Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop The Barefoot Book of Earth Tales retold by Dawn Casey, illustrated by Anne Wilson (fiction)Ĭloud Tea Monkeys by Mal Peet & Elspeth Graham, illustrated by Juan Wijngaard (fiction) Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia by Sy Montgomery, photographs by Nic Bishop

Feel free to suggest books in the comments- I am especially interested in reading, supporting, and promoting authors and illustrators of color! Happy reading, fellow primates and bookworms! The books are in no particular order, and the list is definitely biased toward books about primates…sorry, not sorry! I will add to the list as I continue to read. Here is a list of children’s books about human relationships with animals and/or nature that I have read and enjoyed. In fact, I believe it is important to address these issues early and often to raise compassionate citizens of our planet… How do we think about nature? What can animals teach us? How can we interact with them in a way that is fulfilling for everyone? What are we doing to threaten animal lives and habitats, and what can we do to change that? These topics are not too advanced for children. I enjoy the books myself, but I also love sharing my favorites and using the stories as opportunities to discuss what I am most passionate about: the human-animal connection. I buy and borrow and read children’s books even though I don’t have kids (yet) and even when I’m not teaching other people’s kids. The publisher provided me with a copy of this book to review.I love children’s literature.

I highly recommend it for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 8 to 12. This sweet story delves into issues of friendship, courage to follow your heart, and the plight of Thailand’s elephants. Pohn-Pohn’s abusive owners have evil intentions, but they are mostly inept and can’t seem to overcome the forces of good Tua has on her side. Tua names her elephant Pohn-Pohn, and she feels she can communicate with her. Tua and the Elephant is the delightful story of a little girl who bonds with an elephant and sets her mind to help her. But how can she steal an elephant, and what will she do with the elephant once she has her?

She weaves her way among the market stalls while her mother is at work, getting attention from vendors her know her as their little “peanut.” But when Tua sees an elephant being mistreated, she knows she must save her from the cruel men who own her. Everyone in Tua’s little village in Thailand loves her.

Tua and the Elephant by R.P. Harris