Jimmy Pappas's Blog - Posts Tagged "nature-books"
Life Above and Below the Snow
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner and illustrated by Silas Neal is a children's book that adults can enjoy about animal life above and below snow. A father takes his daughter out cross country skiing and the two of them spot things in nature or discuss the life underneath them.
A Positive: there is no mention of snowmobiles which are destructive of nature.
Another Positive: Snowshoeing is mentioned as well. That would be my preferred method to cause minimal damage.
A Third Positive: The fact that animals get eaten is noted. That should not be avoided with young children. Death is a reality. Nature is a good place to learn about it.
An Implied Positive: Snow is necessary for the survival of many creatures in nature. It protects them from the bitter cold. Climate change is affecting that. My salamanders are in great danger where I live because of the lack of snow cover to protect them from freezing.
Some interesting facts:
1. The "secret kingdom under the snow" is called by scientists the subnivean zone. It contains "a network of small open spaces and tunnels between the snowpack and the ground." It "leaves a layer of air just above the dirt and fallen leaves."
2. The booknotes explain the difference between voles, mice, and shrews.
3. A male bullfrog has a tympanum or "ear" that is twice the size of its eye. A female bullfrog has a tympanum that is the same size as its eye. Take children out and see if they can spot the difference.
4. Male and worker bees die in the autumn. Queen bumblebees hibernate in the soil or under a layer of leaves. They can "even produce their own antifreeze if temperatures drop too low." In the spring the queen will lay her eggs and start a new colony.
A Positive: there is no mention of snowmobiles which are destructive of nature.
Another Positive: Snowshoeing is mentioned as well. That would be my preferred method to cause minimal damage.
A Third Positive: The fact that animals get eaten is noted. That should not be avoided with young children. Death is a reality. Nature is a good place to learn about it.
An Implied Positive: Snow is necessary for the survival of many creatures in nature. It protects them from the bitter cold. Climate change is affecting that. My salamanders are in great danger where I live because of the lack of snow cover to protect them from freezing.
Some interesting facts:
1. The "secret kingdom under the snow" is called by scientists the subnivean zone. It contains "a network of small open spaces and tunnels between the snowpack and the ground." It "leaves a layer of air just above the dirt and fallen leaves."
2. The booknotes explain the difference between voles, mice, and shrews.
3. A male bullfrog has a tympanum or "ear" that is twice the size of its eye. A female bullfrog has a tympanum that is the same size as its eye. Take children out and see if they can spot the difference.
4. Male and worker bees die in the autumn. Queen bumblebees hibernate in the soil or under a layer of leaves. They can "even produce their own antifreeze if temperatures drop too low." In the spring the queen will lay her eggs and start a new colony.
