Non-fiction for Middle School

Exploring the amazing ways animals perceive the world is an excellent way to help understand the world itself. And this young readers adaptation of the mega-bestseller AN IMMENSE WORLD is perfect for curious kids and their families. Sure to capture young readers' interest it is filled amazing animal facts and stunning full-color illustrations. Along the way are tons of amazing animal facts. Grades 5-8 (Lexile: 980)

Discover how poop can actually help protect our planet in this nonfiction book on the nutrient cycle and scientific problem solving. What could be more revolting, useless, and downright disgusting than poop? But in nature’s endless and complex cycles, there’s no such thing as waste. The poop of wild animals is full of surprising power: it can be food, shelter, a way for creatures to communicate, and more. For scientists, scat can reveal clues about how animals are responding to climate change threats. From researchers in India using tiger poop to track the endangered big cat to scientists in Mexico using bat guano to help replant a forest destroyed by fire, Scat shows how scientists are getting creative when it comes to studying animals and protecting ecosystems from climate change. Grades 3-6

Provides thirty activities that encourage bird watching and observation in parks, zoos, farms, and backyards, and includes discussions on migration, nesting, food, territories, and wildlife preservation. Grade 4-6 (Lexile: 1070) (108 p.)

Following a team of researchers, examines what is causing a decline in the population of little brown bats. Gr 5-8 (Lexile: 1030) (48 p.)

A highly visual introduction to birds covers a wide range of species as well as their evolution, habitats, characteristics and behaviors and is designed to provide for both in-depth and fast-fact research needs. (79 p,)

A true and close-up appreciation of over 100 bird species, such as its size, shape, color, and markings, as well as its habitat, call, and behavior. Grade 2-5 (80 p.)

How do animals find their way? How does a bird leave its nest to find food? How does a humpback whale follow an arrow-straight course while it crosses an entire ocean? How does an Arctic tern travel 56,000 miles a year without getting lost? We know some things about how animals accomplish these remarkable feats of navigation. Monarch butterflies travel from Canada to Mexico by orienting to the sun. It's the light from the Milky Way that steers dung beetles. Then, there are animals like moths and sea turtles that are guided by Earth's magnetic field. In this Nautilus Award-winning adaptation, young readers learn about the amazing navigational capabilities of animals and recent discoveries that enhance our understanding, although fascinating mysteries remain. David Barrie draws on the expertise of animal behaviorists and the research of Nobel Prize-winning scientists to bring us up to date on the cutting edge of animal intelligence. Grades 4-6 (1080 Lexile)

A studying of the cheetah's ecological, genetic, and behavioral patterns in order to chase down the fastest animal on land and save the species--before it is too late. Grade 6-8 (Lexile: 1000) (80 p.)

From Africa to Asia Pacific, from Europe to the United States of America, acclaimed authors/illustrators Ted and Betsy Lewin have roamed the earth taking on snakes, tracking mountain gorillas, and generally trying to avoid being eaten by various jungle creatures. Packed with pencil drawings, full-color illustrations, and captivating photographs, there is not a single dull moment as Ted and Betsy take the reader through their dramatic, funny, and often poignant stories...all true! A Neal Porter Book"--
"A first person account of two acclaimed author's and illustrator's travels throughout the world, Grade 4-7 (Lexile: 920L) (136 p.)

A fascinating study of one of nature's most bizarre (and ugliest) creatures. The authors have done an excellent job of explaining why the naked mole-rat is such an anomaly among mammals. These animals live in colonies with a queen, their body temperature changes with the temperature of their environment, and they live their lives entirely underground. Grade 4-9 (109 p.)

Examines the most significant factors that resulted in the near extinction of the buffalo, from the introduction of the horse by the Plains Indians to train travel, and the steps taken to ensure the buffalo's survival since that time. Grade 5-7 (128 p.)

Provides an account of an expedition mounted by the Snow Leopard Trust to the mountains of Mongolia in an effort to learn more about the elusive snow leopard and find ways to keep it from extinction. Grade 5-8 (74 p.)

A study of the tapirs in the world's largest wetland, the Pantanal Wetlands of Brazil. Grade 5-10 (Lexile: 970) (80 p.)

Tells the action and adventure story of one of Yellowstone’s most famous animals, Wolf 8: a runt of the litter who surprised scientists by becoming a powerful leader.
Newly reintroduced along with his pack to Yellowstone National Park, Wolf 8 struggles at first. Small and bullied by his siblings, he must learn to fend for himself in his new home, learning to hunt, compete for food, and even stand up to a grizzly bear 10 times his size. One day, little 8 meets an alpha female raising a litter of pups on her own. Her mate was killed by humans. Can little 8 rise to the occasion and help the young family survive? Is he ready to be an alpha wolf?
Based on McIntyre’s own sightings of Wolf 8 and told in a thrilling style, The Unlikely Hero is an unforgettable adventure—and a rare glimpse into the fascinating world of wolves and a coming-of-age story for underdogs everywhere. Grades 4-7 (1010 Lexile)

Explores the science of road ecology and what happens when highways, wildlife and habitats intersect. Illustrated with photographs throughout. Grades 4-7

Father-son scientists Luis and Walter Alvarez piece together one of the greatest mysteries of all time: What really happened to the dinosaurs? Dive into this fun and informative book, which outlines the many important scientific discoveries that aided the Alvarezes in their search for answers. Grades 5-8

Looks at the Asian long horned beetle, the threat the invasive insect poses to North American hardwood forests, and the dedicated efforts being made to destroy the beetles before they can damage vulnerable trees. (64 p.)

Bees pollinate 75 percent of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts grown in the United States. Around the world, bees pollinate $24 billion worth of crops each year. Without bees, humans would face a drastically reduced diet. We need bees to grow the foods that keep us healthy.

But numbers of bees are falling, and that has scientists alarmed. What's causing the decline? Diseases, pesticides, climate change, and loss of habitat are all threatening bee populations. Some bee species teeter on the brink of extinction. Learn about the many bee species on Earth - their nests, their colonies, their life cycles, and their vital connection to flowering plants. Most importantly, find out how you can help these important pollinators.
If we had to try and do what bees do on a daily basis, if we had to come out here and hand pollinate all of our native plants and our agricultural plants, there is physically no way we could do it. . . . Our best bet is to conserve our native bees. Grade 5-7 (Lexile: 1060)

Takes readers on a deep dive into the process of decay, from the science behind it to an up-close and personal look at the organisms that do the dirty work to make our planet livable. With a touch of humor and quirky full-color illustrations, kids will learn about the life-recycling system happening all around us-in the sea, in the soil, and even inside our own bodies. Grades 3-6