Monday, October 09, 2023

Synergy: Celebrating Animals


ANIMALS are living things that move, feed, and react to the world through their senses. These organisms include mammals, insects, reptiles, and birds. Animals may be wild or domestic.


To understand a concept, it’s useful to read a cluster of books related to a theme. Explore these recently published books for young people:


HOW OLD IS A WHALE? ANIMAL LIFE SPANS FROM THE MAYFLY TO THE IMMORTAL JELLYFISH written by Lily Murray and illustrated by Jesse Hodgson is a picture book exploring the life spans of a wide range of animals. After an introduction to time on Earth, readers explore twenty seven animals. Each two-page spread provides an introduction to the creature’s life span, then uses blocks of text and colorful illustrations to examine its life. ARC courtesy of Big Picture Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House.


ODD COUPLES written by Maria Birmingham and illustrated by Raz Latif is a picture book exploring creatures that share an interesting characteristic. Each two-page spread asks or answers the question “What could this odd couple have in common?” From den digging practices to methods of communication, readers learn about the commonalities between very different animals. ARC courtesy of Owlkids, Ingram Publishers.


DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME: EXPLORE THE EARTH’S HABITATS DURING THE DAY AND NIGHT written by Michael Bright and illustrated by Nic Jones is an interactive flip picture book exploring life in a variety of habitats during day and at night. From the African savanna to the Australian outback, readers examine a dozen locations including cities. In addition, readers learn about life at dawn and dusk. ARC courtesy of words & pictures, Quarto Group.