ANIMAL SKINS by nature
photographer Mary Holland introduces young readers to the variety of furs,
feathers, and scales utilized by animals in this addition to her award-winning
Animal Anatomy series.
Age appropriate text offers insights into the
many ways that animals utilize their skin for survival: as protection from the
cold and wet, as camouflage, or as a means of warning away predators. Although
written with children in mind, adults will learn new facts as well. Porcupines
have three types of hair: underfur for warmth, guard hair that acts like
whiskers to alert the porcupine to its surroundings, and quills for protection.
Frogs can absorb oxygen through their skin. Many male birds wear feathers that
are more brilliantly colored than the females.
Why?
The book identifies an audience of ages 5-9.
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 readers are
challenged to review what they have learned:
- “Match The Skin To The Animal” pairs thumbnail photos of skin with the host animal.
- “How Animals Use Their Skins” asks which animal uses its skin to breathe, crawl, keep warm, defend itself, camouflage itself, and warn others.
- “Special Skins” discusses some the unusual skin of moles, honey bees, turkey vultures, and the gray treefrog.
- “Skins and Animal Classes” explains how animals can be sorted into classes by their skin coverings.
The publisher, Arbordale, has aligned this book
to NGSS, Core, and state standards. An extensive teaching activities guide is
available on Arbordalepublishing.com.
Animal Skins is an excellent STEM resource.
Recommended for home, school, and library.
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