Books in Life in the Sea series

Featuring the photographs of Norbert Wu Award-winning photographer Norbert Wu and renowned science writer Leighton Taylor take us on an underwater adventure as we explore the earth's deepest and most mysterious places. Stunning images accompany texts that incorporate life science topics of life cycles, organisms and environments, food webs, adaptation, survival, and diversity. Each title also strengthens map-reading skills, geographical literacy, and basic concepts about the earth's structure and systems. Included in each volume are: Glossary Further Reading Index

A huge bear is wandering through the forest - but wait a minute! Who's that he's hugging? A beaver? And a moose? And a bird? And a tree?Welcome to the world of Big Bear Hug, a contemporary fable about a bear who has an appetite for hugging everything in sight - even creatures that bears have been known to eat. One day, the benevolent bear meets up with a human. This human proceeds to do something the bear cannot understand: he raises his axe and begins to cut down a tree. Suddenly the bear doesn't feel like hugging anymore and must make a difficult decision on how to stop this destruction in his forest.The environmental message of Big Bear Hug is both funny and powerful, while simple enough to engage very young children and show them the awesome power of a hug.

Best friends the bear, the moose and the beaver have been so busy getting ready for Christmas, they have forgotten the most important decoration of all - the Christmas tree! Rushing through the snowy forest, they reject one tree after another. And then they spot it. A pine tree that is just the right size, with soft needles and a wonderful scent - it's perfect! But just as the beaver is about to chop it down, the bear stops him. He can't allow this tree to be harmed, it is simply too beautiful! But the moose and the beaver disagree. Is there a way they can have a perfect Christmas - without chopping down the perfect tree? Part of the popular Life in the Wild picture book series from author-illustrator Nicholas Oldland, this funny romp is, at its heart, a contemporary fable championing the importance of family, friends and traditions while promoting the joys of nature, specifically, the wilder parts of the outdoors. Oldland's distinctive, simple and playful illustrations tell much of the tale on their own, with lots of visual humor in the lovable characters' facial expressions and their numerous asides throughout. The hilarious text and artwork make this book a terrific read-aloud. It would also work to launch a discussion about celebrations and traditions, or about problem-solving and compromising.

The busy but careless beaver spends his days following random impulses, rarely thinking things through and leaving in his wake a devastated forest filled with stumps, half-nibbled trees and injured, homeless animals. But then one day the beaver finds himself on the wrong side of a falling tree, which as it turns out, is just the thing to knock some sense into him. After reflecting on his behavior, he decides to make some changes. Soon, the now wiser and gentler beaver is getting down to the business of making things right, much to the delighted surprise of his forest friends. This charming story from the creator of Big Bear Hug and Making the Moose Out of Life gently teaches youngsters how to take care with others, as well as the world around us.