A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

Animals

Run Salmon Run

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raincoast FTC

The other day as I was walking on the treadmill I watched a video about the Spirit Bears of British Columbia.  A big part of the menu for these bears is the salmon run.  It made me think of my most recent review.  Run Salmon Run would be a great book to go along with learning about these elusive bears.  Salmon don’t only provide a major part of their diet, but the off cast feeds many smaller animals, providing fertilizer for the forest, a nutrient-dense environment for their fry and much much more.  The Salmon run is a necessary part of the eco-system.  Learn more about salmon and their very necessary lifecycle. 

What I am Reviewing

Raincoast BooksRun Salmon Run is a hardcover picture book geared at children in kindergarten to grade 3.  Written by Bobs & Lolo and illustrated by Lori Joy Smith it was published by Page Two Books.  36 pages of full colour illustrations along with large print to make it easy to share with a group of children.  It covers the life-cycle of the wild Pacific Salmon from tiny egg to returning adult.  Run Salmon Runs comes complete with a glossary of terms.   Reviewed for Raincoast Books. 

The Details about Run Salmon Run

Run Salmon Run

Large print text fills the first page of every two-page spread.  Rhyming couplets easy to read. 

Run Salmon Run

The second part of the two-page spread introduces new terminology in a short rhyme. Words like alevin, fry, smolt, krill, and spawn.  Introducing us to various life stages and food sources. 

Run Salmon run

Should you get it?

YES!   It’s short and sweet, a great primer to learning the basics of the salmon and their life-cycle.  It would for me, be the first book in learning about salmon.  I do wish they had a bit more in it about the importance of salmon to the eco-system, but for a book directed at youngsters, it’s a good start.  The colourful pages fill the eye with delight, and the numerous items to look at on the page give additional conversation-starters.   A lovely book indeed, I urge you to look into Run Salmon Run. 

Review image run salmon run

A Wild Child’s Guide to Endangered Animals

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Do you know many of the world’s endangered animals?  In A Wild Child’s Guide to Endangered Animals you can learn about 43 animals scattered across the world.  Learn their stories, and in learning them, be prepared to help them. 

A wild child's guide to endangered animals review

A Wild Child’s Guide to Endangered Animals.
Millie Marotta.
Chronicle Books.
140 pages.  All ages.

Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Endangered Animals, plant and animal art, animals, biology, science,

From New York Times bestselling author Millie Marotta comes this gorgeous celebration of the animal kingdom. A Wild Child’s Guide to Endangered Animals highlights the plight of 43 endangered species from around the world, including rare and well-known animals living in freshwater, oceans, forests, mountains, tundras, deserts, grasslands, and wetlands. Vivid illustrations bring caribous, axolotls, giraffes, agami herons, and many more to life on these rich and varied pages. Illuminating text relays the story of each species, from how they live and why they are endangered to what is being done about it. Complete with a map detailing where each species can still be found, this visually rich, timely, informative book raises awareness in the most spectacular way.

A wild child's guide to endangered animals

The Details of Endangered Animals

When I first glanced A Wild Child’s Guide to Endangered Animals, I thought “Wow, what a pretty book!”.  Every page in this over-sized book is filled with creative plant and animal drawings. 

A wild child's guide to endangered animals

Each full-page depiction of each endangered animal is followed by text that gives clear information about them.   We can learn about the superior swimming abilities of the Scalloped Hammerhead Shark, and incredible survival skills of the Wild Bactrian Camel.  Be surprised at the large size of the Gharial, and about the horned marsupial frog with horns.  So many fascinating animals that are endangered all around the globe. 

A wild child's guide to endangered animals

Learn about animals from 8 different ecosystems of the world.  43 different animals with their own unique abilities and their own needs. 

  • Oceans : Tiger tail seahorse
  • Forests : Black robin
  • Deserts : Gobi bear
  • Fresh Water : Axolotl
  • Grasslands : Chinese Penguin
  • Mountains : Olm
  • Tundra : Caribou
  • Wetlands : Shoebill
A wild child's guide to endangered animals

Helpful tips for getting involved are enclosed at the close of the book.  Ways to be involved include actively being part of wildlife organizations, raises awareness, using social media and learning how to live with the planet in mind.  Books such as Small changes and Ways to change the world are part of this. 

