Guest Author - Diana Pederson

While surfing the internet, I found the McDonald & Woodward Publishing Company located in Ohio, USA. I was pleased with the selection of books offered. The following books are currently available either directly from the publisher or from using the amazon.com links below.

Alphabetical Nature Books for Children

Lawrence Hohman is both a writer and an artist. He has created a set of 3 books using the alphabet. You’ll find a plant, a beast, or a bird original picture for each letter of the alphabet along with a very brief piece of information on that particular item.

These are fun books to share with your elementary students. They share information without having to mention evolution, something that is so hard to find in nature books today. I can give my wholehearted recommendation on purchasing these books for your elementary aged son or daughter.

Lawrence Hohman. Alphabetical Botanicals in color. M&W Publisher. 2006.

Lawrence Hohman. Alphabetical birds in Color. M&W Publisher. 2002.

Lawrence Hohman. Alphabetical Beasts in Color. M&W Publisher. 2004.

Here are writing samples from each of these wonderful books. I would have loved these books as an elementary student because they not only had accurate, quality pictures of the critter or plant discussed but they also give reliable information on the beast or plant.

I is for the horned Ibex seeking a fine meal he will, be careful not to stumble while climbing a rocky hill

N is for Nuthatch in among the pines, searching for seeds upon which he dines.

Q is Queen Anne’s Lace at sunrise from top to bottom has great merit, a flower that’s fit for royalty and a root known as the wild carrot.

Recommendation

Consider purchasing these books. As I stated earlier, the artwork is superbly detailed and the information presented is accurate. I also like the writing style of the author. Some children may even memorize some of these short poems. Perhaps the book will encourage your child to take a look at the natural world and develop the same awe of God’s wonderful creation just as it did for me as a child and continues to do as an older adult.

The Birch: A book for Adults

John L. Peyton. The Birch: Bright Tree of Life and Legend. MW Publishing Company. 1994.

Birch trees lined the highways as my family traveled north in Michigan for our annual vacations. I always loved their white bark and enjoyed finding pieces of bark lying on the forest floor.

Peyton brings together stories of how people around the world (northern hemisphere) have used birch trees. The bark has wrapped food, covered homes, and even protected babies from the cold. Unfortunately, native peoples did not learn to worship the true God, and occasionally, birch appears to have been worshipped as a god.

The stories are fascinating to me because of my interest in how native peoples used the environment to meet their needs. Facts about birches are also presented either by itself or as part of the many stories the author collected.

Recommendation

Is your child studying Indians or folklore in school this year? This book presents excellent information on a commonly used tree. It is well written and keeps your interest in learning how the story ends. Unfortunately, the lack of colored pictures may make it less appealing to today’s youth.

This book will give you an opportunity to discuss man’s innate need to worship something larger than himself with your child. After he or she learns about how the Indians treated trees (almost as gods), take time to discuss the difference between worshipping the creation rather than the Creator.