Touch a Butterfly: Wildlife Gardening with Kids--Simple Ways to Attract Birds, Butterflies, Toads, and More to Your Garden
Robins and raccoons, chipmunks and caterpillars, dragonflies and deer: a wildlife habitat that attracts all forms of insects, reptiles, rodents, amphibians, birds, and mammals is made up of more than just milkweed and morning glories. Water and wind, and shelter from them, too, are important components in what prolific children’s author Sayre terms “wildlife gardening”; that is, creating a safe haven for everything from the smallest snail to the largest hawk. The joys of observing and tracking the critters who cross our paths in backyard lawns or on city streets are especially suited to children, whose powers of awareness and concentration can be honed through their innate curiosity about the world around them. Sayre instructs readers on how to attract all forms of wildlife to one’s backyard, from suburban lots to country acreage. Along with specific recommendations for plants that will entice bees and butterflies, and practical tips on preparation and maintenance of theme gardens that provide water and shelter, Sayre offers creative activities to help children enjoy and appreciate the bounty that awaits them in the natural world. --Carol Haggas