Gordon Morrison

I was very impressed by this children's book. I loved the idea of following a single drop of water from the clouds all the way to the stream where the child lets it drop off their finger tip. I also really enjoyed the last page which gives the definition of all of the elements of nature used throughout the book. For example, the red- tailed hawk and spruce trees which a child might not know much about. I also really liked the authors note at the beginning of the book, I know this isn't show more something the child reads but as an adult it was nice to have that background knowledge. show less

"Nature in the Neighborhood" is a informative, detailed tradebook describing the everyday habitats that lie before us in and around our neighborhoods. It paints a picture for young readers of an alive and vibrant community of insects (monarch butterflies, milk bugs), birds (blue jays, cardinals, kestrels), and every kind of plant and small mammal as they build their lives around the four seasons. The author, Gordon Morrison, also fills the pages with sidenotes along and around the page show more detailing each plant with greater focus, such as breeding habits, seasonal migration patterns of behavior, and where to find their natural habitats. All of this takes place in our neighborhoods around us, which we are reminded are natural habitats of their own. Young children would be fascinated as they can relate to all these discoveries in their own backyard, and it makes the science of natural habitats much more enticingly fascinating to younger readers. show less

According to the author, A Drop of Water tells the story of a moment. The moment where a drop of water begins to fall from a child's finger-tip. Where did that drop of water come from? The author takes the reader on a journey of the water cycle from an ecological point of view. Rain falls from the sky, down a mountainside, into a mountain stream, which is then collected in a mountain pool. All the while passing through nature's habitats and supporting both plants and animals, alike. The show more water then travels through the forest and into a bog inhabited by beavers, but manages to escape through spaces in the beaver's dam, still flowing. Through streams and into a swamp, hydrating birds, animals, and plants along the way. The water then travels into low lying marsh lands, where a farmer has built a dam to water his cows. A Drop of Water is beautifully illustrated with colorfully sketched pictures of landscapes and complimented by the animals and plants the author writes about. The book ends with the drop of water falling from the child's finger-tip into a stream. The text is followed by a glossary of terms. I would recommend to teachers and parents of children in grades K-3. show less

What a lovely book. I was impressed that the author is also the illustrator. The illustration in this book are amazing! He is able to convey so much movement and very realistic looking nature scenes. This book makes you want to go out and look for nature around your neighborhood which I think is exactly the point.