CurriConnects Book List - Animals and Habitats
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Animals and Habitats
Journey to lands both near and far, exploring animals galore as you go. This collection of books teaches students about a wide variety of animals (owls, monkeys, ants, and more). The books also describe various habitats around the world. Travel through the outback of Australia; journey through the chilly Arctic; and learn about the animals and their habitats. Visit the savannah, the wetlands, the desert, and more. This collection could accompany a unit about animals, weather, habitats, landforms, or other topics. Some of these books would also connect well when teaching units (or classes) on character, friendship, coping strategies, and more. These books provide experience with both fiction and nonfiction informational texts. They often require students to draw inferences about the "facts." Allow students (or partners) to choose their own book. Challenge students to create presentations or small group projects to share their stories.
Preschool and Picture Books
I Say, You Say Animal Sounds - Tad Carpenter, (978-0316200738), Fiction
Interest level: K-1
Learn to hear and imitate sounds different animals make.
Maisy's World of Animals - Lucy Cousins, (978-0763669898), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-1
Travel with Maisy around the world to see animals in their natural habitats.
Who Lives Here? - Paula Croyle, (978-1449432317), Fiction
Interest level: K-1
Learn to identify animals by looking at pictures of them and their homes.
Who Lives Here? - Nicola Davies, (978-0763662639), Fiction
Interest level: K-2
Look at certain animal's homes and habits in this lift-the-flap book.
Who's Like Me? - Nicola Davies, (978-0763658021), Fiction
Interest level: K-2
What special qualities do certain animals have? Learn in this illustrated book which animals have wings, fins, feathers, beaks, skin.
Who's That? - Kingfisher Editors, (978-0753469712), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
See how different animals move and jump. Try some of their moves yourselves!
Over By the Harbour - Dwayne LaFitte, (978-01771173322), Fiction
Interest level: K-2
Learn about all the wonderful animals that live in the water near land.
The Octonauts Explore the Great Big Ocean - Meomi, (978-0007510610), Fiction
Interest level: K-2
A team of eight "Octonauts" explore ocean habitats (Octonaut series).
Panda's Earthquake Escape - Phyllis Perry, (978-1607180821), Fiction
Interest level: K-2, Lexile: 580
Based on true events, this fictionalized account of two pandas shows how they coped after losing their home to an earthquake.
Home Sweet Home - Roger Priddy, (978-0312516796), Fiction
Interest level: K-1
Follow an owl through the forest and the snow, over mountains and rivers, and see what animals live where.
Teeth, Tails, and Tentacles - Christopher Wormell, (978-0762421008), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2
Learn about animals and count up to 20 in this wonderfully illustrated book.
Early Elementary Books
The Antarctic Habitat - Molly Aloian, (978-0778729846), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 470
Are there any animals in the cold Antarctic? Find out about their lives here.
The Arctic Habitat - Molly Aloian, (978-0778729815), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 430
Learn about the animals that live in the Arctic.
A Rainforest Habitat - Molly Aloian, (978-0778729860), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 470
Learn how creatures of the rainforest adapt to their wet and lush environment.
A Wetland Habitat - Molly Aloian, (978-0778729839), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 480
Find out about the animals of the wetlands and how their environment shapes their lives.
Deep in the Swamp - Donna M. Bateman, (978-1570915963), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 890
Count the animals in Okefenokee Swamp and learn about their habitat.
Over in a River: Flowing Out to Sea - Marianne Berkes, (978-1584693291), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3
Explore the rivers of North America. Learn about its animal life and their homes.
Over in Australia: Amazing Animals Down Under - Marianne Berkes, (978-1584691365), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 660
This counting book goes through Australian animals and babies. It also includes information and things to do.
Over in the Arctic: Where the Cold Winds Blow - Marianne Berkes, (978-1584691105), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 650
Explore the animals (and noises) of the Arctic with this interactive counting book.
Over in the Forest: Come and Take a Peek - Marianne Berkes, (978-1584691624), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 620
Learn counting by following woodland animals in their natural homes.
Over in the Jungle: A Rainforest Rhyme - Marianne Berkes, (978-1584690917), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-2, Lexile: 610
Have fun with this interactive book about animals, animal noises, and their jungle homes.
Pi-Shu: The Little Panda - John Butler, (978-1561452422), Fiction
Interest level: K-2, Lexile: 770
A young panda and his mother must travel to find food and shelter as humans encroach on their nautral habitat.
Laika: Astronaut Dog - Owen Davey, (978-0763668228), Fiction
Interest level: K-3
Based on the true story of the Russian dog Laika, this book tells how a stray dog came to be the first animal in space.
Ice Bear - Nicola Davies, (978-0763641498), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-4, Lexile: 950
Find out how polar bears do so well in their Arctic environment and how the native peoples learn to live from them.
zoo's who - Douglas Florian, (978-0152046392), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-5
Enjoy these poems about a wide variety of animals. See how and where they live.
The Animal Book - Steve Jenkins, (978-0547557991), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4, Lexile: 1030
This fascinating animal encyclopedia brings unusual and very interesting facts to life about many common and not-so-common animals.
