Nonfiction Monday

Nature photographer Mary Holland introduces young readers to the many variations and adaptations of ANIMAL EARS in this new addition to her award-winning Animal Anatomy series.

Stunning full-color closeups fill most of the double page spreads and are underscored by age appropriate text that offers insights into the many ways in which animals use their ears to survive. Although written with children in mind, adults will learn new facts as well.  Did you know that not all ears are located on the head? Katydid ears are on their legs. And while most animals have a pair of ears, the Praying Mantis has only one which is located in a groove on the underside of its body between its front legs. Fascinating!

The book identifies an audience of ages 4-9. Younger readers will enjoy the strong visual impact of the images and benefit from reading with an adult or older sibling. Experienced readers will find the text engaging and will discover more information in the final section titled For Creative Minds where additional discussions review the many specific ways in which animals utilize their ears. A “Mix and Match” page challenges readers to pair photos of animals with the correct set of ears. “How Do Ears Hear?” provides a more detailed look at the mechanism of hearing and also alerts readers to the fact that not every person is able to utilize this important sense. “Ear Questions” answers three important questions: Why do some animals have very small ears? – How do owls hear so well? – Can ears do anything but hear?

The publisher, Arbordale, has aligned this book to NGSS, Core, and state standards in science, math, and social studies. An extensive teaching activities guide is available on Arbordalepublishing.com.

An excellent STEM resource. Recommended for home, school, and library.