Rachel Williams (1)

This is a delightful collection of information and anecdotes detailing how animals survive in the wild. The authors have done an excellent job selecting animals that will be of high interest to kids, or that will be once kids learn about them.

For example, while you might expect kids to want to know more about puffins or anacondas or the giant panda, after they read about the extraordinary behaviors of bowerbirds and leaf-cutter ants, they will be amazed and fascinated. (Bowerbirds are known show more for their artistry - they construct nests, or bowers, out of berries, stones, flowers, trinkets, and any other colorful objects they can find to attract females. In Animal Wise, Virginia Morell reported that if scientists snuck in and rearranged the displays, the birds would quickly restore every single item to its proper place. Scientists concluded bowerbirds are the first animal other than humans to have “an artistic sense.”)

Leaf-cutter ants have equally impressive characteristics. They live in underground colonies that can reach depths of twenty feet and hold up to 8 million ants! And they can strip a whole tree bare of leaves in a single night. And here’s a somewhat terrifying/gross fact: the queen is the size of a small mouse!

There are so many more fascinating tidbits I could share from this book. You’ll just have to get a copy for yourself!

The illustrator, Lucy Letherland, does a terrific job making each double-page spread interesting, fun, and colorful.

Evaluation: This is an outstanding resource that will help kids appreciate the amazing diversity and astonishing behaviors of animals, and will undoubtedly have them curious for more. show less

What a delightful read! It reminded me of a science journal meets graphic novel. The illustrations are beautiful, and the text is very easy and quick to read. I can see this being a book we come back to over and over again to just look at. My daughter's favorite page was the one about the mosquito - did you know that mosquitoes are pollinators?

This is a must read for any nature lover.

Hinter dem seltsamen kaleidoskopartigen Liniengewirr verbergen sich faszinierende Tiere und exotische Pflanzen. Eine fantastische Wunderwelt, bei der je nach Folie der dazugehörigen Farbzauberlupe unterschiedliche Motive zutage treten. Die Tiere des Tages sind durch die rote, die Tiere der Nacht durch die blaue und die Pflanzen durch die grüne Lupe zu erkennen. In einer innovativen Kunsttechnik bieten aufwändige Farbtafeln spektakuläre Einblicke in zehn unterschiedliche Lebensräume wie show more die Serengeti, das Apo-Riff der Philippinen oder den Regenwald im Kongo.

Ausstattung: Mit Farbzauber-Lupe show less

A compendium of explanations about aspects nature children would be curious about. Each subject has a two-page spread devoted to it. A good variety of explanations included each nicely illustrated.