Florida, the "sunshine state," is also the beach state, with seven hundred miles of coastline (and if you're lucky, you might find gold coins from pirate treasure washed up on the beach). Traveling through Florida, kids will have chance to see fascinating wildlife in their natural habitats - alligators, manatees, dolphins, sea turtles, parrots, flamingos, bald eagles, and that unique wetland wilderness, the Everglades.
Wahoo's dad is professional animal wrangler, and a twelve foot alligator (named Alice), snapping turtle, python and other exotic critters live in their south Florida backyard. Heading out to the Everglades to work on a reality TV show, their adventures have only begun. A hilarious read! (Chapter book)
Wacky adventures of Roy Eberhardt, a newcomer to south Florida, but soon he’s chasing after the boy wearing no shoes, tiny owls that burrow in the ground, poisonous snakes with sparkly tails, and learning how to catch silvery fish with no hands. (Chapter book)
The Everglades became a national park in 1947. Pictorial biography of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, a remarkable journalist and environmentalist, who saved the Everglades from destruction. Plus detailed info about wildlife, and protecting the Everglades today. (Picture book)
Hop in a canoe and travel with a Native American guide through the Everglades, see clouds of egrets, flamingos, a Florida panther, alligators, saw grass, and learn about this unique, endangered ecosystem. Beautifully illustrated, wildlife leaps off the page. (Picture book)
Eugenie Clark is the founder of Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium in Sarasota Florida. As a little girl, she was fascinated by sharks, they weren't ugly or scary to her. She went on to become a world-class scientist, researching, making discoveries, and writing about sharks. Eugenie explored the ocean all her life, celebrating her 92nd birthday scuba diving. (Picture book)
Fun
facts about irresistible "gentle giants" of the
sea. Manatees eat only plants, weight about 1,000 pounds, swim upside down, and live year round in ocean around Florida. (Easy reader)
In St. Augustine, visit Fort Mose, the first free black settlement in North America, founded in 1738 by Francisco Menendez. Fort Mose was a community of African, Native American and Spanish people that thrived for thirty years. Fascinating historical illustrations. (Illustrated chapter book)
Endearing story of India Opal Buloni and, Winn-Dixie, a dog with a large heart. Opal doesn’t know a soul in her small town in Florida, but everybody likes Winn-Dixie, and in no time at all, Opal is friends with little old Miss Franny Block, pinch-faced Amanda, toothless Gloria Dump and even the bald-headed Dewberry boys. (Chapter book)
"Over
in the ocean, where the sea grasses grew, lived an mother parrotfish
and her parrotfish two." Rhymes and gorgeous collages take you into the colorful world of the coral reef. Fun for little kids.
(Board book)
Take a trip through the Sunshine State, from the Everglades to Cape Canaveral, Disney World, and St. Augustine, one of the oldest cities in the United States, plus fun facts about sports, wildlife and history. (Easy reader)
Grab your sunglasses, and come see beaches on two coasts, Little Havana in Miami, incredible wildlife (Florida panther, flamingos, dolphins, manatees, alligators), explore Kennedy Space Center, and enjoy fun food (key lime pie, arroz con pollo). Delightfully illustrated! (Picture book)
