Not A Bean

With Spanish vocabulary and a clever counting concept, this poetic story shares the life cycle of a Mexican jumping bean. This curious jumping insect is actually a seedpod from a shrub called yerba de la flecha, into which a caterpillar burrows, living inside the pod until it builds a cocoon and breaks out as a moth. Perfect for preschoolers and prereaders, this creative picture book explores the Mexican jumping bean’s daily life and eventual transformation and escape from the pod.

Plants On The Trail With Lewis And Clark (Lewis & Clark Expedition)

Describes the journey of Lewis and Clark through the western United States, focusing on the plants they cataloged, their uses for food and medicine, and the plant lore of Native American people.

Maria Sibylla Merian

The first Merian biography written for ages 10 and up, this book will enchant budding scientists and artists alike. Readers will be inspired by Merian’s talent, curiosity, and grit and will be swept up in the story of her life, which was adventurous even by today’s standards.

The Apple And The Butterfly

A caterpillar crawls out of an apple and retreats into its cocoon. As the seasons change, the caterpillar becomes a butterfly. Setting itself free, the butterfly feeds on a flower that grows into an apple, bringing the story full circle. With simple yet striking graphic-style illustrations, this classic wordless picture book, originally published in Italy in 1969, is sure to appeal to both children and adults.

Nacho and Lolita

A very rare pitacoche bird falls in love with a swallow and plucks his colorful feathers to transform dry, barren San Juan Capistrano into a haven of flowers and flowing water, which the swallows can easily find when returning from their annual migration.