Books with author Celia Godkin

Information Book of the Year Mr. Christie's Book Award nominee Shortlisted for 1989 Mr. Christie's Children's Book Award for illustration Children's Literature Roundtable of Canada 1990 Information Book of the Year "Although the text remains unchanged from the 1993 edition, larger page size and improved formatting make the story easier to share with groups... Libraries without the original book should definitely consider purchasing this one, and collections with an older copy may want to substitute this more readable version." -- School Library Journal With a new cover and newly designed interiors, Wolf Island is sure to be a howl! It's a vivid, full color portrait of nature, and the fragile balance of a natural ecosystem. Set on an island in Northern Ontario, the Wolf Island story, based on an actual event, is a moving chronicle of what happens when the highest link in a food chain is removed. A family of wolves leave their island environment. Although, at first, their absence is unnoticed, nature's delicately balanced ecosystem comes undone over a period of months, and the mice, rabbits, squirrels, and even owls fight for survival. Finally, the accidental return of the wolf family to their home restores the island habitat to health. Celia Godkin's dramatic, full-color illustrations will inspire readers of all ages. Her scientific portrait of an ecosystem and its component species will not be easily forgotten.

In 1995 - 96, gray wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park. To researchers' surprise, the wolves ended up positively impacting the entire ecosystem and landscape. Informational pages with further historical and scientific information complete this illustrated narrative. In 1995 - 96 twenty-three grey wolves were released in Yellowstone National Park where, due to over-hunting, there had been no wolves at all for almost seventy years. This reintroduction project was an overwhelming success. Over twenty years later we can still see the changes the grey wolves brought to Yellowstone National Park. Now that the elk graze higher ground, seedlings are growing tall, rivers are getting deeper as beavers return, and a lively pond ecosystem is developing. This true story offers an important lesson about the difference one creature can make in creating a healthy, thriving world. Acclaimed environmental author and illustrator Celia Godkin delivers an inspiring, feel-good environmental story that is the perfect follow up to her most recent nonfiction picture book, Skydiver: Saving the Fastest Bird in the World, a Bank Street Best Book that was also shortlisted for several awards. The Wolves Return features Godkin's evocative, full-spread pencil crayon and watercolour illustrations and is further enhanced by extensive information on the Yellowstone Wolf Project, including maps and statistics that will fascinate young animal lovers and inquisitive minds.

Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction Honour Book, 2007 Silver Birch Express shortlist, 2008 Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice 2007 finalist Canadian Science Writers' Association's Science in Society Journalism Award nominee, Youth Book category, 2007 It hasn't rained in the forest for many weeks. And in the sunny clearing, everything is dry and scorched. Then, late one afternoon, a hot wind begins to blow and storm clouds gather. But instead of rain, lightning fills the sky and strikes a tall tree beside the clearing. The lightning strike shoots down the tree and ignites the dry vegetation below. In no time, the forest is engulfed in flame. Soon there is nothing left but the charred ruins of the forest, devoid of life. But the story is not over. Slowly and gradually, life returns to the forest - from the seeds that blow in on the wind and germinate - to the small creatures that have survived in their burrows below the ground. It will take many years; but eventually the forest will return, filled with life once more.

Award-winning author/illustrator Celia Godkin once again turns to the subject of nature's remarkable ability to renew itself in this beautiful new book. A small island in the Pacific exists in perfect harmony, where all the plants, animals and people are interdependent. But the islanders live with the knowledge that their mountain god sometimes grumbles and threatens to awake. When that happens, the people offer up prayers and garlands of flowers to coax the giant back to sleep. There comes a day, however, when the god will not be appeased. Smoke rises out of the mountain's crater, and ash and cinders begin to fall on the village. The chief tells his people it is time to leave. And days later, when the people have barely landed on another island, the volcano explodes. Soon there is nothing left of the old island but a smoking ruin devoid of all life. But the story is not over. Slowly, gradually, the island begins to support the stirrings of life once more. And with the return to its lush, former glory comes the hope that the island will be home once more to a sleepy village and its gentle, smiling people. Written with the grace and dignity of a native storyteller's voice, When the Giant Stirred demonstrates how even one of the world's most cataclysmic events can be an integral part of nature's cycle. Celia Godkin takes her artwork into a new, exciting level with oils that are saturated with color. Her depiction of a primitive people and their jewel-like paradise is reminiscent of the great post-impressionist Gauguin. This information storybook is a must-have for schools, libraries and homes everywhere.

Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction Honour Book, 2007 Silver Birch Express shortlist, 2008 Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice 2007 finalist Canadian Science Writers' Association's Science in Society Journalism Award nominee, Youth Book category, 2007 It hasn't rained in the forest for many weeks. And in the sunny clearing, everything is dry and scorched. Then, late one afternoon, a hot wind begins to blow and storm clouds gather. But instead of rain, lightning fills the sky and strikes a tall tree beside the clearing. The lightning strike shoots down the tree and ignites the dry vegetation below. In no time, the forest is engulfed in flame. Soon there is nothing left but the charred ruins of the forest, devoid of life. But the story is not over. Slowly and gradually, life returns to the forest - from the seeds that blow in on the wind and germinate, to the small creatures that have survived in their burrows below the ground. It will take many years; but eventually the forest will return, filled with life once more.

For our 40th anniversary Fitzhenry & Whiteside is issuing a newly designed edition of this classic bestseller! Information Book of the Year Mr. Christie's Book Award nominee Shortlisted for 1989 Mr. Christie's Children's Book Award for illustration Children's Literature Roundtable of Canada 1990 Information Book of the Year With a new cover and newly designed interiors, Wolf Island is sure to be a howl! It's a vivid, full colour portrait of nature, and the fragile balance of a natural ecosystem. Set on an island in Northern Ontario, the Wolf Island story, based on an actual event, is a moving chronicle of what happens when the highest link in a food chain is removed. The resultant population growth, food shortage, and starvation affect every member of the chain. A family of wolves leave their island environment. Although, at first, their absence is unnoticed, nature's delicately balanced ecosystem comes undone over a period of months, and the mice, rabbits, squirrels, and even owls fight for survival. Finally, the accidental return of the wolf family to their home restores the island habitat to health. Celia Godkin's dramatic, full colour illustrations will inspire readers of all ages. Her scientific portrait of an ecosystem and its component species will not be easily forgotten.

The story of a peregrine falcon and its mate's struggle to raise their young is told against the backdrop of scientists' efforts to understand the raptors' decline in the wild. After a devastating effect on the bird's lifecycle is linked to the pesticide DDT, the world's fastest bird must depend on humans to recover and thrive once more. High in the sky, a peregrine falcon joins her mate for some swooping and diving before returning to her nest to guard her eggs. The couple doesn't know it yet, but they will lose most of these eggs - the first clutch to a volunteer scaling the cliff, and the next to the harmful effects of DDT. Told against the backdrop of scientists' efforts to understand the raptors' decline in the wild, this illustrated non-fiction book tells the story of several generations of falcons as they're taken to a sanctuary, reintegrated into the wild, and ultimately relocated to the ledge of a city skyscraper. With dynamic oil illustrations, author and wildlife artist Celia Godkin effortlessly captures the detail of the falcons and brings to life the different landscapes they inhabit. Skydiver will delight and inform readers with a passion for species preservation, as it documents the struggles and the eventual success of the efforts to save the fastest bird in the world.

On Resource Link's "Best of 2008" List Along Florida's coast, people board up their homes and the animals head inland. A hurricane is bearing down on the coast. When it reaches land, howling winds uproots trees and homes with equal ease. A storm surge devastates the town. Then, after the eerie quiet of the hurricane's eye, the winds howl again, toppling structures that had survived the first onslaught and washing away the remains. Even as the last of the storm dies down, the process of renewal gradually begins. In the face of a massive disaster, the people, the animals, and the land itself will always find a way to survive and triumph once more. Award-winning author/illustrator Celia Godkin is known for her children's books that explore nature's remarkable ability to renew itself. In this stunning new book, she has chosen the Florida coast to show that even a hurricane's most destructive force is an integral part of a thriving ecosystem.

Award-winning author/illustrator Celia Godkin explores the world of the sea otter and its integral relationship to the kelp forest in this beautiful information picture book. Starting with a single act of human intervention, the consequences of an imbalanced ecosystem are described, step-by-step. Godkin's text never preaches as she goes beyond an environmental disaster to show what happens when nature is left to heal itself. Coupled with her warm and accessible illustrations, Sea Otter Inlet is both a lesson in ecology and an inspiring story of survival.

There once was a garden alive with flowers, fruits, and vegetables. While gardener was pleased with the plants, he wasn't so sure about all the insects that called the garden home. He liked the bright red ladybugs, and he knew that the bees and the butterflies pollinated the flowers, but some of the bugs were nothing but trouble. One day the gardener thought, If I get rid of the bad insects, my garden will be perfect - and he sprayed all the plants with bug killer. But the results were far from perfection! As his beautiful garden came close to ruin, the gardener began to see that the plants and insects were linked; that they depended on one another to survive. But how could he undo the damage? Accompanied by vibrant, beautifully detailed illustrations, this simple story of one garden introduces young children to the important concept of the balance of nature. Youngsters will be both reassured and enlightened when they find out how everybody's favourite insect- the ladybug- saves the day. Originally published as Ladybug Garden.