Nonfiction Monday: Whoo Goes There?

Whoo Goes There?

By Jennifer A. Ericsson

Ilus. by Bert Kitchen
Ages 4-8, 40 pages
Roaring Brook Press, 2009

Reviewed by Heidi Bee Roemer

Book Source: We would like to thank the Westchester Public Library for providing a copy of this book for review.

Owl is hungry. From atop his perch in a tall tree, he waits and listens as various small creatures scurry, scamper, waddle, and hop in the moonlit landscape below. Hoping to find a tasty mouse for dinner, he is disappointed to see a cat. Moments later, he thinks he hears a squirrel, but instead, spies a skunk. He hopes to snag a bird, but finds a bat. He waits to retrieve a fish, but finds a beaver. And so this cumulative pattern continues. Ericsson’s carefully-crafted sentences create mounting tension as the luckless Owl gets hungrier and hungrier. At last Owl spies the mouse he’s been waiting for. But just as he swoops down to snatch it, the mouse is frightened away by a loud noise. And both the hunter and the hunted must continue their nighttime search for a satisfying meal.
Complementing the repetitive format are Kitchen’s rich, detailed illustrations of thirteen animals in their natural habitats. Readers can see the porcupine’s finely-drawn, needle-sharp quills, the squirrel’s tufted tail, and the fish’s scales glimmering in the moonlit. The muted palate of green, brown, and blue set a quiet mood for the nighttime setting. Not only does Whoo Goes There? offer young readers a suspenseful animal tale, but also provides information about animal survival from the predator’s point of view. An excellent read-aloud, this is a great choice for home or classroom use.

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Shelf-Employed blog.

Nonfiction Monday: Ready, Set...WAIT!

Ready, Set…WAIT!
What Animals Do Before a Hurricane
Written by Patti R. Zelch
Illustrated by Connie McLennan
Ages 4-8, 32 Pages
Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2010
Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher

Book Source: We would like to thank Sylvan Dell Publishing for providing a copy of this book for review.

We see images on television of long lines of people at the grocery store stocking up on non-perishable food items, bottled water, candles, batteries, etc. We also see people boarding up their homes and evacuating. We know what humans do when a hurricane is moving in, but what about animals? How do they prepare for and protect themselves and their families from an approaching storm?
This insightful new title introduces us to animal behavior prior to a hurricane. Ready, Set…WAIT! shows us fish banding together, searching for food and safe shelter. Sharks head for the safety of the deep blue water. Lobsters burrow down in holes in the sand. Butterflies wedge under rocks. Manatees hold up near seagrass beds where they will have plenty to eat. This book clearly illustrates that these creatures and many others prepare for a hurricane the same ways in which we do. And just like humans, the animals get ready, get set…and wait!
As with all Sylvan Dell titles, this book contains a For Creative Minds section. This fact-filled back matter delves further into what a hurricane is, other names for a hurricane, storm preparation and animal behavior. Click here for related websites, interactive math, reading and comprehension quizzes and teaching activities.
This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by In Need of Chocolate blog.

Nonfiction Monday: Mites to Mastodons

Mites to Mastodons

by Maxine Kumin

Ilus. By Pamala Zagarenski
Ages 4-8, 24 pages
Houghton Mifflin, 2006

Reviewed by Heidi Bee Roemer

Book Source: We would like to thank the Orland Park Public Library for lending a copy of this book for review.

Combining wit, whimsy, and an assortment fun facts, Pulitzer Prize-winner, Maxine Kumin, introduces readers to 19 small-to-large animals. The two-spotted mite, for example, is oh-so-small, "..that you might at first glance see nothing at all." In contrast, the towering giraffe is so tall that it "…feeds on treetops’ leafy tips / where no one else can reach, except / for elephants, whose trunks can stretch / as high as the giraffes’ slim necks."
In addition to learning comparative sizes of several wild and domestic animals, Kumin’s rhymes also divulge information about the creature’s physic, diet, habit, habitat and/or life cycle. Did you know that an anteater uses its two-foot-long tongue to snag 30,000 insects each day? That a newborn baby kangaroo resembles a lima bean? That a giraffe can clearly see a small creature a half-mile away? "Polliwogs" is a particularly clever and succinct poem. After noting these creatures live in swampy bogs, the poem continues: "…Polliwogs begin as eggs. / First sprout tails, and, later, legs. / Eggs are laid by mother frogs, / who began as polliwogs." Closing poems comment on prehistoric and extinct species. The combination of Zagarenski's eye-catching paint, paper, and photo collages compliment the text beautifully, making this must-have book for the science classroom or for any young animal lover!

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by Abby the Librarian blog.

Nonfiction Monday: Are You Ready for Summer?

Are you Ready for Summer?
Written by Sheila Anderson
32 Pages, Ages 4-8
Lerner Publishing Group, 2010
Reviewed by Kim Hutmacher
Bio by Laura Crawford
Book Source: We would like to thank Lerner Publishing Group for providing a copy of this book for review.

Baseball, bike rides and lemonade. Ahh….it must be summer! With fun easy to understand text, engaging photos and a bold colorful design, this book introduces the sights, sounds and weather of summer. Readers not only learn what summer is like for humans, but also for our animal friends. We see dogs panting to keep themselves cool and mother bears teaching their cubs how to catch fish. We also learn how vegetables grow and what humidity is. The book ends with tell-tale signs that fall is near. Back matter includes a summer solstice fact page, glossary and suggestions for further reading. Are You Ready for Summer? Is part of Lerner’s Lightning Bolt Series titled Our Four Seasons. Other books in the series include:

Are You Ready for Fall?
Are You Ready for Winter?
Are You Ready for Spring?

The entire collection would make a nice addition to any lesson plan revolving around the seasons.

Sheila Anderson is a very busy author with Lerner Publishing. Her nonfiction subjects include an eclectic collection of biographies including Roberto Clemente, Miley Cyrus and Jimmy Carter. Her landform titles include Plateaus, Valleys and Islands. Her newest series of ‘Are You Ready For’ books were released in January of 2010. Sheila is a former teacher.

This post is part of the Nonfiction Monday Round-Up hosted this week by 5 Great Books blog.