A wild child's guide to endangered animals

It’s good you know, to learn what makes each animal unique.  Be amazed at the pygmy raccoon living on a small island, the wonders of a cat the hunts for fish, and the battling skills of the Nilgiri Tahr. 

endangered animals map

Recommendations

If you have any interest in protecting the animals of this planet and want to learn the stories of just a few of them, A Wild Child’s Guide to Endangered Animals will help you.   

If you have a desire to study the ecosystems, or countries of the world, you will find this hard-cover book a great way to expand your learning. 

The beauty of the pages, the informative text, and the encouragement to be involved.  A fantastic book to help you on your journey to protect the things that help make this world great. 

The Truth about Hawks

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You may remember I wrote about The Truth of Crocodiles last week?  Today I have The Truth about Hawks to share with you.  Maxwell Eaton has again created a fascinating, humour-filled book. 

the truth about hawks

What I am Reviewing

The Truth About Hawks.
Maxwell Eaton III (author and illustrator)
Roaring Brook Press.
40 pages, ages 4-8, grades 1-2.
Picture book, hawks, birds, humour, children,
Series: The Truth about Your Favourite Animals.
Book Six.
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Maxwell Eaton III’s The Truth About Hawks is part of his illustrated nonfiction series continuing to enlighten and delight readers. Filled with useful facts about hawks that will make you laugh so hard you won’t even realize you’re learning something!
Did you know that hawks can see four to eight times better than a human?
How about that some hawks even eat other types of birds?
Did you know that hawks use ultra-violet light to find their prey?
Discover these facts and more in this new addition to the popular series that combines raucous amounts of humor with a surprising amount of information on beloved animal friends.

the truth about hawks

The Details

Bright colourful images fill the pages of this picture book.   The natural colours of these magnificent birds are brought into sharp relief. 

the truth about hawks

Scattered throughout the pages is humour.  When we are told that golden eagles knock Dall sheep off mountain tops, and then we see Dall sheep taking parachutes off the cliff with looks and expressions of glee.   It’s funny!  (at least I know it would be for kids right?)  🙂

the truth about hawks

We are introduced to a variety of raptors some of which are golden eagle, vultures, snail kites, bald eagles, and red-tailed hawks.  We learn about mating habits, child rearing, food requirements, migration and threats to their existence.   Mr. Eaton lightly touches on all these areas and more. 

My Thoughts

As much as I like this book I am bothered by eagles, owls etc being called hawks.  They are birds of prey, and given the birds discussed in the book a better title would be “The Truth about Raptors”.   Even with littles, being more accurate is better than being less accurate. 

That said… would I want people to read this book?  YES!  Learning about these magnificent birds is important.  Helping to conserve them means learning about who they are, where they live, what threats they face and everything we can.   Maxwell Eaton does a marvellous job of doing that with a sense of style and well-played humour. 

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The Truth About Crocodiles

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The Truth about Crocodiles is a whirl-wind tour of all things crocodilian. Learn about their cousins, their lifestyle and how to stay safe.  With humour and excellent illustrations, Maxwell Eaton helps children learn about this amazing class of animals. 

The truth about Crocodiles

What I am Reviewing

The Truth About Crocodiles: Seriously Funny Facts about your Favorite Animals.
Maxwell Eaton III (author and illustrator)
Roaring Brook Press
4-8 years
Softcover picture book
Non-fiction, animals, nature study, crocodiles,

From writer/illustrator Maxwell Eaton III, The Truth About Crocodiles is the fifth installment in his hilarous series offering another lighthearted look filled with useful facts about crocodiles that will make you laugh so hard, you won’t even realize you’re learning something!
Did you know that crocs often keep rocks in their stomachs in order to stay underwater longer?
Did you know that baby crocs make sounds similar to kittens when they hatch?
Did you know that crocs have a lot of teeth, but don’t actually chew their food?
Discover these facts and more in this addition to the popular series that combines raucous amounts of humor with a surprising amount of information on beloved animal friends.

The truth about Crocodiles

The Details

As you can see, the fun starts from the time you open the book.   Bold illustrations bring excellent into play as you learn about a large, armoured predator, zipping through life with large teeth.

The truth about Crocodiles

We learn about the types of crocodilians, the food they eat, nesting habits, where they live and what threatens them.  We also learn how to stay safe when around them. 

