Friends in Nature: Discover Earth's Amazing Ecosystems

Ages 4 to 6, Grades P to 1

Discover the incredible ways in which animals and plants help each other, the planet, and YOU to thrive with this illustrated tale of symbiosis and ecology for children aged 5-7.

Discover the incredible ways in which animals and plants help each other, the planet, and YOU to thrive with this illustrated tale of symbiosis and ecology for children aged 5-7.

Can you imagine a world where you had to do everything by yourself? It's pretty impossible. The truth is, everyone needs a little help from someone, or something.

All living things in the natural world, from the trees and the bees to the dogs and the frogs, depend on one another. There wouldn't be a coral reef without the help of all the fish that have made it their home. Rain forests are only filled with lush and colorful plants because of the birds and mammals who eat and scatter their seeds. Acacia trees have a whole army of ants to protect them, while elephants rely on egrets to keep them parasite-free. And it's because of bees, wasps, and butterflies that we have tasty fruit and vegetables to eat.

Friends in Nature helps children to trace the relationships between all living things, covering subjects such as:

• seed dispersal by animals including birds, bats, elephants, and lowland gorillas

• the hunting partnership between the grouper fish and the moray eel

• sea otters protecting kelp forests in our oceans

• the magical connection between fungi and trees

Includes three fun ideas for eco-friendly activities for children to try.

Created by writer and artist Marina Ruiz, beautifully illustrated scenes reveal the wonderful connections and cooperation in nature. Narrative storytelling links every spread to the next, exploring how even the tiniest relationship has a big impact in keeping our planet's huge and complex web balanced.

About the Author

After studying Fine Arts in Madrid and working as a freelance illustrator for some time, Marina moved to the UK. She studied at the Cambridge School of Art and graduated with a Distinction in an MA in Children's Book Illustration. Marina takes inspiration from the little moments that happen in everyday life and loves creating small narratives around them. She enjoys working with lyrical, more abstract narratives, combining images and text to express personal thoughts and emotions.