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 themselves Visit the rocky shores of A Tidal Pool and find out about seaweed, shells, and the diverse number of animals that make tidal pools their home. Spectacular photographs and easy-to-understand text show how different conditions during high-, mid-, and low-level tides determine which plants and animals live in which part of the shore. A trip to a tidal pool outlines rules for observing nature without endangering creatures, plants, and young observers. Concepts are explained such as: -- food chains and webs -- camouflage -- breeding -- survival in a constantly changing coastline