Marshes & Swamps

Rating:
Summary: An excellent introductions to wetland habitats
Review: Once again, Gail Gibbons has done a wonderful job introducing 4 to 8 year olds to another natural realm. In Marshes and Swamps, Ms. Gibbons writes and shows through her illustrations where both freshwater and saltwater wetlands are found, how they developed and are maintained, the plants, animals, invertebrates, plants and insects who live there, and why they are threatened by humans. The book explains a bit about freshwater marshes, saltwater marshes, freshwater swamps, and mangrove swamps. Marshes and Swamps can launch a great classroom unit on the importance of wetlands to migratory birds, on food chains, on pollution and its impact on the environment, on the different adaptations of plants and animals to wet/brackish/salty environs. I am using this book with my third grade classroom and it is so full of information that we will use it for a month. Wading Into Wetlands, by the National Wildlife Federation is a great companion book of hands on activities that enhance the Gail Gibbons Marshes and Swamps book.