Celebrate the Pacific west coast with this gorgeous nature alphabet book. This stunning nature alphabet book explores the fascinating ecosystem of the Pacific west coast ― a magnificent area that combines an ancient rainforest, a rugged beach and a vast, open ocean, and where whales, bears, wolves, eagles and a rich variety of marine species thrive in an interconnected web of life. Author Deborah Hodge has spent more than forty years on the west coast, frequently visiting the Pacific Rim region, and she knows it intimately. From A to Z she describes in vivid language the rainforest, ocean and beach, and a great variety of animals that a child might see walking along the shore ― from tiny sea jellies to inquisitive sandpipers to leaping orcas. Illustrator Karen Reczuch brings her remarkable talent to the book, and has created image after image that is simply breathtaking. The text and art have been carefully checked for scientific accuracy. Includes a note about the Pacific west coast and suggestions for exploring the region and further reading. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.7 With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear (e.g., what moment in a story an illustration depicts). “To say the book is simply a nature alphabet is an understatement. Altogether, the 26 selections create a panoramic experience in print―East Coast dwellers will want one of their own.” ― Kirkus Reviews “Hodge’s forthright narration offers details about familiar creatures like bears, cougars, and orca, but she sneaks in some surprises, too . . . [Reczuch's] precisely drafted illustrations find majesty and beauty in the creatures, vegetation, and landscapes that make the Pacific Northwest so distinctive.” ― Publishers Weekly , STARRED REVIEW “West Coast Wild, a delightful glimpse into this amazing geographic location, belongs in the collection of anyone eager for a taste of the wild west coast of North America. Highly Recommended.” ― CM Magazine “Skilfully combine[s] instruction and delight, weaving together information and beautiful art.” ― Quill & Quire , STARRED REVIEW “Charming and original . . . an elegant introduction to the organisms of the Pacific Rim.” ― School Library Journal “If you and your young readers can't scramble over the slippery Salish rocks yourselves, West Coast Wild will bring the ebb and flow of the Pacific to you.” ― Canadian Children's Book News DEBORAH HODGE is the author of more than thirty-five books for children. Her awards include the Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada’s Information Book Award, the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature and the Honor Book distinction for the National Jewish Book Award for Children’s Literature. Her work has also been featured on such lists as ALA’s Top Ten Best Environmental Books for Youth. Deborah is a former teacher and curriculum writer who lives in Vancouver, BC. KAREN RECZUCH has illustrated many award-winning children’s books. Loon by Susan Vande Griek won the TD Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-fiction, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Picture Book Award and the Children’s Literature Roundtables of Canada’s Information Book Award. Karen’s other books include West Coast Wild , also the winner of the Information Book Award, and three more titles in the West Coast Wild series, by Deborah Hodge. Karen lives in Porters Lake, Nova Scotia. F is for fish that glide through the cool ocean. Eagles, bears and orcas feast on delicious fish such as salmon, which is prized by many west coast animals. G is for gray whales that swim a long way. Every spring, these gentle giants travel from the warm waters of Mexico to lush feeding grounds in the Arctic. H is for huckleberries that brighten up the rainforest. Sweet red berries are a summer treat for bears and birds. They gobble up these forest fruits! I is for invertebrates that live in the sand and sea. The ochre sea star is an invertebrate — an animal without a backbone.