" and "Pudgy Goes for a Walk". Each one teaches children new words in a very simple way. Children will have picture clues and context to be able to tackle words which might challenge them and there is a list of all the words at the back of the book with their frequency in each story, so that teachers and parents can make up word cards in advance if they wish the children to be able to read through each story smoothly. This book leads on to "Five First Rhyming Readers", a collection of very simple rhyming stories for children in kindergarten or first grade that repeats words found in this book, as well as adding new ones and teaching children about nature.

These four delightful rhymes teach children about nature as they learn to read. Rhymes help young readers to work out new words and the lilting rhythm makes the stories easy to remember. The four rhymes are about birds, trees and nature in our back yards, The final fun rhyme has the animals scattering as they realize a coyote is nearby. This is Annette Meredith’s second rhyming book for early readers, following on from the successful “Five First Rhyming Readers”. She is also the author of the educational series of nature books for children and young adults, “Nature on Our Doorstep”. The books all aim to inspire children to learn more about nature and our environment.

Butterfly populations have suffered a serious and rapid decline over the last few decades. The monarch butterfly in particular is disappearing at an alarming rate and is becoming endangered in North America. Climate change and human activity have resulted in the loss of habitat for these creatures, but by learning about butterflies and their needs we can all act to help these amazing insects to survive. In this book for elementary school-aged children, the author uses stunning, original photographs and simple text to bring us the message of the butterflies by explaining their role in nature, how they are endangered, and how we can help them. Text boxes throughout the book provide word definitions and fun facts. Adults will enjoy sharing the book with children and even young children will learn a lot from the pictures. A section for parents and teachers at the end of the book includes ideas for discussion and projects, as well as a page listing plants that are easily grown and will attract butterflies. Children also have a page to record their own butterfly sightings and write about the butterflies they've seen. The strong emphasis on conservation and the environment will encourage readers to think about such topics as the food chain, the effect of pesticides and the protection of wildlife habitats. This book is part of the "Nature on Our Doorstep" series, designed to inspire children to learn about the world around us.

This enchanting book for children is more than just a celebration of flowers. Full of stunning, original photographs, this information-packed book is not only filled with images of flowers; it also takes a closer look at the life to be found in, on and around them. A section at the end of the book provides ideas for projects and a fun flower quiz. "Nature On Our Doorstep" books are designed for children of around eight to twelve years of age, but the photos, interesting facts and attention to detail make them attractive to all ages. Parents, grandparents and other adults will have as much fun learning about nature in all its wonder as the children. Each book in the series encourages readers to think about our environment and how we can all make a difference, even in as small an area as our own back yard.

“Growing a Green Thumb" is a book for would-be gardeners. It looks at simple ways we can create a garden, whether it’s growing something we can eat, flowers to admire, or native plants to attract wildlife. It's about enjoying fresh food, taking care of our environment, and gaining an understanding of the way all of nature interacts. Filled with beautiful photos, the book not only shows us how we can grow fruit, flowers and vegetables, but also how to help pollinators and attract birds to our back yards. This book is part of the "Nature on Our Doorstep" series, which aims to inspire children to learn more about the world around us.

This is the UK version of "Growing a Green Thumb", with English spellings and terminology and plants, birds and animals found in the UK. “Growing Green Fingers" is a book for would-be gardeners. It looks at simple ways we can create a garden, whether it’s growing something to eat, flowers to admire, or native plants to attract wildlife. It's about enjoying fresh food, taking care of our environment, and gaining an understanding of the way all of nature interacts. Filled with beautiful photos, the book not only shows us how we can grow fruit, flowers and vegetables, but also how to help insect pollinators and attract birds to our gardens. This book is part of the "Nature on Our Doorstep" series, which aims to inspire children to learn more about the world around us.