دوشنبه ۲۶ شهریور ۰۳ | ۱۴:۳۵ ۷ بازديد
About . . . animal series, the author provides single sentences about some habitat feature
or how life can survive in that habitat, and follows this simple text with a detailed, full-
page, watercolor illustration of that feature. Plates are labeled with a specific location and
identification of the living things, with an afterword providing additional details.
Stockdale, Susan. Carry Me! Animal Babies on the Move. Atlanta: Peachtree, 2005. The
variety of ways animal parents carry their young are detailed in sparse text and colorful
illustrations. Text is rhythmic with good descriptive words (“gripped,” “nestled”). Acrylic pictures
are relatively simple yet provide sufficient detail for observation practice. A note at the end
identifies the specific animals and where they live.
Stockdale, Susan. Fabulous Fishes. Atlanta: Peachtree, 2008. Bright, textured, acrylic
illustrations draw attention to the fascinating world of fishes, salt- and freshwater. Alliterative
and rhyming text highlights the special characteristics of different species—large and small,
frilly and smooth, hidden and easily seen. Both text and pictures should generate vocabulary
and conversation about the similarities and differences in the fish. An identification note and
bibliography provide information for those who want more. 2008 NSTA Outstanding Science
Trade Books for Children
Stockdale, Susan. Nature’s Paintbrush: Patterns and Colors Around You. New York: Simon
& Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1999. Animal colors and patterns are beautiful to see,
but they also have particular use to animals. Each short entry begins with a question that
calls attention to some textural or pattern feature of a particular animal. Illustrations then
demonstrate its effectiveness. 2000 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children
Stockland, Patricia M. Red Eyes or Blue Feathers: A Book about Animal Colors. Minneapolis,
MN: Picture Window Books, 2005. Text on two levels and bright digital illustrations describe
how color adaptations make surviving in the wild much easier, whether you are predator or
prey. A review page, fun facts, glossary, index, and bibliography at the end add to the value of
the book. 2006 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12
Swinburne, Stephen R. Safe, Warm, and Snug. San Diego, CA: Gulliver Books, 1999. The
title description applies to the way eleven animal parents keep their young from getting eaten
by predators. Some of the animals will be familiar to children, some new. Text is presented
in rhyming couplets, while double-page paintings demonstrate the safety systems within the
relevant habitat. Additional information is provided in the back of the book.
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catching paper-collage illustrations introduce young children to birds and beaks of a variety
of sizes, shapes, and colors. A glossary at the end provides additional information about the
pictured birds. NCTE Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts
Vyner, Sue. Swim for Cover! Adventure on the Coral Reef. New York: Crown Publishers, 1995.
An octopus tries to warn other reef animals of the danger of a moray eel that is following
her. Each touts its particular defense mechanism. Colorful, watery illustrations add to the
suspense. Both illustrations and animal responses provide good conversation material. End
notes include more information about each of the featured animals and the coral reef where
they live.
Wallace, Karen.Tale of a Tadpole. New York: DK Publishing, 1998. Through simple text and
eye-catching full-color photographs, the author describes the growth and development of a
tadpole from egg to adult frog. Small inset boxes add more detail. Intended as a beginning
reader, good descriptive words like “webbed” and “dotted” increase young vocabularies. A
short picture word glossary at the back adds learner support.
Winer, Yvonne. Birds Build Nests. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2001. Beautifully detailed
illustrations and poetic text explain how, when, where, and why birds build nests. Each five-
line poem is accompanied by a full-page watercolor of an appropriate bird. A nest and bird
identification guide is included in the back of the book. Poems and pictures encourage both
observation and conversation. 2002 NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12
Winer, Yvonne. Frogs Sing Songs. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing, 2003. Short
verses, each ending with “that’s . . . frogs sing songs,” describe how, when, where, and why
frogs make sounds. Realistic full-page watercolors provide observation practice. The book
concludes with a gentle environmental message. Details about the specific frogs are included
in an identification guide in the back of the book.
World Wildlife Fund. Mothers and Babies. San Rafael, CA: Cedco Publishing, 1997. More
than 20 beautiful full-page photographs of an animal mother and baby are accompanied
only by words identifying the animal and the common name of its baby: mountain goat and
kid, penguin and chick, etc. Color and size comparisons between mother and young, and
among the various animals can be seen, although relative size among animals (because all
photographs are close-ups) is not obvious.
