Afoot in the South: Walks in the Natural Areas of North Carolina.
by Phillip Manning & Diane Manning.
John F. Blair, 1993.
0895870991
A well-rounded sampling of experiences for learning about and enjoying North Carolina's natural areas from the mountains to the coast. Filled with natural and cultural history and facts for walkers or armchair travelers. 18 of the best walks, both short and long.

The Beaches Are Moving: The Drowning of America's Shoreline.
Wallace Kaufman and Orrin H. Pilkey, eds.
Duke University Press, 1983.
0822305747
Also available: The Beaches are Moving (video)
Environmental Media
http://www.envmedia.com/catalog/
Discusses growth and change of beaches including the social, political, ethical, and economic impact of human activities.

Beyond Oil: The View from Hubbert's Peak.
by Kenneth Deffeyes.
Hill and Wang, 2005.
0809029561
Deffeyes, a former geologist for an oil company, predicts we are at or near the peak oil production level the famous scientist M. King Hubbert discussed. He offers his thoughts peak production and record energy demand may mean for our future.

Biodiesel: Growing a New Energy Economy.
by Greg Pahl.
Chelsea Green, 2005.
1931498652
This title explores the history and technology of biodiesel, discussing both its use and potential use as an energy source.

Biomimicry.
by Janine M. Benyus.
Harper Perennial, 2002.
0060533226
This book explores how researchers, scientistics, and engineers have found solutions to complex technological problems by studying nature's tactics and features.

Clean Water: An Introduction to Water Quality and Water Pollution Control.
by Kenneth M. Vigil.
Oregon State University Press, 2003 (2nd edition).
0870714988
Written for the non-scientist, this book serves as an introduction to the fundamentals of water quality and pollution control issues.

Closing the Achievement Gap: Using the Environment as an Integrating Context for Learning
by Gerald A. Lieberman and Linda L. Hoody
SEER, 1998.
This report presents the results of a study of forty schools that used environment-based education to improve student performance in language arts, math, science, and social studies. It also assesses the positive impact environment-based education had on students' thinking skills and interpersonal abilities.

Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits and Nuts: How to Find, Identify, and Cook Them.
by Katie Letcher Lyle.
Lyons Press, 2004.
1592282881
This book not only includes information about everything mentioned in its title, but also gives tips on the time of year to look for these plants, fruits, nuts, mushrooms and flowers, as well as information on their history and folklore.

Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things.
by William McDonough and Michael Braungart.
North Point Press, 2002.
0865475873
McDonough and Braungart call for an overhaul of industrial production methods and current environmental thinking. Instead of recycling, which they call downcycling because products tend to be remade into lower grade materials, they claim there is a more cost-effective, environmentally-friendly way to do business.

Dream of the Earth.
by Thomas Berry.
Sierra Club Books, 1990.
0871566222
“This first volume in a new series, the Sierra Club Nature and Natural Philosophy Library, explores human-earth relations and seeks a new, non-anthropocentric approach to the natural world.” – from Publisher’s Weekly.

Dr. Art's Guide to Planet Earth: For Earthlings Ages 12 to 120.
by Art Sussman.
Chelsea Green Publishing, 2000.
189013273X
This easy-to-read, colorfully illustrated book offers overviews of earth systems, the water cycle, the carbon cycle, energy, ecosystems, and more. It may be useful not only to middle and high school students, but also to adults who are seeking simple answers to basic earth science questions. This title also introduces popular environmental issues like climate change, and discusses human impact on the earth. In some articles it crosses the line between environmental information and environmental advocacy, but with an educator's assistance, these chapters may prompt classroom exploration of other viewpoints through classroom research and discussion.

The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability.
by Paul Hawken.
Harper Collins, 1994.
0887307043
The text presents an approach to combining biology, economy and human factors in a way that can build a successful, earth-conscious global commerce.

The Edge of the Sea.
by Rachel Carson.
Mariner Books, 1998 (Reprint).
0395924960
A Rachel Carson classic that continues to be recommended for library and personal collections.

