Review By JACQUELINE BODNAR

As a nature lover, exposing my children to and helping them to learn about the great outdoors is paramount to me. From discussing things that fly by to taking nature walks, creating an appreciation for the natural world is an important mission.

I was excited when How Things Work in the Yard came in the mail, and so was my daughter. The book offers tidbits of information about a variety of things you may find in the backyard. It tells you how those things “work.” As you read along, you learn a lot about each thing, and develop an even deeper appreciation for nature.

From dandelions to clouds and snails, wagons to fireflies, and a lot in between, this book offers an interesting look at your backyard. This is a great book for anyone who wants to help their child explore some of what nature, and our yards, have to offer.

A vegetarian or vegan family may want to know that there is a brief mention of a cheese ball, and of wagons being pulled by horses. But overall, this book makes a great addition to any child’s collection (and it’s one that even adults will find interesting)!

Ages 4-8.

Review By JENNIFER KALI

I absolutely love this book, and so does my daughter.  It’s told from the perspective of a firefly that is captured by a little girl.  The girl wants to keep the firefly in a jar by her bedside to serve as a nightlight so that she won’t be scared at night.  Her two moms have reservations about the idea, pointing out that the firefly would be happier outside living in its own home.  The little girl insists she can make the firefly happy, poking holes in the jar for air and filling the jar with grass and flowers.  But the firefly keeps trying to escape.  Finally, the firefly dims his light so that he won’t be useful for the little girl.  The moms point out that the firefly looks sad and insists the firefly be set free.  The little girl is sad but lets the firefly out into the summer night, and the firefly flies happily away.

My daughter received this book as a gift for her second birthday and wants to read it every night.  I think she loves the depiction of the two mom family, which is just like hers.  I love that too, but I also love the message.  Animals, even bugs, want to be free.  Telling the book from the firefly’s perspective allows us to feel the frantic urgency the firefly feels when trying to escape.  The firefly doesn’t want to be in the jar. A great books for lovers of animals (even bugs).

Ages 2-6.

Review By CAROLYN M. MULLIN

The storyline and imagery may seem to border on the chimerical, but what takes place in Amy’s Light is a summertime occasion that adults can recollect with the same childlike wonder, joy and fascination as the main character, Amy. Considering that fireflies live mere weeks (a fact I picked up in the book’s “Did you know?” section), it really is incredibly exciting to see these bioluminescent insects flicker their goods in the evening air.

Set to soothing rhyme, the narrative situates Amy as a young girl scared of the shadows on her bedroom wall. Light emanating from outside her window lures her to the yard, where she captures lightning bugs in a mason jar. Taking them to her room, the glowing insects help dispel her fear of the shadows. At this point, animal ethics come into play as captivity wanes the fireflies’ radiance and Amy…

…ran to the window
Jumping for joy,
took the lid off to see
Amy watched with delight
and the lights became brighter
as they flickered and flackered
now suddenly set free
and flew out of sight.

Overall, this is a whimsical, attractive picture book with a sound message that will inspire your kids to explore nature’s nocturnal gifts. Robert Nutt is not only the author, but also the artist and his picturesque, doctored photographs are simply gorgeous. See a flash video of Amy’s Light and discover other “Connecting Children with Nature” titles through Dawn Publications.

Ages 4-8.