Audrey Sauble

Have you ever participated in an annual bird count? In 2021, I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count for the first time. (That is, I sat by the window and counted all the birds at my feeder for about 20 minutes. We had snow that day, so most of the birds were either at the feeder or hiding somewhere else.) That bird count happens in mid-February. Winter might seem like a dull time when most birds have left and only juncos or sparrows are left, huddled around a feeder, trying to survive the cold. If you start watching, though, you might find more than you would expect. Some birds even nest during late winter and early spring. (Great horned owl chicks hatch in January and February, for example). Plus, now that the weather is warming up, more birds are migrating back to begin their own nesting routines. Here are some of my favorite picture books about birds, along with some activity pages and other  resources. You can use this list to build a unit study on birds, or just turn the

It's time to take a look back at all of the new STEM/nature picture books we've read over the past year! Over the last few years, I’ve shared a lot of children's books as I discovered them. There are so many fabulous nature and science books for kids available now, that it feels impossible to keep up with them all. This year, however, I started more paying attention to new releases and decided it was finally time to make a list with some of the best STEM/nature picture books this year. Many of these books are from my picture-book favorite authors and illustrators, and some are new releases in well-known children’s series, so you may want to check out other books by these authors as well! And, since the books ended up fitting into a couple different themes, I've broken the list into sections.   (This list includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases. There is no additional cost to purchasers to use these links.) Life Cycl

Over the spring and summer, we find seeds sprouting all over our yard--ones we planted in the garden, maple seedlings from last fall's seeds, or hundreds (even thousands of weeds). So this week, I wanted to share some of the picture books about seeds and growing things that we've enjoyed reading. (This list includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases. There is no additional cost to purchasers to use these links.) Seeds can travel: The apple may not fall far from the tree, but some seeds know how to move! These nonfiction picture books are packed with information about the different ways that seeds can travel, from hitchhiking on a bear to floating across the sea. Plus, they’re fun read-alouds: Flip, Float, Fly: Seeds on the Move by JoAnn Early Macken, illustrated by Pam Paparone – this book takes a lyrical look at seeds and the ways move and grow. Who Will Plant a Tree? by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Tom Leonard – how

We don't always do routines & traditions very well, but I've been trying to start more traditions, especially around the holiday season.  One of my favorites is reading seasonal picture books. We haven't found a good routine for this year yet, but last year, instead of doing a standard Advent calendar, I found and wrapped 24 books for my kids. (Many of them were used; some of them I bought from authors I follow). And each night during December, my kids opened a new book. In a perfect world, they would have all been Christmas books, but--my kids like Minecraft and rocket ships too, so some of those might have snuck in as well.  Never fear, though! We ready plenty of other Christmas books that month, include a number pictures books with different adaptations of the classic poem "The Twelve Days of Christmas."  There are probably hundreds of adaptations available, but here's my list with twelve versions of "Twelve Days" that you should look for this

What makes a bee a bee?  It's not their color or the fact that they make honey (in fact, only a few bees can even make honey).  I've been reading up on bees for the last couple of years while working on this book--and they are amazing insects! We mostly think about honeybees or maybe bumblebees, but there are also carpenter bees, mason bees, sweat bees, mining bees, sunflower bees, and many others. My new book, A Bee or Not a Bee? ,   takes a look at some of these bees and compares them with bee mimics. It teaches kids about different traits that bees have, while introducing kids to insect identification and all kinds of fun science facts.  You can find more information about this book at www.kidlitandsteam.com/bees

Are you a gardener, a plant-lover, or even just a parent looking for something fun to read this spring? I’m all three, and I love to read books about plants, nature, and science to my kids. I’ve created lists in the past with some of our favorite books about seeds and growing things , as well as pollinators and plants . We’re always finding new favorites, though. I'm also working on a new book about bees, and since bees and flowers belong together, this seemed like a good time to revisit some of our favorite  picture books about flowers, plants, and gardening. (If you want to find out more about my book, you can get updates here .) (This list includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small fee from qualifying purchases. There is no additional cost to purchasers to use these links.) Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert – This classic is a bright, cheerful book about different types of flowers as they sprout and grow with all the colors of the rainbow. It’s a fun