The Education of Little Tree.
by Forrest Carter.
University of New Mexico Press, 2001. (25 th Anniversary edition)
0826328091
In this charming novel the narrator, raised by Cherokee grandparents, values and respects the natural world. He also experiences cultural conflict and cruelty when he goes off to attend a mainstream school. The controversial nature of the author's life may add interest to classroom discussions about this title.

The Encyclopedia of Mammals (3 volumes).
Dr. David Macdonald, ed.
Facts on File, 2001.
0816042675
Very comprehensive yet easily understood reference source for mammals. Color photos & illustrations, and side bars.

The End of Oil: On the Edge of a Perilous New World.
by Paul Roberts.
Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
0618239774
Roberts opens readers' eyes to how dependent our society is on energy. He also discusses a grim vision of what may occur once it is apparent that we've surpassed the peak in oil production. He discusses energy alternatives and their current short-falls and provides much food for thought.

Everything You Never Learned About Birds.
by Rebecca Rupp.
Stoney Communications, 1995.
0882663453
Many uncommon facts about birds make this title valuable. Colorful photos and drawings create extra appeal.

Facts, Not Fear: A Parent's Guide to Teaching Children About the Environment.
by Michael Sanera and Jane S. Shaw.
Regnery Publishing, 1996.
0895262932
Environmental education requires the best possible scientific information and professional representation of differing points of view. Although educators may find the book controversial, it does present the concerns of some individuals and highlights the need for maintaining the highest standards in environmental education.

The Field Guide To Geology.
by David Lambert.
Checkmark Books, 1997 (Revised edition).
This 256-page handbook is a concise yet comprehensive key to the processes that forged planet Earth. More of a textbook than a field guide, it is abundantly illustrated. This handbook makes it easy to understand the basic concepts of earth science as well as how man interacts with the planet.

Fossil Collecting in North Carolina: Bulletin 89.
by J. G. Carter, et el.
NC Geological Survey, 1988.
http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/
30+ site descriptions including directions, the nearest towns, topographic insets showing site locations, and discussions on the geology and fossils found at each locality.

Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture.
by Toby Hemenway.
Chelsea Green, 2000.
1890132527
Hemenway discusses how home gardens can function as backyard ecosystems. He describes the components necessary for these functioning ecosystems, and discusses the importance of using native plants.

Garbage Land: On the Secret Trail of Trash.
by Elizabeth Royte.
Little Brown, 2005.
0316738263
In this comical book, a science writer follows the trail of her trash.

A Geologic Guide to North Carolina's State Parks.
North Carolina Geological Survey, Bulletin 91. (http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/)
Bulletin 91 provides short summaries of the geologic features of North Carolina's state parks and includes inset maps and color photographs.

Hatteras Journal.
by Jan DeBlieu.
John Blair, 1998.
0895872145
North Carolina's Outer Banks are described in 10 essays ranging from coastal animal observation to natural history.

How to Read a North Carolina Beach: Bubble Holes, Barking Sands, and Rippled Runnels.
by Orrin Pilkey, Tracy Monegan Rice, and William J. Neal.
UNC Press, 2004.
0807855103
This title explains how sand and beaches are formed, discusses the impact humans and development have had on beaches, and more. Some ideas herein are controversial, making it an excellent choice for classroom discussion.

The Hype About Hydrogen: Fact and Fiction in the Race to Save the Climate, Revised and Updated.
by Joseph J. Romm.
Island Press, 2005.
1559637048
Romm offers a basic explanation of hydrogen-based technologies, the difficult steps that would need to be taken to make a wide-spread transition to using hydrogen as a primary energy source, and what he sees as the short-falls of converting to hydrogen as an energy source.

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.
by Richard Louv.
Algonquin Books, 2005.
1565123913
Louv discusses research showing the impact children’s connections to nature, or lack thereof, has on their social and psychological wellbeing.

Let It Rot!: The Gardener's Guide To Composting.
by Stu Campbell.
Storey Books, 1998.
1580170234
This guide shows how to recycle waste including garbage, ashes, and grass for garden use.

