When a wood, meadow, and creek vanish due to modern development of the land, the flora and fauna are also directly affected. Children will notice more animals, birds, reptiles and plants than the few named in the brief, lyrical text of a provocative picture book. The final four pages contain detailed directions for creating a family backyard wildlife habitat. Fleming's trademark illustrations were created with cotton rag fiber. The bold shapes and distinctive full-color images can be easily seen in a large group setting. (Ages 5-10)

A powerful poem and stunning, handmade-paper art encourage children to protect nature.

"Where once there was a wood,
A meadow and a creek . . . "

Inspired by events in her own backyard, award-winning author and illustrator Denise Fleming creates a poignant yet hopeful portrait of our disappearing natural environment. The last pages of the book teach children how to make a more "creature friendly" backyard, including information about what types of food, trees and flowers attract different kinds of animals. Where Once There Was a Wood also includes an informative bibliography for budding environmentalists, and suggests various projects that families can do together.