Claws, Coats, and Camouflage

Nonfiction Monday

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Claws, Coats, and Camouflage

The Ways animals Fit into Their World

By Susan E. Goodman

Photographs by Michael J. Doolittle

Millbrook Press, 2010

ISBN #978-0-7613-1865-1

Nonfiction

Grades 2-4

     “What would happen if you pulled a goldfish out of it bowl to play videogames? It would be in big trouble. Then again, you would be too if you went underwater without bring any air

     Animals live in all sorts of habitats, or environments. Some live in forests. Others live on mountains or in oceans. They have adaptations that help them fit into these worlds. Adaptations include any part of an animal’s body that helps it live it special life. Adaptations also include ways an animal acts that help it survive.”

Following a definition of adaptations, this book continues with headings about the sort of adaptations animals have. The page begins with text giving a short explanation and then follows with a close-up photograph of an animal and asks the reader what he or she thinks is the adaptation of that animal might be.  The page turn explains that animal’s adaptation and provides additional examples to support that particular kind of adaptation. The grouping of adaptations included fitting in, staying safe, getting food, making a new generation, and also includes how humans fit into these categories.

The book covers a range of animals from familiar to more exotic sorts of species, and the close up photographs provide a fascinating look and opportunity to predict what the adaptation might be. At 48 pages, it covers many animals and adaptations, which might cause the reader to flip through some pages more quickly than others. The only back matter is an index. However, it holds a large amount of material and would be a fun read or excellent resource for animals and how they fit into their world.

Activity 1

Choose an animal that isn’t included in the book and look up information about its life and activities. Find and name an adaptation the animal has and decide which category it would best fit into from the book chapters.

Activity 2

Create an adaptations chart using the categories from the book. List the animals from the book in their categories and add a short explanation about how it is adapted. Then look for other animals to add to the chart.

Use this site to find many other animal adaptations.

Reinforce acquired information about animals and adaptations with this game.

National Science Standards: organisms and their environment

Nonfiction Monday is here today with lots of great books. Stop by and take a look!

Fuse 8 has a review up for Spilling Ink: A Young Writer’s Handbook by Anne Mazer and Ellen Potter. 

Maggy at Redtedart is looking at alphabet and numbers aimed at babies and toddlers, with an emphasis on books to touch and feel.

Jeff at NC Teacher Stuff has a post on 13 Paintings Children Should Know by by Angela Wenzel.

Abby (the) Librarian has a review of Poop Happened!: A History of the World from the Bottom Up by Sarah Albee.

Angela at Bookish Blather reviewed Short: Walking Tall When You’re Not Tall at All by John Schwartz.

Lori at Lori Calabrese Writes! has a review of Sex: A Book for Teens.

Jennifer at Jean Little Library has a review of Goal! by Mark Stewart to accompany the World Cup matches.

Bookends is featuring Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World’s Strangest Parrot from the Scientists in the Field series by Sy Montgomery with photographs by Nic Bishop.

Jennie from Biblio File has Lucy Long Ago by Catherine Thimmesh.

Roberta is celebrating the arts this week at Wrapped in Foil with a review of the inspiring Dynamic Women Dancers by Anne Dublin.

Anastasia has The Prairie Dog’s Town by Miriam Aronin at Picture Book of the Day.

Anamaria at Books Together has Life-Size Zoo this week.

Bookmoot has a review of Spilling Ink today, too! Must be in the air.