A roundup of recent picture books<\/p>\n

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Here are three<\/span> excellent new children\u2019s books having to do with animals and nature.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Alphabet Book:<\/span><\/strong> Texas children\u2019s author Glenna Beach Decker and illustrator Jessica Dupree have produced West Texas A to Z<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/strong>, a delightful alphabet book that focuses on critters you might see in the wild (Clear Fork Publishing, $16.99 hardcover).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Well, you might have to look some to find a zebra, but there probably are some running wild on a preserve somewhere.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Decker writes in easy-to-read verse as she tells about armadillos, beavers, coyotes, deer, eagles, foxes, goats, horses, iguanas, jackrabbits, kangaroo rats, horny toad lizards, mules, nighthawks, opossums, porcupines, quail, roadrunners, skunks, tadpoles, odd-toed ungulates, vultures, wolves, xue bao (snow leopard), yellow-bellied sap suckers, and, yes, zebras. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Dupree\u2019s soft, engaging paintings make West Texas A to Z<\/em> a picture book the whole family can appreciate. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Alphabet Birds: <\/span><\/strong>Jessalyn Claire Beasley, who grew up in Texas and now lives in Tennessee, has written, illustrated, and published a gorgeous alphabet book about birds, Little Birder: A Field Guide to Birds of the Alphabet<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/strong> ($24.95 hardcover). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Each bird gets two pages\u2014a full-page color painting and a page of text that includes a summary of the bird\u2019s principal characteristics and a poem. At the back, she includes information on how to draw birds and a Little Birder Birdwatcher\u2019s Journal.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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A few of the birds in her book: barn owl, chickadee, dove, blue jay, mockingbird (of course), purple martin, quail, woodpecker, and waxwing. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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In the book\u2019s introduction, she encourages children to take time to notice birds and also help their parents slow down and appreciate nature around them. \u201cLittle Birder\u201d is a good book for parents and children to read and savor together.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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I had the pleasure of hosting Jessalyn for a book signing recently and was impressed with her artistic talent and her professionalism. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Safari: <\/span><\/strong>At age eight, Kate Gilman Williams of Austin went on safari in South Africa, where she met Michelle Campbell, a professional wildlife guide. Now they have teamed up to write Let\u2019s Go on Safari<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/strong>, a provocative and informative children\u2019s book about going on safari and about protecting African wildlife from poachers (Crickhollow Books, $12.95 paperback).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cMichelle explained to me that there are many threats to animals,\u201d Kate writes, \u201cincluding poaching and human-wildlife contact. I didn\u2019t know that animals were in danger because of humans.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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After she got home, Kate woke up one morning and told her mom, \u201cI want to stay home from school today. I think I can write a book to help save the animals.\u201d And she did. Kate is now nine and just finished third grade. \u201cI came home determined to do something to help the animals of Africa\u2014and guess what\u2014you can help too!\u201d she writes. \u201cIf we all become animal advocates, we can change the future of these endangered species.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Kate and Michelle are donating the royalties from their book to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Jane Goodall Institute, and Global Wildlife Conservation of Austin. In the book, they explain the work these organizations are doing to protect animals.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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