Wu, Norbert. Fish Faces. New York: Henry Holt, 1993. The marine biologist/author uses
photographs to introduce readers to some of the more striking characteristics of the creatures
encountered on his dives. Shapes, colors, movement, and even body parts build vocabulary.
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Arnosky, Jim. Babies in the Bayou. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2007. The author explains
that a bayou is a Southern waterway where freshwater mixes with the sea. But what lives
there? Simple text tells about alligator, turtle, raccoon, and duck families, and suggests the
sometimes adversarial relation between groups. Swampy-looking illustrations in greens, blues,
and browns provide detail beyond the animal families.
Arnosky, Jim.
I See Animals Hiding. New York: Scholastic, 1995. The author’s gentle but
detailed watercolor paintings effectively demonstrate the concept of camouflage. The text
looks substantial, but is well-coordinated with illustrations.1996 NSTA Outstanding Science
Trade Books for Children
Aston, Diane. An Egg Is Quiet. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2006. Beautiful, delicately
colored ink and watercolor illustrations and informative text introduce readers to the variety
and wonder of eggs. Text is presented on two levels: first in larger, cursive handwriting with
fairly generic information, and then in a smaller, print caption with information about a specific
example. Birds, reptiles, fish, and insects are represented.
Banks, Kate. Close Your Eyes. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2002. Looking for every
possible excuse not to go to sleep, the little tiger lists all the sights he will miss if he complies
with his mother’s request to close his eyes. She cites all the dreamy advantages of falling
asleep. Oil paintings in earthy colors add to the warm, protective feeling imparted by the
conversation between mother and baby tiger.
Benjamin, Cynthia. Footprints in the Snow. New York: Scholastic, 1994. This beginning reader
illustrates a variety of animal footprints in a snowy habitat. The destination for each animal is
its home—a den, hollow, or nest. The illustrations encourage conversation about tracks, animal
homes, and camouflage.
Brett, Jan. The Umbrella. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2004. Carlos’s world is that of a lush
tropical forest with fascinating plants and animals. Curious young observers will enjoy both the
detail they can see and that Carlos seems oblivious to the drama going on around him.
Cannon, Janell. Stellaluna/Stelaluna. San Diego, CA: Harcourt, 1993. Following an owl
attack, a baby bat is separated from its mother and lands in a nest of three baby birds. Their
similarities and differences become obvious as mother bird cares for all four babies but insists
Stellaluna follow “bird rules.” Text is ample on some pages but moves quickly with the drama
that eventually reunites Stellaluna and her mother. Detailed bat and bird illustrations against
the day and night sky backgrounds promote discussion by themselves.
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Scholastic, 2000. Simple, repetitious text leads the reader to different animals and their
mothers, including dolphins, sheep, and lions. A reference at the end provides the correct
names of animal babies, parents, and groups. Animal mothers and their babies are pictured in
bright colors.
Carle, Eric. The Mixed-Up Chameleon. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 1984. Not
appreciating its own camouflage adaptation skills, a bored chameleon imagines itself taking
on the obvious characteristics of several zoo animals. Its mixed-up state gets in the way of
catching dinner, however, until it wishes “to be myself.” The colorful illustrations of the special
adaptations of each animal make good discussion, especially now that scientists are less sure
about the purpose/triggering mechanism of the chameleon’s color change.
Chermayeff, Ivan, Catherine Chermayeff, and Nan Richardson. Scaly Facts. San Diego, CA:
Gulliver Books, 1995. Bold collage illustrations are paired with isolated facts about 15 different
reptiles. Preschoolers fascinated by turtles, lizards, snakes, crocodilians, and tuataras may
enjoy poring over these pictures and the lone details might encourage conversation and further
study.
Cooper, Susan. Frog. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2002. A little boy learns to
swim by watching the movements of a small frog in his backyard pool and ultimately rescues
the little frog. The absence of an adult in some illustrations provides an opportunity to discuss
water safety.
Cotten, Cynthia. At the Edge of the Woods; A Counting Book. New York: Henry Holt, 2002.
At its most basic, this is a counting book. On closer look, however, life is busy for the animals
that live at the edge of the woods. The colorful illustrations deserve close observation. The
descriptive vocabulary (sassy, burly, perch, flutter) among the rhythmic text builds vocabulary
and listening skills. The surprise ending generates even more conversation.