Zoo-ology - Joelle Jolivet, (978-0761318941), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4
Enjoy seeing over 300 animals in this well-illustrated compendium.
A Forest Habitat - Bobbie Kalman, (978-0778729792), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 520
Enjoy experiencing the animals that might peek out at you behind a tree in the forest.
A Savanna Habitat - Bobbie Kalman, (978-0778729808), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 500
Learn what a savanna is and what animals make their homes there.
Groundhog at Evergreen Road - Susan Korman, (978-1607270751), Fiction
Interest level: 2-3
Follow a groundhog as he moves to a spot in someone's backyard where he can find plenty of food and safety.
A Desert Habitat - Kelley Macaulay, (978-0778729785), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 410
Find out about the animals that live in the deserts of the world.
A Grassland Habitat - Kelley Macaulay, (978-0778729877), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 450
What animals live on prairies and in grasslands? Find out in this illustrated book.
The Life and Times of the Ant - Charles Micucci, (978-0618689491), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-5, Lexile: 960
Learn all about the social ant.
The Life and Times of the Honeybee - Charles Micucci, (978-0395861394), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-4, Lexile: 910
Find out about bees, their lives, and their honeymaking.
Gorillas in Danger - Michael Portman, (978-1433957949), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-3
Find out how gorillas live and why their chances of survival in their natural habitats are precarious.
Black Beauty - Anna Sewell, (978-0394806372), Fiction
Interest level: 2-5
This classic adaptation tells the story of a girl and the horse she loves.
Upper Elementary to Middle School Books
And the Tide Comes In - Merryl Alber, (978-0981770055), Fiction
Interest level: 3-4
A young girl shows her cousin the animals and plants that live in a salt marsh near her Georgia home.
Panda Rescue - Dan Bortolotti, (978-1552975985), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-8
Learn about threats to the continuing lives of adorable pandas and how they can be saved.
Tiger Rescue - Dan Bortolotti, (978-1552975992), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-8
This fascinating book examines Asian tigers and why they remain on the endangered list due to the greed of human who want to sell their valuable parts.
Native American Animal Stories - Joseph Bruchac, (978-1555911270), Fiction
Interest level: 2-7
These Native American stories display animals with special powers.
Wabi - Joseph Bruchac, (978-0142409473), Fiction
Interest level: 5-10, Lexile: 760
A great owl changes into a human to be with the woman he loves, but finds challenges in adapting to his new life.
Space Dogs - Chris Dubbs , (978-0595267354), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-8
This book describes the story of the Soviet astronaut program for dogs, the first space travelers.
Rhino Rescue - Garry Hamilton, (978-1552979105), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-12
Rescuing rhinos from poachers has resulted in great success, although several species are still on the endangered list. Read about it in this informative book.
Moonbird - Phillip Hoose, (978-0374304683), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-9, Lexile: 1150
Why does this remarkable bird have the name moonbird? Learn in this book about his amazing survival and flight distances.
Parrots over Puerto Rico - Cindy Kane, (978-1620140048), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 960
The authors describe wildlife conservationists' work in trying to save Puerto Rican parrots from extinction.
Exiled: Memoirs of a Camel - Kathleen Karr, (978-0761452911), Fiction
Interest level: 3-12, Lexile: 690
A camel tells this intriguing tale, of its life in the Mojave Desert around the time of the Civil War. Also, read about the camel's service as a member of the US Camel Corps during WWII.
The Jungle Book - Rudyard Kipling, (978-1503332546), Fiction
Interest level: 4-8, Lexile: 560
In this beloved classic, Mowgli, who had been raised with wolves, has many adventures with all the jungle animals.
Last Chance - Norah McClintock, (978-0761385295), Fiction
Interest level: 6-10, Lexile: 620
Robyn's colleague at an animal shelter ends up in jail. Robyn tries to help prove his innocence.
The Boy Who Spoke Dog - Clay Morgan, (978-0142403433), Fiction
Interest level: 5-8, Lexile: 650
Jack makes friends with dogs on an island where he is marooned after a shipwreck.
The Boy Who Returned from the Sea - Clay Morgan, (978-0142413951), Fiction
Interest level: 5-8
Jack and a dog he befriended while shipwrecked on an almost uninhabited island discover a dangerous treasure hunter on the island.
Into That Forest - Louis Nowra, (978-1477817254), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12
A woman of considerable age tells the story of her youth when she lived in the Tasmanian bush with two tigers for a number of years and experienced difficultes adjusting to regular human life.
My Friend Flicka - Mary O'Hara, (978-0061374630), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7
Ken rises to the challenge of taming a wild horse.
Dogsong - Gary Paulsen, (978-0756979980), Fiction
Interest level: 6-10
A young Eskimo boy challenges himself to a solo journey with his trusty sled dog as his companion.
Tracker - Gary Paulsen, (978-1416939405), Fiction
Interest level: 5-10, Lexile: 1010
John feels conflicted when he has to hunt deer for meat for his family after he befriends a doe.
Rising Water - P.J. Petersen, (978-0689863561), Fiction
Interest level: 5-12, Lexile: 480
While working with animal rescue volunteers, Tracy and companions find themselves in a boat headed out to bring food to a dog separated from its owner by a flood.
