We Are the Keystones
Animals That Hold Habitats Together
Will be published approx. on 10. September 2026
Book
Hardback
40 pages
978-1-6659-4689-6 (ISBN)
Description
Meet keystone species-the hidden heroes of the natural world-and learn about the ecosystems they support in this marvelous nonfiction picture book from the author of Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals.
Keystone species are plants, animals, or other organisms that have a huge effect on the environments around them. From beavers to elephants, alligators to hummingbirds, keystones help themselves and other species survive. Whether it's creating habitats for themselves and other animals, leaving behind leftovers that fertilize the soil, or clearing out harmful algae, keystones live up to their name in their essential contribution to the harmony of our natural world.
Keystone species are plants, animals, or other organisms that have a huge effect on the environments around them. From beavers to elephants, alligators to hummingbirds, keystones help themselves and other species survive. Whether it's creating habitats for themselves and other animals, leaving behind leftovers that fertilize the soil, or clearing out harmful algae, keystones live up to their name in their essential contribution to the harmony of our natural world.
Reviews / Votes
Salutes to 11 creatures that work in sometimes surprising ways to help their wild communities. Writing in rhyming lines with lucid explanatory glosses in prose, Duffield points out animals "throughout the nature-hoods, / in marshes, grasslands, water, woods" that help themselves and others survive and spread-often in subtle ways. . . Salyer varies the tonal quality of her illustrations; some scenes look natural, while others seem viewed through color filters. . . the images of wildlife are rendered with careful attention to detail; misty glimpses fore and aft of a marveling young observer evoke a proper sense of wonder at the beginning and end. A cogent introduction to an important ecological concept. -- Kirkus * 7/1/2026 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster
Target group
Children/juvenile
US School Grade: From Preschool to Third Grade, Interest Age: From 4 to 8 years
Illustrations
f-c jkt (sfx: spot gloss uv, emboss), matte film (coated), POB case art differs from jkt+int. ill (uncoated); digital
Dimensions
Height: 279 mm
Width: 279 mm
Thickness: 3 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-6659-4689-6 (9781665946896)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
approx. 09/2026
Beach Lane Books
€10.87
Not yet available
Persons
Katy S. Duffield is the author of more than twenty-five books for children, including the celebrated Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals, which was an ALA/ALSC Notable Book, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and the recipient of the Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Gold Award. She lives in Florida with her husband and her wild and crazy Australian Shepherd. For more information about Katy, please visit her website at KatyDuffield.com.
Hannah Salyer received her BFA in illustration and communication design, with a minor in environmental studies, from Pratt Institute. She resides in Brooklyn, New York, where she writes and illustrates picture books, including her own Packs: Strength in Numbers and Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art, as well as This Wolf Was Different by Katie Slivensky. She also teaches art classes for young kids and illustration classes for undergrad students at Parsons School of Design. Visit her at HannahSalyer.com.
Hannah Salyer received her BFA in illustration and communication design, with a minor in environmental studies, from Pratt Institute. She resides in Brooklyn, New York, where she writes and illustrates picture books, including her own Packs: Strength in Numbers and Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art, as well as This Wolf Was Different by Katie Slivensky. She also teaches art classes for young kids and illustration classes for undergrad students at Parsons School of Design. Visit her at HannahSalyer.com.