Davies, Nicola. One Tiny Turtle. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press, 2001. From baby turtle to
mother of the next generation, this story tells about a loggerhead turtle’s life. Text is provided
on two levels—the larger tells the story and the smaller provides more detail. Blue and green
illustrations of water and beach habitats detail the drama from baby to adult.
Donaldson, Julia. Where’s My Mom? New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 2000. A
butterfly tries to help a lost young monkey find its mother. The story shows the value of good
description, since the little monkey’s clues (all true but incomplete) keep leading to the wrong
conclusions on the well-meaning butterfly’s part. Before the happy ending, readers meet
several other animals and learn something about mammal vs. butterfly babies.
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Animal Tracks. New York: Scholastic, 2001. Sometimes tracks tell observers
that an animal has been there when it has not been seen. Tracking requires close
observation, and the book’s clear illustrations and questioning text encourage children to
explore and compare. Sample tracks for large and small animals on the end papers invite
comparisons, too.
Dotlich, Rebecca Kai. What Is Science? New York: Henry Holt, 2006. The author answers her
title question by naming many of the subjects science studies. Brightly colored illustrations
show a group of enthusiastic children exploring each area, often with appropriate tools like
magnifiers and sketch pads in hand.
Ehlert, Lois. Top Cat. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1998. In simple rhyming text, an older
cat reacts negatively to the arrival of a cute new kitten in the house. Eventually cut-paper
illustrations and changing “sound” words in the margins show the two becoming friends.
Raised hair on the older cat suggests another form of communication.
Ehrlich, Fred. Does a Duck Have a Daddy? Maplewood, NJ: Blue Apple Books, 2004.
Every animal has a mother and father, but this book’s emphasis is on the parenting roles
of a variety of animal fathers, including insects, birds, fish, beavers, and humans. Colorful,
cartoon-like illustrations and accompanying text have sufficient detail to encourage
conversation. For classes where two-parent families are not the norm, teachers may want to
edit the final pages on humans.
Ehrlich, Fred. Does a Mouse Have a Mommy? Maplewood, NJ: Blue Apple Books, 2004.
Simple illustrations and appropriate text describe the parenting roles of animal mothers from
turtles and lizards (who abandon their eggs) to elephants and humans (who care for their
young over an extended period with other adult help). Although this book begins with the idea
that all animals have mothers and fathers, most children will be comfortable with the mother
role emphasized here even if they do live in a two-parent family.
Ehrlich, H.M. Dr. Duck and the New Babies. Maplewood, NJ: Blue Apple Books, 2005. The
baby-delivering Dr. Duck has a hard time getting a spare day in his garden when the various
goats, cows, and chickens in his neighborhood are expecting. The cartoon-like illustrations
are thoroughly humanized but fun, and the idea of parents caring for their young is prevalent.
The story may elicit questions about babies and birth.
Fleming, Denise. Time to Sleep. New York: Henry Holt, 1997. It is winter and that means
“sleeping” for a number of animals. Boldly colored, handmade paper illustrations and a gentle
story provide signs of winter. Pictures and text convey details of the homes and general
habitat of the animals.
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here.” More than footprints, traces are clues or signs of the presence of several animals, an
airplane, and the wind. And since wild animals seldom stand still for young children to see,
learning to observe the signs of their presence is useful. Great descriptive words like “wriggly,
squirming, slimy, and slippery” also provide clues. Subtle, yet nicely detailed illustrations in
earth tones encourage close observation.
Fraser, Mary Ann. Where Are the Night Animals? New York: HarperCollins, 1999. “The
summer moon rises over the hill.” This sets the scene for a description of several animals
appearing on a star-filled night. The story notes that some animals are active in the day and
some at night. While the text is ample, the descriptive explanation of the animal activities
is generally still appropriate. Illustrations, although set at night, are great scenes for
observation—even to the water dripping from the raccoon’s tail.
French, Jackie. Diary of a Wombat. New York: Clarion Books, 2002. An Australian wombat
that looks like a small bear tells its own story in brief segments. Eating, sleeping, digging
holes, scratching, and training humans are the main activities. Printed text is minimal,
sometimes single words. The illustrations are equally minimal but wonderful for encouraging
observation. Subtle humor appeals to older children and adults.
George, Jean Craighead. Morning, Noon, and Night. New York: HarperCollins, 1999. As the
position of the sun—the light—changes during the day, the activities of animals change, too.
