Buffalo Music. Written by Tracey E. Fern. Illustrated by Lauren Castillo. Clarion Books, 2008. 32 pages. Inspired by the true story of Mary Ann Goodnight who saved the buffalo after they had nearly been hunted to extinction. A wonderfully told story accompanied by exceptional illustrations. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. 1-4.

Members of Yellowstone's current buffalo herd are descendants of Goodnight's herd. Today, buffalo who roam outside of Yellowstone are trapped and killed as they search for food during the harsh winter months. Defenders of Wildlife has a campaign to help end this cruel government taxpayer-funded practice. Click here to take action.

Diary of a Wombat. Written by Jackie French. Illustrated by Bruce Whatley. Clarion Books, 2002. 32 pages. A wombat recounts his experiences with his new human neighbors who he finds extremely easy to train. An entertaining story that reads aloud well. KIND Children's Honor Book. Humorous fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-2.

A Family for Old Mill Farm. Written by Shutta Crum and illustrated by Niki Daly. Clarion Books, 2007. 32 pages. A human family and a number of animal families all fall in love with the same farm and coexist happily ever after. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-3.

Lost in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy. By Carl R. Sams II. Photographed by Jean Stoick. Sams, Carl R. II, Photography, 2004. 48 pages. The authors hope to convey the fact that most fawns found alone are not lost or abandoned. Newborn fawns spend their first weeks without their mother because her scent will attract predators. Mothers stay only briefly to nurse and care for their fawn. Wonderful photographs. KIND Children's Honor Book. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Grades PreS-3.

Muncha! Muncha! Muncha! Written by Candace Fleming. Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2002. 32 pages. Publisher's summary: After planting the garden he has dreamed of for years, Mr. McGreely tries to find a way to keep some persistent bunnies from eating all his vegetables. Humorous Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-3.

Night Rabbits. Written by Lee Posey. Illustrated by Michael G. Montgomery. Peachtree, 1999. 32 pages. Elizabeth is concerned when her father discovers rabbits eating his newly planted lawn. KIND Children's Book Award. Realistic Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. K-3.

Share the World is a free video and teacher guide that was produced to help elementary school students develop respect and compassion for all living beings. An engaging film that will encourage kids to apply the golden rule to animals. Interest level: Gr. 3-5.

The Tale of Pale Male. Written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter. Harcourt, Inc., 2007. 32 pages. In 1991, two Red-tailed hawks, Pale Male and Lola, built their nest atop a tall 5th Avenue building. Although this was the first time Red-tailed hawks ever nested in the city, building residents had the nest removed. Devoted bird watchers protested, setting in motion a legendary New York controversy. A Humane Society Youth KIND Children's Honor Book. Nonfiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-2.

Welcome, Brown Bird. Written by Mary Lyn Ray and illustrated by Peter Sylvada. Harcourt, 2004. 32 pages. Publisher's summary: While a boy in North America urges his father not to cut down the trees where the wood thrush lives, a boy in South America awaits the return of the bird that he calls "la flauta" for its flute-like song. A Humane Society Youth KIND Children's Honor Book. Interest level: Gr. K-4.

Where Horses Run Free: A Dream for the American Mustang. Written by Joy Cowley and illustrated by Layne Johnson. Boyds Mills Press, 2003. 32 pages. When a cowboy comes across a penned up herd of wild horses, he vows to find a place where the horses can run free the way they once did before ranchers took over the land. Movingly tells the true story of Dayton O. Hyde, founder of the Institute of Range and the American Mustang and the Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary in South Dakota. Nonfiction picture book. A Humane Society Youth KIND Children's Honor Book. Interest level: Gr. 1-6.

Background: Cattle ranchers lease government owned grazing land from the Bureau of Land Management for meager fees. Because the ranchers see wild horses as taking food from cattle, the BLM rounds the horses up and pens them until they are adopted or sold for slaughter. Currently there are three bills pending that would end horse slaughter. Visit the Stop Horse Slaughter Web site to learn more and to take action.

Whose Garden is It? Written by Mary Ann Hoberman and illustrated by Jane Dyer. Gulliver Books, 2004. 40 pages. Publisher's summary: When Mrs. McGee walks through a garden wondering whose it is, all of the plants and animals as well as the sun and the gardener claim it as their own. A Humane Society Youth KIND Children's Honor Book. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-2.

Wild Neighbors: The Humane Approach to Living with Wildlife. Written by John Hadidian, with Margaret Baird, Maggie Brasted, Lauren Nolfo-Clements, Dave Pauli, and Laura Simon. 282 pages. Humane Society of the United States, 2007. Nonfiction. Interest level: Grades 7 - adult.

The Winter Visitors. Written and illustrated by Karel Hayes. Down East Books, 2007. 32 pages. In this nearly wordless book, a bear family moves into a summer cottage for the winter. When the weather warms, the bear family tidies up the cottage and moves out. Fiction picture book. Interest level: Gr. PreS-2.

For many humane solutions to wildlife conflicts, visit the Humane Society oF the United States Wildlife Web pages.

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