(3) K-3 Tiny Habitats series. This informative picture book describes how a bison’s “steamy poo pile” becomes an important part of a prairie ecosystem. Over the course of a year, insects eat and lay eggs inside it; toads, turtles, and birds come to eat the bugs; flowers and grasses grow in the enriched soil. In the spring, a poo pile from a baby bison begins the cycle anew. Mixed-media illustrations depict the variety of life on the prairie; speech bubbles add personality (“Mmm, these roots are tangy!” muses a munching prairie dog). More background, a bibliography, and further reading are appended.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(2) K-3 Tiny Habitats series. Hevron’s (Sunken Ship, rev. 9/24) latest foray takes readers to a South American rainforest, where her focus is the “freshwater pools [that form] among the leaves of a bromeliad” (a flowering plant) -- specifically, the many species that thrive in that habitat over a year. At the start of the rainy season, a tree frog “get[s] this party started!” by laying her eggs in the collected rainwater. Algae and microbes flourish amidst decomposing leaves. Parakeets leave droppings, which are “party snacks” for mosquitoes. The brief sensory-rich text brims with pertinent information; the friendly-looking species that live in or visit the pool add comments via speech bubbles in the lively mixed-media art, enhancing the humor and child appeal. During the dry season, the palette shifts from the rainy months’ bright colors to more subdued brown tones infusing the flora. “The sky-high pool party [stays] in full swing” with a baby boa, lion tamarins, and howler monkeys among the attendees. When the bromeliad’s “one and only flower” blooms, pollinators show up. The cycle begins again with a new rainy season and “a new generation of bromeliad pups.” An author’s note provides more in-formation about bromeliad pools and the importance of protecting threatened South American rainforests. Suggested reading and selected sources are also appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2025