Looking for Longleaf: The Rise and Fall of an American Forest.
by Lawrence S. Earley.
UNC Press, 2004.
0807828866
Earley describes the incredible changes to our southern landscape, which decreased a 92 million acre longleaf forest into fewer than 3 million acres. He also discusses more recent conservation efforts to restore its unique, diverse ecosystem. This is an excellent book to tie the biology, the environment, and U.S. History together.

Man and Nature.
by George P. Marsh.
Belknap Press, 1973. (Classic)
0674544528
The way water, forests and various landforms interact with each other to affect climate and movement cycles is described in this classic. Human impact on this delicate balance is also discussed.

The Nature of North Carolina's Southern Coast: Barrier islands, Coastal Waters, and Wetlands.
by Dirk Frankenberg.
UNC Press, 1997.
0807846554
"An eco-tourist's guide to the North Carolina coast, from Portsmouth Island to Calabash." Valuable for anyone interested in our coastal environment. Highlights the complex ecosystem and the natural processes that continue to shape the southern coast. Includes drawings, maps, & photos. Addresses current environmental threats and possible solutions.

The Nature of the Outer Banks: Environmental Processes, Field Sites, and Development Issues, Corolla to Ocracoke.
by Dirk Frankenberg.
UNC Press, 1995.
0807845426
Guide to the barrier island ecosystem from Corolla to Ocracoke that describes how natural forces affect barrier islands. Includes sites for observation, maps, drawings, and photos that illustrate how weather, waves, and rising sea contribute to landform changes and the topography of these fragile areas.

Nature: Western Attitudes Since Ancient Times.
by Peter A. Coates.
University of California Press, 2005.
0520244788
Coates explores the myths and realities of past environmental ethics. He explores ethical inconsistencies as well as lasting ideals.

Noah's Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Back Yards.
by Sara Stein.
Houghton Mifflin, 1993.
0395709407
Stein sees backyard gardens as essential tools in promoting biodiversity. She theorizes that replacing backyard lawns with native plant gardens is important to native insect and wildlife populations.

North Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer: Sixth Edition.
Delorme Publishing, 2003.
0899332773
The atlas features topographic maps of the entire state, along with a GPS guide. Also included are symbols indicating cultural and historical locations.

North Carolina Atlas: Portrait for a New Century.
by Douglas Orr and Alfred Stuart.
UNC Press, 2000.
0807825077
A must for every middle school, high school, public, and academic library in North Carolina, this book introduces North Carolina’s natural environment, history, industry, economy, government and more. It contains many statistics, charts, and graphs.

North Carolina: People and Environments: Second Edition.
by Ole Gade, Arthur B. Rex, James E. Young, and L. Baker Perry.
Parkway Publishers, 2002.
1887905634
A staple for middle school, high school, and public libraries in North Carolina, this volume explores North Carolina’s environment, weather, vegetation, wildlife, population, and industries. It even contains individual chapters on North Carolina’s tidewater, coastal plain, piedmont, and mountain regions.

North Carolina: The Years Before Man, A Geologic History.
by Fred Beyer.
Carolina Academic Press, 1991.
0890894000
Volcanoes, hot springs and geysers, faults and moving land masses help to describe the formation of our state's land. Fossil records of plants and animals also explain the geologic processes and resulting natural resources that contribute to our state's economy.

North Carolina's Hurricane History: Third Edition.
by Jay Barnes.
UNC Press, 2001.
0807849693
Numerous photographs, maps, & illustrations fill 206 pages of information on 50+ hurricanes in North Carolina including hurricane Emily in 1993. Newspaper reports, weather service records, & eyewitness descriptions fill this interesting book.

The North Carolina Shore and Its Barrier Islands: Restless Ribbons of Sand.
Orrin Pilkey, ed.
Duke University Press, 1998.
0822322242
With historical and nature-based perspectives, this guide encourages an understanding of the changing nature of beaches and barrier islands.

North Carolina Wildlife Viewing Guide.
by Charles E. Roe.
NC Wildlife Resources Commission, 1992.
http://www.ncwildlife.org
96 pages of maps, color photos, and text on where to go to see nature at its best. Look for highway signs that identify these wildlife viewing sites. Most signs have a logo with binoculars or the words "Wildlife Viewing Area."

