CurriConnects Book List - Geographic Wonders

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Geographic Wonders
These books explore the roles that landforms and the unique features of our earth play in our lives. These books include mountains, oceans, mesas, rivers, deserts, islands, etc. that play a major part in the lives of the characters. Use this CurriConnects list to complement your study of landforms and geography in general.

Preschool and Picture Books

An Island Grows - Lola Schaefer, (978-0066239309), Non-fiction
Interest level: K-3, Lexile: 300
An island forms in the ocean from volcanic flow.

Way up in the Arctic - Jennifer Ward, (978-0873589284), Fiction
Interest level: K-1
Learn to count by looking at these pages of arctic wonders.

Early Elementary Books

A Gift from the Sea - Kate Banks, (978-0374325664), Fiction
Interest level: 1-4, Lexile: 680

Maxwell's Mountain - Shari Becker, (978-1580892124), Fiction
Interest level: 1-3, Lexile: 560
Maxwell achieves his goal of getting to the summit of the mountain in his new park.

Arctic Tundra - Michael Forman, (978-0516203720), Non-fiction
Interest level: 1-4, Lexile: 830
Find out how the seasons affect tide pools and what plants and animals can survive in the frozen arctic tundra.

Everglades - Jean Craighead George, (978-0064461948), Fiction
Interest level: 2-4, Lexile: 660
Children hear the history of plants and people in the Everglades as they ride with a native American storyteller.

River Story - Meredith Hooper, (978-0763607920), Fiction
Interest level: 1-3, Lexile: 560

Blast Off to Earth: A Look At Geography - Loreen Leedy, (395811422), Fiction
Interest level: K-2, Lexile: 370
A class of aliens arrives on earth to learn all it can about the continents, their characteristics and their inhabitants.

Josefina's Song - Valerie Tripp, (978-1584852728), Fiction
Interest level: 1-3, Lexile: 530
Follow Josefina as she accompanies her father into the mountains; what effects do the terrain and quick weather changes have on their safety?

Upper Elementary to Middle School Books

Sees Behind Trees - Michael Dorris, (978-0786813575), Fiction
Interest level: 3-8, Lexile: 840
A gifted Native American boy uses his almost extra-sensory abilities to "travel"" to far lands to consult with an old warrior

John Muir: Young Naturalist - Montrew Dunham, (978-1439508497), Non-fiction
Interest level: 3-7, Lexile: 890
John Muir led the conservation movement in the U.S. and increased awareness of the importance of preserving natural spaces by founding Yosemite National Park.

Hello Fish: Visiting the Coral Reef - Sylvia A. Earle, (439188164), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-8, Lexile: 930
Follow a professional diver as she examines a beautiful coral reef.

Minn of the Mississippi - Holling C. Holling, (978-0395273999), Fiction
Interest level: 6-9, Lexile: 910

Hottest, Coldest, Highest, Deepest - Steve Jenkins, (395899990), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-7, Lexile: 920
Learn the extreme facts about some of nature's fascinating wonders.

The Top of the World: Climbing Mt. Everest - Steve Jenkins, (395942187), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-8, Lexile: 890
What does it take to climb the world's highest and most treacherous mountain? Learn about weather conditions, mountain climbing equipment, and climbing techniques.

Ocean Tide Pool - Arthur John L'Hommedieu, (978-0516203737), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-8, Lexile: 790
Learn how tidepools form and what creatures and plant life live there.

Into the Volcano - Donna O'Meara, (978-1553376934), Non-fiction
Interest level: 5-8, Lexile: 960
Follow volcano researchers Donna and Steve O'Meara as they experience firsthand the heat, smells, and dangers of getting inside a volcano.

Icebergs and Glaciers - Seymour Simon, (978-0688167059), Non-fiction
Interest level: 4-8, Lexile: 880
Find out how glaciers form and pieces break away into icebergs. What happens when the ice melts?

The Tree of Life - Peter Sis, (978-0374456283), Non-fiction
Interest level: 2-12, Lexile: 890
Readers learn about Darwin's life and accomplishments, including being the originator of the theory of natural selection, by viewing Darwin's journals and other writings.

An Island Scrapbook: Dawn to Dusk on a Barrier Island - Virginia Wright-Frierson, (978-0689850561), Fiction
Interest level: 5-8, Lexile: 1020
A mother and daughter share their experiences and memories of their island stay.

Middle School to Young Adult Books

Running Loose - Chris Crutcher, (978-0060094911), Fiction
Interest level: 9-12, Lexile: 870
A high school senior has a rough year when his coach tells him to "hurt"" an opposing team member

Atlantic - G. Brian Karas, (399236325), Fiction
Interest level: K
The Atlantic Ocean describes itself with simple but powerful poetry.

Grand Canyon: Exploring a Natural Wonder - Wendell Minor, (978-0439192781), Non-fiction
Interest level: 6-10, Lexile: 1130
Readers learn about this famous canyon and its qualities by following an explorer who views the live scenes painted by Thomas Moran.

Sweethearts - Sara Zarr, (978-0545107952), Fiction
Interest level: 6-12, Lexile: 720
Jennifer has lost weight and become a new person; when she runs into a former friend from her "fat"" days

Books for Mature Teens and Adults

Profiles in Courage - John Fitzgerald Kennedy, (978-0060854935), Non-fiction
Interest level: 7-12
John Kennedy was a lot of "firsts" through his life