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Recommended Book List

Here are some garden and nature-themed books that we recommend to help children learn about the important role plants and gardens play in supporting our local ecosystems:

Preschoolers (ages 1-4)

  • The Little Gardener“Discover what it takes to become a little gardener with this interactive board book.”
  • Planting a Rainbow“Little ones learn the colors of the rainbow as they watch a plants grow in a beautifully vibrant garden.”
  • BEE – A Peak-Through Board Book“Fly along with Bee on her very busy day! Peek through the holes of this bright and lively book and discover the bustling life of this helpful insect.”
  • Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt“This book unveils the wonders that lie hidden between stalks, under the shade of leaves, and down in the dirt.”
  • Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth“From apple cores to zinnia heads, readers will discover the best ingredients for a successful compost pile in this fun picture book!”
  • Mushroom in the Rain“Caught out in the rain, an ant takes shelter under a very tiny mushroom. Soon, a wet butterfly, then a drenched mouse, a dripping sparrow, and even a rain-soaked rabbit each beg to join him under his miniature umbrella.”
  • Wormy Worm“As Wormy Worm wiggles and woggles, it is hard to tell which end is front and which end is back.”
  • How to Hide a Butterfly“Go on a fascinating nature hunt to find the butterflies, bees, inchworms, and other intriguing insects hiding in the brilliantly-painted pages of this book.”

Grades K-2 (ages 5-7)

  • How to Make a Pollinator Garden: Como Hacer un Jardín Polinizador – “A bi-lingual picture book in English and Spanish, teaches young readers with step-by-step scientific instruction why pollinators are important and what kids can do to help them thrive.” *Written by NPSOT member, Dr. Camelia Maier!
  • The Puddle Garden“In this children’s story full of native plants and wildlife, learn how lonely Bear Cub invited friends to his new home– by creating a Puddle Garden.”
  • The Reason for a Flower “The reason for a flower is to manufacture seeds, but Ruth Heller shares a lot more about parts of plants and their functions in her trademark rhythmic style.”
  • A Seed is Sleepy“An informative look at the intricate, complex, and often surprising world of seeds.”
  • Weslandia“Enter the witty, intriguing world of Weslandia! Now that school is over, Wesley needs a summer project. He’s learned that each civilization needs a staple food crop, so he decides to sow a garden and start his own — civilization, that is.”
  • What’s Inside a Flower“Budding backyard scientists can start exploring their world with this stunning introduction to these flowery show-stoppers–from seeds to roots to blooms.”
  • Here is the Wetland – “This book introduces children to the birds, bass, minks, muskrats, frogs, snakes and others that live in wetland environments.”
  • Are You a Snail?“This colorful first nature picture book gives children aged 4 to 7 an inside look at how they would experience life if they were a snail.”
  • Flow, Spin, Grow: Looking for Patterns in Nature“Branching, spiraling, spinning―you can find patterns almost anywhere in nature, if you look for them.”
  • Protect the Pollinators “Vibrant and whimsically illustrated children’s book introducing seven of the Earths pollinators and their importance.”

Grades 3-5 (ages 8-10)

Middle School (ages 11-14)

  • Nature’s Best Hope“Author Doug Tallamy empowers kids to use their own yards to help combat the negative effects of climate change. He does so by breaking down complex concepts into simple terms and real-world examples that kids can easily grasp.”
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About the Region

New Braunfels, the location of our Fall 2024 Symposium, straddles both the Edwards Plateau Ecoregion and the Blackland Prairie ecoregion. Interstate 35 divides the city of New Braunfels; its path through the city closely parallels the boundary of these two ecoregions, with the Edwards Plateau on the west side and the Blackland Prairies region to the east. The Edwards Plateau area is also called the Hill Country; however, this general term covers a much larger area extending farther north. Spring-fed creeks are found throughout the region; deep limestone canyons, rivers, and lakes (reservoirs) are common. Ashe juniper is perhaps the most common woody species found throughout the region. Additional woody species include various species of oak, with live oak (Quercus fusiformis) being the most common. Sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) border waterways. This area is well known for its spring wildflower displays, though they may be viewed in spring, late summer, and fall, as well. According to Texas Parks and Wildlife, average annual rainfall in the Edwards Plateau ranges from 15 to 34 inches.

The Blackland Prairie extends from the Red River south to San Antonio, bordered on the west by the Edwards Plateau and the Cross Timbers, and on the east by the Post Oak Savannah. Annual rainfall averages 30 to 40 inches, with higher averages to the east. This region is dominated by prairie species. The most common grass species include little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans) in the uplands and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) in the riparian areas and drainages. Common herbaceous flowering plants include salvias, penstemons, and silphiums. This area has suffered greatly from overgrazing and agricultural use. Few intact areas remain, though many of the plants can be found along county roadsides throughout the region.

Our four host chapters (New Braunfels, Lindheimer, Guadalupe, and the Hill Country chapters) are located in one or both of the ecoregions above. However, the eastern portion of Guadalupe County also falls within the Post Oak Savanna ecoregion. Annual rainfall averages 35 to 45 inches, with higher averages to the east. A wide variety of hardwood trees are found, including several species of oaks, elms, and in the Bastrop area, loblolly pine (Pinus taeda). Grasses and forbs dominate in the open savannas, with most common grass being little bluestem. Ranching, agriculture, and fire suppression have allowed woody species to encroach on the once-open savannas.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason