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Children's Nonfiction Environmental Science & Ecosystems

What's Wild Outside Your Door?

Discovering Nature in the City

by (author) Peter Wohlleben

edited and translated by Jane Billinghurst

Publisher
Greystone Books Ltd
Initial publish date
Apr 2023
Category
Environmental Science & Ecosystems, General, Environmental Conservation & Protection
Recommended Age
8 to 12
Recommended Grade
3 to 7
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781771648950
    Publish Date
    Apr 2023
    List Price
    $24.95

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Hidden Life of Trees and Can You Hear the Trees Talking? comes a guide to finding nature in the city for kids 8-12.

Features STEM activities, fun facts, quizzes, photographs, and more.

 

You might think cities are the last place to find nature. But nature is actually right outside your door—you just need to know where to look. From the roofs of apartments to parking lots, cities are bursting with plants and animals.
In this fascinating and interactive guide, kids will learn about how birds build their nests on bridges, where salamanders and toads hide, and how plants push through sidewalk cracks. Alongside these awe-inspiring facts, Peter shares engaging, science-based activities, including how to:

  • Identify animal sounds
  • Raise a slime mold
  • Make your own compass
  • Collect plants to start your own herbarium
  • See shooting stars
  • And more

Peter also provides information on what animals thrive in cities and which could use our help, as well as tips for staying safe and having fun while embarking on a nature adventure. Perfect for outdoor education, What’s Wild Outside Your Door? equips kids in urban and suburban environments with the knowledge to engage with the natural world around them, and the confidence to go explore.

About the authors

Peter Wohlleben is the author of several books about the natural world, including The Hidden Life of Trees, The Inner Life of Animals, and The Heartbeat of Trees. His books for children include Can You Hear the Trees Talking?, Do You Know Where the Animals Live?, and Peter and the Tree Children. A longtime former forester, Wohlleben runs a forest academy in Germany that supports sustainable forest management and teaches adults and children about the many wonders of the forest.

 

Peter Wohlleben's profile page

Jane Billinghurst holds an M.A. in German and Philosophy from Oxford University and is the author of numerous nonfiction books, including Temptress: From the Original Bad Girls to Women on Top. She is also an editor and has been the director of Simon Fraser University's Summer Book Editing Workshop. She lives in Anacortes, Washington, where she can often be found tending her foxgloves and forget-me-nots or relaxing in a garden chair.

Jane Billinghurst's profile page

Awards

  • Long-listed, Green Earth Book Award

Editorial Reviews

“Wohlleben takes your readers in urban areas on a nature tour right outside their doors…stunning…an excellent choice."
—School Library Journal

"This friendly, interactive guide features activities of various difficulty levels and fascinating pieces of information intermingled with emotive, action-filled photographs of diverse people along with simple but adorable illustrations. . . The activities incorporate STEM concepts in fun, inexpensive ways. . . Ample education and enjoyment for readers who already love nature and much to spark interest for newcomers."
Kirkus Reviews

"Enlightening."
School Library Connection

Praise for Can You Hear the Trees Talking? by Peter Wohlleben

WINNER OF THE AAAS/SUBARU PRIZE FOR EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE BOOKS

"A forest's worth of appealing sidebars, pop-up quizzes with fascinating statistics, and colorful photographs add to a strong subtext: Forest preservation is not just important, but imperative. A tree-treatise treat."
—STARRED Kirkus Review

"[Can You Hear the Trees Talking?] is an outstanding introduction into the world of trees. Highly recommended for students of science, environment, and ecology."
School Library Journal STARRED Review

Praise for Do You Know Where the Animals Live? by Peter Wohlleben

"I absolutely love this book. Children of all ages-and adults too-will be fascinated and motivated to go out and explore the wonders of the animal kingdom in their area. Every family should have a copy and every school library one or more. In fact, Do You Know Where Animals Live? should be part of the curriculum."
—Jane Goodall

"Smart, fun, funny, and fact-packed, [Do You Know Where the Animals Live?] is an irresistible introduction to the endlessly enchanting lives of our fellow creatures."
—Sy Montgomery, author of The Soul of an Octopus

 

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