Overview
Did you know that bats can eat up to half their body weight in insects each night? This is just one of the fun facts readers will learn in the Backyard Animals series. From wolves to mice and salamanders to ravens, Backyard Animals introduces young readers to some of the animals they might see in cities and towns across the country.
Readers will explore the physical characteristics, natural habitats, history, and folklore of the animals they might find in their own backyard. Each Backyard Animals title includes easy-to-read text, fun facts, and colorful photos.
Synopsis
Did you know that bats can eat up to half their body weight in insects each night? This is just one of the fun facts readers will learn in the Backyard Animals series. From wolves to mice and salamanders to ravens, Backyard Animals introduces young readers to some of the animals they might see in cities and towns across the country.
Readers will explore the physical characteristics, natural habitats, history, and folklore of the animals they might find in their own backyard. Each Backyard Animals title includes easy-to-read text, fun facts, and colorful photos.
School Library Journal
Gr 3–5—These simply written guides cover basic facts in a series of double-paged sections. Short blocks of text are devoted to the animals' outstanding physical and behavioral characteristics; some historical background; natural habitats and life cycle; role in the mythology of various cultures (a short myth is recounted); and tips on how to respond to (or avoid) encounters with the creatures. Sidebars present additional miscellaneous facts. A large, clear color photograph of one or more of the featured animals (unfortunately, only a few species are identified in captions) appears on about every other page; some text pages also include smaller photos. An addendum in each title includes three frequently asked questions (with answers) about the animals, and poses several questions to readers as a review of key points. Although Laurence Pringle's Bats! Strange and Wonderful (Boyds Mills, 2000), Sandra Markle's Outside and Inside Rats and Mice (S & S, 2001), and Barbara A. Somervill's Mosquitoes: Hungry for Blood (Rosen, 2007) contain more detailed information, particularly on anatomy and development of young, these brief overviews do a good job of presenting the basics. With their succinct, easy-to-read texts and accessible formats, they will also be good choices for hi/lo readers.—Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library