Exotic Animals

Elephants

Name: Elephants
Author: Martin Schwabacher
ISBN: 9780761443438

by Martin Schwabacher, Lori Mortensen

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Overview

Did you know that elephants are the biggest animals on land, each weighing as much as a school bus? Read Elephants and find out more about these gentle, social creatures.

Describes the physical characteristics and behavior of elephants, their family groups, food habits, and threats to their existence.

Synopsis

Did you know that elephants are the biggest animals on land, each weighing as much as a school bus? Read Elephants and find out more about these gentle, social creatures.

Children's Literature

Elephants is filled with beautiful, full-color photographs and fascinating information. In five chapters, the book describes the elephant family, what elephants eat, how elephants live and die, and how and why elephant populations have declined so dramatically over the past two decades. In one of many fascinating sidebars, we learn how farmers in Asia tried to keep elephants from eating their crops. The farmers put up electric fences but the elephants tore down tree limbs and threw them on the fences so they could cross. One farmer dug a deep ditch around his field, but an elephant fell into the ditch and allowed the other elephants to walk across his back. With adult help, this wonderful book is easy for young children to read. It includes a glossary, a resources page and an index. 2001, Benchmark Books, $22.79. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Danielle Williams

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Editorials

Children's Literature - Carrie Hane Hung

Imagine a baby that weighs about 250 pound and is approximately three feet tall when it is born and in five months will weigh over 1,000 pounds. Read about the life of an elephant. In addition to its life cycle, read about the characteristics and traits of elephants. Learn how to distinguish between an African and Asian elephant through their physical features. Readers will find general information about the elephant's diet and habitat. Along with the captioned color photographs are charts and insets with additional information. Examine the map that compares the elephants' past and present habitat. Find out why the elephant population is decreasing and what is happening to protect the elephant. Use the index to locate specific information or pictures. Students who are studying elephants may find the list of books and websites helpful to explore for more information. Those students interested in other animals may like to explore the other books in the "Benchmark Rockets: Animals" series. The other five books are about bears, chimpanzees, lions, tigers, and whales. Reviewer: Carrie Hane Hung

Children's Literature

School Library Journal

Gr 2-3–Each of these titles focuses on an endangered animal, although status is not the overriding emphasis. Instead, the books’ three chapters reveal the creatures’ habitats, characteristics, diet, and parenting techniques, often providing fun facts that are not found in other similar books. Readers will learn, for example, that grooming helps chimpanzees feel calm, that whales are divided into two groups–those with teeth and those without–and that lions catch their prey only by ambush, not by running. The straightforward presentation of the information and the uncluttered and attractive layout make these books good choices for reports. Color photographs, while not outstanding, are well utilized and complete a solid package. This is a good series for replacing older books or supplementing existing collections.