Books published by publisher Sierra Club Books For Children

A venerable saguaro cactus stands like a statue in the hot desert landscape, its armlike branches reaching fifty feet into the air. From a distance it appears to be completely still and solitary--but appearances can be deceptive. In fact, this giant tree of the desert is alive with activity. Its spiny trunk and branches are home to a surprising number of animals, and its flowers and fruit feed many desert dwellers. Gila woodpeckers and miniature elf owls make their homes inside the saguaro's trunk. Long-nosed bats and fluttering white doves drink the nectar from its showy white flowers. People also play a role in the saguaro's story: each year the Tohono O'odham Indians gather its sweet fruit in a centuries-old harvest ritual. In this first volume of Sierra Club Books' Tree Tales series, a simple, easy-to-read text and appealing drawings document the life cycle of this amazing cactus tree and the creatures it helps to support. Readers will come away with a better understanding of and a lasting respect for this accomodating giant of the desert.

Celebrating Earth's most precious resource, this handsome volume introduces not only the many forms and almost-magical properties of water, but also the vital role that water plays in the life of our planet. In vivid words and stunning color photographs, the book explores how water moves from the earth's surface to the air and back again; how pounding waves, rushing rivers, and slow-moving glaciers change the face of the earth; and why people of all nations must strive to conserve our planet's water supply and keep it free of pollution. A Reading Rainbow selection

"Dramatic watercolor illustrations . . . and an engaging text make this another outstanding nature title by the author of Desert Giant. Bash describes the life cycle of a tree that lives on the African savannah and the insects, birds, adn animals that rely on it for home, food, and survival. . . . The illustrations . . . are breathtaking." --Kirkus, pointer review "Complementing Bash's calligraphic text are stunning watercolor illustrations [in which] she beautifully portrays the sparse African landscape. . . . A subject rarely treated in picture book format, this will make a beautiful introduction to the African ecosystem." --Booklist, starred review

From Gisela Jernigan--Childrens Literature: "Although Pigeon Creek flows into Washington's beautiful Puget Sound, before it was adopted and cleaned up by Mr. Jackson's fifth grade class, it was so full of trash that you could barely see the water, let alone any fish. Just about everyone in Jackson Elementary, led by the dedicated fifth grade, helped to clean the creek and restock it with baby salmon. Throughout the project the kids learned a great deal about the ecology of the stream and the needs and life cycle of the Coho salmon. And even though many people told them the salmon would never return to Pigeon Creek, they were successful. The many colored photos and drawings enhance the lively text, which is informal, informational and inspiring. Orbis Pictus Award winner and a Horn Book Fanfare award."

"A fascinating look at the social, spiritual, and ecological significance of the banyan tree in the life of an Indian village. . . . A harmonius story, written out in calligraphy and warmly, colorfully illustrated." --Kirkus Reviews, pointer reviews "At once a work of inspired botanical lore and a portrait of the ageless rhythms of the subcontinent." --Smithsonian, Notable Book for Children "The exotic banyan tree teems with life through the day and night, and captivated readers are drawn into the wonderland." --American Bookseller, Pick of the Lists "Luminous." --Booklist

Outside her home in Michoacán, Mexico, grows eight-year-old Isabel's greatest treasure: an oyamel tree. Every autumn, a miracle happens-for Isabel's tree is the wintering place for thousands upon thousands of monarch butterflies that migrate from the north. When they flutter down to roost, they transform Isabel's tree into La casa de las mariposas-The House of Butterflies. But this wonder is in danger of disappearing forever. Isabel's family is poor, and it has been a cruel, dry year for Papa's meager crop of corn and beans. Soon, chopping down the tree to sell its wood may be the family's only hope for survival. What will happen to the butterflies then? Tony Johnston's poignant tale, as brief and luminous as the lives of the butterflies themselves, is all the more compelling because of the real-life dilemma it presents. Lush paintings by Susan Guevara radiate with the warmth and tenderness between Isabel and her family, and capture Mexican rural life in all its vibrant color and natural beauty.

Now in paperback! "The fluent play with words, humorous commentary, and fine pictures offer pleasing fare for reading aloud. . . ." -School Library Journal In verse that sings with lively cadences and rollicking rhymes, award-winning author and illustrator Ruth Heller has captured the spirit and antics of twelve of the Galápagos Islands' most unusual and fascinating creatures. Now available in paperback, this lavishly illustrated gallery showcases the giant tortoises for which the islands were named, as well as sea lions, both land and marine iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, and several kinds of sea birds, including the rare and exotic blue-footed boobies! While the poems and pictures are plenty of fun, they also convey a wealth of information about these creatures' habits and habitats, along with a lively sense of their presence. This one-of-a-kind volume is sure to enchant wildlife lovers of all ages. Ruth Heller is one of America's best-loved children's authors. Known for her nonfiction picture books with clever rhymes and colorful illustrations, she has more than thirty titles to her credit. Heller lives in San Francisco.

"A year in the life of the Little Brown Bat is beautifully depicted in both the text and the illustrations of this natural science picture book. Bash opens a world of shadows and night sounds to young readers, communicating in an unsensational way the creature's complexity and grace. Her watercolor illustrations are evocative and realistic, conveying mood as well as the motion of the small, swooping creature she describes." --Booklist "Beginning with the spring gathering of 'maternity colonies' in steeples, barn rafters and chimneys, readers learn about bat behavior, biology and the basics of echolocation. Luminous watercolors and lively information present the world's only flying mammals in a sympathetic, even endearing light." --Publishers Weekly "Bash's illustrative talents shine. . . . An excellent choice." --School Library Journal, starred review "An artist's eye is apparent in each dramatic spread. . . . Beautiful and informative." --Kirkus, pointer review

Deep in the rain forest of Costa Rica, a boy named Fernando lives with his family in the tin-roofed house that his father has built. He can pick bananas right off the tree outside his door, and go swimming or fishing in the cool river nearby. Like his father and grandfather before him, Fernando has come to treasure the wonders of the lush tropical land that his family calls home. But when he and his friend Camina look for her favorite climbing tree and find it cut down, Fernando learns that not everyone has respect for his beautiful forest. This gentle tale, presented in both English and Fernando's native Spanish, will awaken a strong sense of kinship in young readers. Like Fernando, they will feel a new appreciation for the beauty and bounty of the precious, delicately balanced environment that is the rain forest.

Rocks that look like castles against the sky, quiet, broken only by the trill of a canyon wren; the cool, clear night alight with millions of stars--all the wonders of the desert canyonlands come vividly alive as a mother and daughter set out on their first backpacking trip together. Evocative watercolor paintings and a lyrical first-person narrative capture the magic of the desert in this unforgettable adventure in discovery.