The Yearling - Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, (978-0689846236), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7
Jody attempts to raise a darling fawn and protect it from its harsh environment, but he learns wild things must go their own way.
Hurt Go Happy - Ginny Rorby, (978-0765353047), Fiction
Interest level: 6-9, Lexile: 870
A young deaf girl finds her world expand when she meets a chimp who uses sign language to communicate.
Waluk - Emilio Ruiz, (978-1467716062), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-6, Lexile: 570
A young polar bear learns survival tips from a grouchy old bear after his mother leaves him alone.
Little Truff Saves the Kereru - Ann Russell, (978-0994103598), Fiction
Interest level: 3-7
Truff and Chloe, a dog and a cat, look into the mystery of why the New Zealand pigeons, named Kereru, are disappearing from the native beaches.
Southwest Aquatic Habitats - Daniel Shaw, (978-0826353092), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-8
Explore the amazing variety of plant and animal life in even the dry areas of the desert Southwest.
An Island of My Own - Andrea Spalding, (978-1550026351), Fiction
Interest level: 4-7
Rowan observes the conflict between trying to protect the endangered sea otter and the interest of a real estate developer during a summer project.
National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia - Lucy Spelman, (978-1426310225), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-7
This animal encyclopedia includes information on over 2500 animals and includes maps and photographs.
Endangered Species - Viqi Wagner, (978-0737729320), Non-fiction
Interest level: 6-12
Learn arguments on both sides of the question as to whether endangered species should be saved.
Middle School to Young Adult Books
The Plague Dogs - Richard Adams, (978-0345494023), Fiction
Interest level: 9-12
Two lab dogs escape from their research center and try to cope with wilderness living.
Watership Down - Richard Adams , (978-0743277709), Fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This classic tale is told by the animals of a British warren and describes their idyllic lives interrupted by the instrusion of man.
The Illustrated Atlas of Wildlife - Channa Bambaradeniya, (978-0520257856), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-12
This reference book includes information about all land and sea wildlife around the world as well as discussing the human impact on ecosystems.
Animals in Space - Colin Burgess, (978-0387360539), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This book describes the history of animals as astronauts in the U.S. and Soviet space programs.
The Encyclopedia of Animals - Fred Cooke, (978-0520244061), Non-fiction
Interest level: 8-12
This comprehensive animal encyclopedia includes a vast number of helpful photographs.
Exploring the World of Aquatic Life - John Dawes, (978-1604132557), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-12
This six-volume set comprehensively examines wildlife that lives in the oceans and other waterways of our world.
Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide - DK Publishing, (978-0756686772), Non-fiction
Interest level: 9-12
This comprehensive animal encyclopedia includes a vast number of helpful photographs.
My Life with the Chimpanzees - Jane Goodall, (978-0671562717), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-12
Jane Goodall tells of her life observing chimpanzees in the African wilds, and relates how she got her education after she made some world-famous observations.
The Race to Save the Lord God Bird - Phillip Hoose, (978-0374300357), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-12, Lexile: 1150
Learn vital lessons about conservation from reading about the extinction of the ivory-billed woodpecker.
The Whale Rider - Witi Ihimaera, (978-0435131081), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12
Kahu seems to have a way with whales, important figures in the Maori mythology.
The Call of the Wild - Jack London, (978-1503302945), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12
Buck, a ranch dog, is kidnapped and forced into the life of an Alaskan sled dog. He faces brutal treatment and a rough climate in this beloved classic.
White Fang - Jack London, (978-1505313109), Fiction
Interest level: 8-12
This classic tells the story of how a wild wolfdog became domesticated during the Klondike Gold Rush.
The Outside of a Horse - Ginny Rorby, (978-0803734784), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12, Lexile: 720
Hannah's volunteer job at a stable gets her away from her traumatized father whose sleeplessness disturbs the household, and she even sees a way to help him with "horse" therapy.
Endangered - Eliot Schrefer, (978-0545165778), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 900
Sophie's reluctant return to the Congo rapidly changes to a mission to save the apes and other animals in a wildlife sanctuary when warfare changes the climate of her life.
Eco-tracking: On the Trail of Habitat Change - Daniel Shaw, (978-0826345318), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-12, Lexile: 980
The author describes how various animal and plant habitats are interconnected and how knowing about the environmental changes can keep the ecosystems viable.
Blue Iguana - Wendy Townsend, (978-1608981588), Fiction
Interest level: 5-12
Clarice is so sensitive to animal feelings that she cannot drive for fear of hitting something, cannot stand the idea of cutting something up in biology class, and cannot eat meat. She finds a way to use her love of animals by volunteering in an animal refuge.
Soviet Space Dogs - Olesya Turkina, (978-0956896285), Non-fiction
Interest level: 8-12
This book tells the story of the Soviet dogs who went from being homeless to being famous because of their ventures into space.
Books for Mature Teens and Adults
Winter Horses - Philip Kerr, (978-0385755436), Fiction
Interest level: 7-12, Lexile: 930
A Ukrainian Jewish girl, trying to escape Nazi capture, gets help from two distinguished Przewalski horses in her flight through the woods.