Small Worlds introduces children to ecology and ecosystems by concentrating on life in a small part of a larger habitat. Beginning with a description of the habitat, the book then looks at the plants and animals that live there. Young readers are introduced to: -- the relationships that exist between groups of organisms and their environment-- important ecological concepts, such as producers, consumers, decomposers, and food webs, explained and illustrated with examples-- activities that encourage children to investigate ecosystems closer to home-- tips on observing safely without disturbing nature or endangering themselvesUnder a Stone describes the curious creatures that live under rocks in different climates around the world. A look under a stone on the prairies reveals the insects and lichen that live on the ground, the worms and fungi that live in the topsoil, and the animals and insects that burrow deep underground. A special section shows young readers how to safely investigate plants and insects that live near stones without doing any harm.Fantastic fact boxes describe: -- what different creatures eat-- how they prey on each other-- how they hide to protect themselves