Off the northwest Florida coast, four islands form an estuary where fresh water from the Apalachicola River mixes with salt water from the Gulf of Mexico: Apalachicola Bay. The book describes the bay’s rich diversity of plants and animals, from seagrass beds to tupelo honey
trees, from flounder to loggerhead turtles and manatees. Threats to the region’s ecosystem include invasive species, pollution of the Apalachicola River, and lingering effects from the devastating Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Weber packs a good bit of introductory information into this accessible presentation. The color illustrations include a map, a diagram of the Apalachicola watershed, and many helpful photos of the area and its wildlife. With little children’s nonfiction available on American bays, the Learn about Earth’s Systems: Bays series (8 titles) will fill gaps in many collections.

Gr 3-8–Middle grade readers will love this series focusing exclusively on major bays throughout the United States, including recognizable bays (Massachusetts Bay, San Francisco Bay) as well as those that might be less familiar (Apalachicola Bay and Grand Traverse Bay). These comprehensive volumes are divided into five chapters that focus on each bay’s geographic, environmental, historic, and ecosystemic elements. Their contributions to their local economies and the environmental threats caused by human intervention are covered. New vocabulary, like estuaries and tributaries, floodplain, and geosphere, are defined in a glossary. An exercise that asks readers to pretend they are a loggerhead sea turtle will encourage engagement. Bonus: Future activists will love the short passage in the back of each book that provides practical tips on how they can be environmental advocates. VERDICT This series, containing colorful photographs and rich information, champions bays as some of our most important environmental resources. Ideal for larger collections.