Our Stolen Future.
by Theo Colborn.
Plume, 1997.
0452274141
An environmental health classic, this book discusses how many synthetic chemicals have negative effects on our health.

Pond and Brook: A Guide to Nature in Freshwater Environments.
by Michael J. Caduto.
Univ. of New England, 1990.
0874515092
Great for teachers, naturalists, interpreters and camp leaders. Explains plant and animal ecology of still and flowing waters, deep lakes, streams, and vernal ponds. Includes a discussion of wetlands.

A River Runs Through It and Other Stories (25th Anniversary Edition).
by Norman MacLean.
University of Chicago Press, 2001.
0226500667
Memoirs of the author's experiences through nature while fly fishing in the Big Blackfoot River with his brother and father.

Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs.
Claire Kowalchik and William Hylton, Eds.
Rodale Press, 1998.
087596964X
The comprehensive collection of herb descriptions contains color photos as well as black and white drawings. An index is also included.

Sand County Almanac.
by Aldo Leopold.
Ballantine, 1986.
0345345053
A nature writing classic, this book was originally published in 1949, shortly after Leopold’s death. Leopold helped shape the conservation movement. In this book he combines essays, memoirs, and his personal philosophy concerning the obligation humanity has towards preserving natural areas.

Sealife: A Complete Guide to the Marine Environment.
Geoffrey Waller, ed.
Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996.
1560986336
Approaches the complex subject of the marine environment from a scientific viewpoint emphasizing the diversity of ocean life. Illustrated, 495 pages. Ideal for students of marine science, seafarers and the general public.

Silent Spring.
by Rachel Carson.
Mariner Books, 2002. (40th Anniversary edition)
0618249060
This is a book that made a truly significant impact on history, the environmental movement, and the role of government in protecting the environment.

Tracking and the Art of Seeing: How to Read Animal Tracks & Sign: Second Edition.
by Paul Rezendes.
Harper, 1999.
0062735241
A favorite of many, this unique book will help identify animal tracks, droppings (scat), claw marks, and other signs found in nature. More than 300 color and black and white photographs plus great drawings.

Understanding Environmental Pollution.
by Marquita K. Hill.
Cambridge University Press, 2004. (2nd edition)
0521527260
Designed for undergraduate college students, this text is approachable for those without scientific backgrounds curious about the subject matter as well as students studying environmental science. Chapters discuss water pollution, air pollution, hazardous waste, energy, climate change, and more.

Water: A Natural History.
by Alice Outwater.
Basic Books, 1997.
0465037801
A description of how water once regularly underwent a unique self-cleansing and how human impact is changing this natural process.

The Weather Book: An Easy to Understand Guide to the USA's Weather: Second Edition.
by Jack Williams.
Vintage Books, 1997.
0679776656
240 pages that explain the basics of weather. The American Meteorological Society awarded the author its 1994 Louis J. Battan Author's Award citing scientific accuracy and graphics. Excellent color illustrations, diagrams & photos, index, glossary . Considered the best single all-purpose weather book and essential to school media centers for both secondary students and all levels of teachers.

The Weather Makers: How Man is Changing the Climate and What it Means for Life on Earth.
by Tim Flannery.
Atlantic Monthly Press, 2006.
0871139359
Australian scientist Tim Flannery's The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth has already attracted world-wide attention. Originally skeptical of climate change, this book is the result of several years of research on the issue. He offers possible future scenarios, some very grim, but also offers his ideas about what may be done to create more positive outcomes.

When the Ground Moves! A Citizen's Guide to Geologic Hazards in North Carolina: Information Circular 32.
by Randy Bechtel.
NC Geological Survey, 2005.
http://www.geology.enr.state.nc.us/
This colorful 23-page guide is an overview of several types of geologic hazards that occur in North Carolina. Pictures and diagrams illustrate the damage that can be caused by geologic hazards and the clues geologists look for when investigating these events. Perfect for non-geologists and teachers. This guide is correlated to the North Carolina Science Standard Course of Study for 9-12 Grades.