The Prairie Dog’s Town
A Perfect Hideaway
By Mirian Aronin
Photo illustrated
Bearport Press, 2010
Series: Spectacular Animal Towns
NF PB
Grades 3-5
“In 1902, biologist Vernon Bailey traveled to Texas so that he could study the animals that lived there. In some areas, Vernon saw small furry creatures almost everywhere. They were ‘standing at the entrance to their holes, flipping their tails, and steadily barking.””
“What were these small animals? They were black-tailed prairie dogs.”
Vernon Bailey’s discovery of these social animals, a member of the squirrel family, revealed the largest prairie dog town ever discovered by humans. Living in grassy areas in subterranean burrows with an extensive tunnel network, these social mammals work together, communicating, finding food, guarding the burrows, and raising their young. They greet one another by touching teeth, giving them the appearance of kissing. The book provides information in readable sections of text and additional short facts in small sidebars interspersed among the photographs of prairie dogs going about their daily lives. The main text ends with the role of the prairie dogs in the prairie ecosystem. New vocabulary is highlighted in bold text and the book includes a set of prairie dog town facts, more about other animal towns, a glossary, index, and further information.
Activity 1
Using the information in the book, create a simple food chain that includes the prairie dog. You might include: black-footed ferrets, or hawks; grasses, seeds, or leaves; prairie dogs
Activity 2
Research another home, such as a beehive or coral reef. Compare their organization to that of the prairie dog burrow.
Activity 3
Look up other rodents and find out why these animals are all classified into the same family.
The National Geographic site has more information about rodents and more fascinating details about prairie dogs, including a printable fact sheet.
Other books in the series:
The Ant’s Nest: A Huge, Underground City
The Bat’s Cave: A Dark City
The Beaver’s Lodge: Building with Leftovers
The Coral Reef: A Giant City Under the Sea
The Honey Bee’s Hive: A Thriving City
National Science Standard: characteristics of organisms; organisms in their environment
Review book provided by publisher.
Posted by slduke 