The truth about Crocodiles

I love the brilliance in the illustrations, the humour… even though this book is geared to younger kids, made me laugh.   Like really… a coon with kitchen utensils coming to feast on crocodile eggs being threatened by mama.. turns away muttering “who put these in my hands?”   I snorted.

Should you Get it?

The truth about Crocodiles is a fun little book.  Full of quips and interesting facts about crocodilians.  If you are doing a study on crocodiles and want to meet their cousins this book will surely help.  The bright images and the humour contained within, while providing good facts… makes this book a winner.

Crocodilians live in a wide variety of locations, you might find this unit study to be a perfect go-along.

If you want to know more about Crocodiles and their cousins.  SchoolhouseTeachers.com has a course called the world of animals and one of their units focuses on this remarkable part of the animal kingdom. 

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The Superpower Field Guide: Beavers

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OH!  What a fun book to review.  Seriously, just a hoot.  Learning about Beavers and seeing all the remarkable things about them.  Just a delightful read.  The book: The Superpower Field Guide: Beavers.

From the Cover

The first book in a new series, Beavers is a humorous, informative, and highly illustrated field guide written for middle-schoolers.  Take a look at an unsuspecting animal hero The Beaver.

What you Get

Humour written around highly informative text.  Elmer the beaver has 10 superpowers which we are given in lots of detail.   Some of his powers are his unstoppable fur, his ever-toiling tail, and his winter survival skills.

Each page shows colour in the illustrations.  I was delighted to see the colours suit a book about beavers.   We don’t find pinks and yellows, but rather the blues, greens and browns that would naturally pervade a beavers habitat. 

Every so often you’ll come across a quiz, making sure the reader is paying attention for after all, the goal is to learn about an amazing animal.  So pay attention and rock those quizzes!  🙂   They aren’t hard, but they do cover the super power at hand.

My Thoughts

When I first clapped my eyes on Beavers I thought WOOHOO!   A book about a quintessential Canadian animal!   It’s even on our nickel!  You know what I discovered?  Beavers aren’t just an animal for Canada!  (yeah, I kinda knew that but now I know the nitty-gritty details).  🙂 

If you have a love of Canada, an interest in beavers, or perhaps you are studying mammals… check out Beavers. Learn their superpowers and be amazed, because beavers are really interesting critters!

Beavers
Rachel Poliquin
Nicolas John Frith (illustrator)
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Series: The Superpower Field Guide
96 Pages, hardcover, 9 years +
Biology, Science, Canada, Beavers, North America
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
Click image for Amazon Link
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Sharks Never Sleep

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HEY!   Did you know that sharks never sleep?   I know… weird eh?  But seriously, sharks need to keep moving in order to breathe. This is one of many fascinating facts about sharks that you will learn in Sharks Never Sleep.  You will also learn about real life shark attacks, how people are trying to protect both sharks and people and the varied opinions about sharks that abound.  

From the Cover

A Gripping Investigation into our complex relationship of fear and fascination with sharks.  In an attempt combat fear with facts, author Brendon McAloon, takes us on a journey around the world in search of true stories of extraordinary first-hand encounters with these oceanic predators.  Travel from Australia to the United States, South Africa and beyond.  Meet with scientists, conservationists, shark-attack survivors, shark lovers and shark haters.  Meet fear with fascination. 

What You Get:

Four parts make up the contents of this tome.  

Part one focuses on shark attacks.  Fear rides these pages. 

Part two presents us with not only the shark haters, but those who love sharks as well.  I was delighted to see the Shark Lady profiled. 

Part three profiles encounters that people had with shark.  This section also contains photos pertaining to details given in this book.   

Part four helps us to further understand there are no easy answers.  How does one protect a fierce predator, and yet defend those who use the waters those predators live in?   No easy answers.  Culling, Shark Nets, Hunting bans, Beach closures, and Monitoring sharks.  More research is needed to determine what will work best.

My Thoughts

Mr. McAloon presents us with many cases of shark attacks, show-casing well the need to more study into the whys of increased shark attacks.   He helps us to understand why there is such a divide between protecting these apex predators and simply culling them. 

He shows well why the divide exists… if only because there is no simple answer to “the shark problem” at waterfronts throughout the world.  Human activity doesn’t help either. 

Do I recommend it?   