Short poetic verses, each accompanied by paintings of an appropriate animal, tell about
the changes. Brief endnotes identify each animal and the general geographical area of the
painting.
Gregoire, Elizabeth. Whose House Is This? A Look at Animal Homes—Webs, Nests, and
Shells. Minneapolis, MN: Picture Window Books, 2005. Rhythmic questioning text and
collage picture clues invite the reader to decide which of eight animals belongs in the brightly
colored houses. Inset boxes, which can be edited, provide fun facts. Observation and
conversation opportunities abound.
Hammersmith, Craig. Kerplunk! Minneapolis, MN: Compass Point Books, 2002. The pond
habitat is home to various insects, frogs, turtles, birds, beavers, and even a mud puppy. The
text provides background information about how and why each animal lives at the pond.
Features like “Did you know?” boxes, Fun Facts, index and glossary can be deleted as
appropriate for group size/interests. Photographs of the animals encourage observation skills.
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Falls, NY: Kids Can Press, 1999. A pond habitat hosts the birth of leopard frogs through their
complete metamorphic cycle. Using half-page flaps to open and a cumulative (ala “House that
Jack Built”) but short text, the small-book format is appropriate for individuals or very small
groups. Illustrations are finely detailed, but the relative size of people in backgrounds and
animals in foregrounds can sometimes be misleading.
Himmelman, John. A Salamander’s Life. New York: Children’s Press, 1998. Detailed earth-
tone illustrations and simple text follow a salamander through its life cycle, from eggs in a
pond and winter hibernation in a leafy burrow through spring mating. Information about the
spotted salamander at the beginning and a short glossary at the end add detail.
Hoberman, Mary Ann. A House Is a House for Me. New York: Viking Penguin, 1978. “But
once you get started in thinking...” Rhyming prose introduces the idea of houses for numerous
animals and plants and non-living things, too. Gentle colored illustrations provide lots of
details for careful observers. The lengthy poem can be edited for young children. 1983
National Book Award for Young People’s Literature
Horenstein, Henry. A Is for . . . ? San Diego, CA: Gulliver Books, 1999. This animal alphabet
book pairs sepia-colored photographs of single body parts of generally familiar animals with
letters A-Z, and readers are encouraged to identify the animals from this limited information.
The youngest readers may want to describe the body part only, while animal lovers can study
the animal represented.
Jenkins, Steve. Actual Size. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004. For young children who have
not seen the actual animal, its size is sometimes hard to imagine. Using paper collages, this
author provides actual, and sometimes comparative, body sizes (and formal measurements in
small type) for numerous animals. Sometimes the whole animal is larger than book-size, and
therefore only a body part is illustrated. The sizes and comparisons provide conversation and
measuring opportunities. Notes about the specific animals are added at the end.
Jenkins, Steve, and Robin Page. What Do You Do When Something Wants to Eat You?
New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1997. The author describes how various animals, including an
octopus, bombardier beetle, pangolin, and gliding frog, defend themselves against predators.
Limited text and earth-tone, cut-paper collages provide many observation and conversation
opportunities.
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most children are familiar with, this author uses plastic overlays to show what eggs and the
animals that produce them look like outside and inside. Text in several sizes describes the
general process and provides additional information about egg-laying. Relative size of eggs
and animals should not be taken literally, but the small book’s format will be fascinating for
some children.
Jordan, Sandra. Frog Hunt. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Brook Press, 2002. Three boys (and
their mother, based on a hazy picture) go frog hunting at a nearby pond. In small tinted
photographs and simple text, their search results in seeing several other pond animals, but it
is not until late in the day that they find a frog. An easily overlooked author’s endnote explains
the “one-minute pond rule” in their family: animals must be returned where found within one
minute of capture. Additional information there provides background information about the
animals and kettle ponds.
Kalan, Robert. Jump, Frog, Jump! New York: HarperCollins, 1989. A cumulative tale with an
appealing refrain actually explains predation—with the frog both the predator and the prey.
A unexpected ending adds to the fun. Colorful almost-primitive illustrations with a touch of
foreshadowing are good for both observation and prediction practice.
Kawata, Ken. Animal Tails. New York: Kane/Miller Book Publishers, 2001. Written in a
guessing game format, this book suggest numerous ways animal tails are useful. Enough
clues are given in the tail-only text/illustration t
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