Using a wide variety of stunning photographs, author Kevin Kurtz poses thought-provoking questions to help readers determine if things are living or nonliving. For example, if most (but not all) living things can move, can any nonliving things move? As part of the Compare and Contrast series, this is a unique look at determining whether something is living or nonliving.
Readers will be fascinated by the many ways animals use their tails: to move on land, swim, warn others, steer, hold onto things, keep warm, balance, fly, attract a mate, and even to defend themselves! Apparently tails are not just for wagging when happy. Following Animal Eyes, Animal Mouths (NSTA/CBC Outstanding Trade Science Award), and Animal Legs, Mary Holland continues her photographic Animal Anatomy and Adaptations series by exploring the many ways animals use their tails.
One cold, rainy, spring night, a young girl and her scientist father participate in “Salamander Night” to follow hundreds of spotted salamanders as they venture into a vernal pool to mate and lay eggs. Together, the father-child team studies the salamanders through their complete amphibian metamorphosis, culminating in the adult salamanders' disappearance into the woods in late summer. In easy-to-understand text, the girl relates the tale through her illustrated, photographic journal.
Jojo is prepping for an exciting night; it’s time for the bat count! Bats have always been a welcome presence during the summers in the family barn. But over the years, the numbers have dwindled as many bats in the area caught white-nose syndrome. Jojo and her family count the bats and send the numbers to scientists who study bats, to see if the bat population can recover. On a summer evening, the family quietly makes their way to the lawn to watch the sky and count the visitors to their farm.
Tudley, a pond-living painted turtle, adopts other animals' behaviors--simply because he doesn't know he can't! He flies like a bird, sings like a katydid, hops like a frog, and glows like a firefly. All the while, he uses his special behaviors to help other animals. But will Tudley's new friends help him when he needs help? The "For Creative Minds" education section includes fun facts about painted turtles, rubythroated hummingbirds, fireflies, leopard frogs, and true katydids. It also contains a "Make a Hopping Tudley" craft, a recipe for hummingbird sugar water, a "Creative Sparks" section, and a "Food for Thought" section.
In Sloth Babies, emergent readers learn how baby sloths look, cling to their mothers, and grow up in the rain forest. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Sloth Babies includes tools for caregivers, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, a Let's Review image and question.
In Toucan Chicks, emergent readers learn how baby toucans grow up in the rain forest and use their large, colorful beaks to eat. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Toucan Chicks includes tools for caregivers, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, a Let's Review image and question.
Squirrels introduces emergent readers to tree squirrels' features, habitat, and behaviors while providing them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references to support emergent readers, making sure they aren’t facing too many challenges at once. Squirrels includes tools for teachers and caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
In Capybara Pups, emergent readers learn how baby capybaras look, live, and grow up in the rain forest. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Capybara Pups includes tools for caregivers, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, a Let's Review image and question.
In Crocodile Hatchlings, emergent readers learn how baby crocodiles hatch from eggs, navigate the water with their mother, and live in the rain forest. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Crocodile Hatchlings includes tools for caregivers, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, a Let's Review image and question.
In Jaguar Cubs, emergent readers learn how baby jaguars look, learn from their mother, and grow up in the rain forest. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Jaguar Cubs includes tools for caregivers, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, a Let's Review image and question.
In Lemur Pups, emergent readers learn how baby lemurs look, cling to their mothers, and grow up in the rain forest. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Lemur Pups includes tools for caregivers, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, a Let's Review image and question.
In Parrot Chicks, emergent readers learn how these colorful baby birds grow up in the rain forest. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Parrot Chicks includes tools for caregivers, as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, a Let's Review image and question.
Raccoons introduces emergent readers to raccoons' features, habitat, and behaviors while providing them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references to support emergent readers, making sure they aren’t facing too many challenges at once. Raccoons includes tools for teachers and caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
Rabbits introduces emergent readers to rabbits' features, habitat, and behaviors while providing them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references to support emergent readers, making sure they aren’t facing too many challenges at once. Rabbits includes tools for teachers and caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
Robins introduces emergent readers to robins' behaviors while providing them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references to support emergent readers, making sure they aren’t facing too many challenges at once. Robins includes tools for teachers and caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
Snakes introduces emergent readers to different colored and patterned garter snakes while providing them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references to support emergent readers, making sure they aren’t facing too many challenges at once. Snakes includes tools for teachers and caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
Mice introduces emergent readers to field mice features, habitats, and behaviors while providing them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references to support emergent readers, making sure they aren’t facing too many challenges at once. Mice includes tools for teachers and caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
Cardinals introduces emergent readers to male and female cardinals and their behaviors, as well as their visible differences while providing them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Carefully crafted text uses high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references to support emergent readers, making sure they aren’t facing too many challenges at once. Cardinals includes tools for teachers and caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, and an index.
In Polar Bear Cubs, emergent readers follow polar bear cubs and their mother as they play, hunt, and swim in the Arctic. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Polar Bear Cubs includes tools for caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, and review questions.
In Penguin Chicks, emergent readers learn how emperor penguin chicks grow up with their fathers and withstand frigid temperatures in Antarctica. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Penguin Chicks includes tools for caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, and review questions.
In Harp Seal Pups, emergent readers learn how harp seal pups are born white to blend in with snow and ice and how they grown up to swim and catch fish in the Arctic. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Harp Seal Pups includes tools for caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, and review questions.
In Arctic Fox Kits, emergent readers learn how Arctic fox kits grow up, turn color based on the season, and survive in the Arctic. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers. Arctic Fox Kits includes tools for caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, index, and review questions.
I See Wasps introduces emergent readers to different kinds of paper wasps while providing them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers, making sure they aren’t facing too many challenges at once. I See Wasps includes tools for teachers and caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, an index, and review questions.
I See Moths introduces emergent readers to different kinds of moths while providing them with a supportive first nonfiction reading experience. Carefully crafted text, high-frequency words, repetitive sentence patterns, and strong visual references support emergent readers, making sure they aren’t facing too many challenges at once. I See Moths includes tools for teachers and caregivers as well as introductory nonfiction features such as labels, a table of contents, words to know, an index, and review questions.