This book would be a great addition to a study on sharks.  Helping the student see in stark detail why this is such a divisive topic.   It’s not what I call an easy read.  It’s not fun to read about men who hunt sharks with delight, nor to read about sharks that kill. Is it necessary?   Yes, because that is how we broaden our understanding of the issues surrounding sharks and shark attacks. 

Sharks Never Sleep: first-hand encounters with killers of the sea
Brendan McAloon
Hardie Grant Books
240 pages, middle school, trade paperback
Sharks, Ecology, Marine Life, Animals, biology
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Click on image for amazon link.
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Dinosaur Museum

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Do you have a person in your life who likes dinosaurs?  Well.. I have this GREAT book for you today.   Seriously, Lonely Planet Kids has done an amazing job with Build your Own Dinosaur Museum.  In it you will find 5 prehistoric pop-ups to make and display.  Loads of interesting facts pepper the pages as you uncrate dinosaur bones to build your very own dinosaurs.   

Build your own Dinosaur museum

From the Book Cover: 

Calling all dinosaur experts! We need your help.
We have just received a crate of dinosaur fossils – and they need assembling! Fast! Can you find the right room for each skeleton and build them in time for the museum’s big opening? There are five pop-up dinosaurs to put back together, including a Triceratops, Stegosaurus and T-rex. It’s going to be roar some!

Lonely Planet’s Build Your Own Dinosaur Museum is an activity book with a difference, where you get to play chief paleontologist. The museum rooms are ready, but there aren’t any skeletons to display. It’s up to you to figure out which one is which and where they need to go.
Fun, interactive and with lots of facts to discover, this book is perfect for any dinosaur fan, budding biologist or model maker.

What you Get:

When I opened this hardcover book I discovered several pages in the front of the book that were taped securely closed.  Being the curious duck that I am I immediately opened up the tape. By the way, the tape sticks over and over and over again.  I tested it about 15 times and then my lad did a couple more times for good measure. 

Build your own Dinosaur museumThese pieces are colour coded and easy to tear out. They also give instructions so you know which page goes with what display page.  The pieces have bends in them so once you put them in the book they will indeed pop-up. This is excellent for young dinosaur enthusiasts. 

Build your own Dinosaur museumIt does follow the evolutionary theory of the earth’s development, and how animals came into being.  I find this is pretty normal with most dinosaur focused books.  I learned many new facts like did you know there was a triceratops group?  This is a group of dinosaurs with a similar head shape but the horn count was different!  I learned how some dinosaurs found safety in numbers, and some dinosaurs were like ostriches…dependent upon their speed to elude predators. 

Build your own Dinosaur museum

Five of the pages were dedicated to the pop-ups, where-as other pages had spots for adding in interesting details, like this egg. 

Build your own Dinosaur museumThere are so many builds for the dinosaur enthusiast, they should be kept busy learning and playing for a good amount of time.  The great thing is, the text is interesting enough they they’ll keep coming back to it to read it again. 

Build your own Dinosaur museumThe reader gets to learn about 

  • What dinosaurs are
  • Triceratops
  • Dinosaur defense
  • Stegosaurus
  • Plant eaters
  • T-rex
  • Predators
  • Marine Reptiles
  • Liopleurodon
  • Flying Reptiles
  • Pleranodon
  • Where in the World?
  • End of an era

Build your own Dinosaur museum

My Thoughts:

I am enamoured with this book, there is so much information, and so many things to keep busy hands well… busy, it’s just great!   From a homeschoolers’ perspective this book would be an excellent addition to a dinosaur unit.  Helping students to hone their attention on five specific dinosaurs and learn how they were put together. Big bones, small forearms, land moving, earth shakers, flyers and more.

This book is a perfect companion to Dinosaur Devotions that I reviewed last week.  AND.. if you are a member of SchoolhouseTeachers there is a great dinosaurs and the bible program you could work through.  Seriously, you should invest in it, it has so many programs that would be helpful to you and your students it’s amazing.  BUT anyways, Build your Own Dinosaur Museum is a must have for the young dinosaur enthusiast in your home.  It would make an excellent Christmas present don’t you think?

Build your own Dinosaur museum

Build Your Own Dinosaur Museum
Jenny Jacoby
illustrator: Beatrice Blue
Lonely Planet Kids
6-8 years, hardcover, Pop-ups, Build your own
Dinosaurs, history, science, biology
Nature, how it works, archaeology

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

Other dinosaur books for you to check into:

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