It’s a spring day in a swamp. A small brown animal is busy swimming back and forth across a pond. The animal is hard at work collecting plants to build its home. Finally, the hungry creature takes a break from its construction work to munch on cattail stems at the edge of the water. The animal is a muskrat, and the swamp’s shallow ponds and streams are its home. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of its primary-grade audience, this colorful, fact-filled book gives readers a chance not only to learn all about muskrats and the swamp habitat in which they live, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. Built-in activities, such as estimating the weight and size of a newborn muskrat and describing the physical characteristics of an adult muskrat, give readers a chance to gain insights beyond the facts and figures.
Whales are the only mammals that spend their entire life in the water. From playful dolphins to enormous blue whales, the behavior, habitats, and physiology of these amazing marine mammals are explored in What is a Whale? Spectacular full-color photos help show: flukes, flippers, and fins the whale family tree baleen and toothed whales how whales communicate through echolocation watery homes and what they eat baby whales whale-watching and why whales are in danger
Certain sea slugs have developed a remarkable defensive adaptationthey can use the stinging cells of the sea anemones they eat to protect themselves. Whether adapting over millions of years or in the blink of an eye, How Do Animals Adapt? examines the ever-changing world of animals. Children will thrill at discovering: why animals need to adapt animals that can see using sounds how animals use camouflage and mimicry to protect themselves how wild animals have adapted to habitat loss and learned to live in cities
Without food, an animal cannot survive. With so many competing species, carnivores and herbivores alike have developed fascinating methods of finding the food that keeps them fat and happy. How do animals find food? lets children in on all the latest jaw-dropping, mouth-cramming, stomach-stuffing techniques, such as: pack hunting versus solitary hunting climbers that eat the succulent leaves found in tall trees animals that poison their prey animals that use lures to "fish" for their food!
Slithering snakes, jumping kangaroos, flying albatrosses, and swimming salmonevery animal, including humans, has its own unique way of getting around. This beautiful book explains the how, why, and are we there yet? of animals large and small across the globe. Topics include: how an animals environment affects its movement how an animals skeleton affects its movement unusual animal movers such as the water-walking basilisk how a parent helps its young move around
The cat, with its grace, strength, and prowess, has been a source of intrigue and companionship for humans throughout time. In this comprehensive study, kids will learn about the bodies, habits, and lifestyles of large and small cats. Full-color illustrations and stunning wildlife photography accompany detailed text that covers: the maternal relationship between cats and kittens the unique features of a cats body that allow for agility and speed the similarities and differences between large and small cats endangered and vanishing cats
Dogs are believed to be the first animals to live with people as pets. What is a Dog? explains how these once-wild members of the animal kingdom still use their senses and instincts in daily living as well as in helping people. This book describes: the dog family tree a dogs body super senses the complex social order of dogs categories of dogs
