In My Back Yard.

Linda Ludke is a children’s librarian at the London Public Library.

Young naturalists will enjoy exploring the backyard wildlife showcased in this visually striking book. A brief, evocative sentence describes the actions of each creature: “Like a little helicopter, the hummingbird hovers by flowers to sip nectar”; “The glistening tail of a slow-moving snail shows me where it searched for leaves and berries.” A small, white, paper sculpture accompanies the text. On the facing pages, three-dimensional illustrations are brought to life with rich watercolours. The scenes reflect seasonal changes, from a small wren feeding her babies in spring, to a nest of mice asleep in winter.

With much attention to detail, every spread includes clues as to the creature appearing on the next page. A legend provides facts about the animals, birds, and insects featured. Information on how to attract backyard birds and butterflies is also included. This beautifully designed book will inspire children to explore their own environments. Highly recommended.