DISGUSTING ANIMALS! (That's Wild!: A Look at Animals)

DISGUSTING ANIMALS by Julie Murray (Abdo Press) is a fun little book that came out in 2010.  It's written at the 3rd Grade level and I think it's got just the right level of grossness for it to be an engaging read for children that prefer non-fiction.

The book talks about 10 different animals:  opossums, skunks, horned lizards, owls, foxes, vultures, eagles (in brief, seems they like vulture vomit), giraffes, and naked mole rats.

The type of things that children will find out about are how animals defend themselves, feed their young and clean themselves.  (Did you know Vultures pee on themselves to stay clean?  Yeah, eww.)

Here are some sample pages.

Besides the information about animals there are two pages at the end of the book about saving water and recycling.   These ideas let children do something positive to help animals if they want to.  You can find a table of contents for Disgusting Animals beneath the reading information.

I know I learned some things.  I hope you and yours enjoy this little book. 

Pam~


DISGUSTING ANIMALS
(That's Wild!: A Look at Animals)
by Julie Murray

Reading Information: 
Word Count: 1,116
Page Count:  32
Accelerated Reading level: 3.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 135267

Table of Contents

Wildly Disgusting!
Playing Possum
Skunk'd
Nice to See You
Hoot Hoot
Want Some Dinner?
Birdie Bites
Clean Up
Do I know You?

That WAS Wild!
Wow! Is that TRUE?
Important Words
Web Sites
Index

No other reviews currently available.

BOATS! Speeding! Sailing! Cruising! by Patricia Hubbell

BOATS!  Speeding!  Sailing! Cruising! is part of Patricia Hubbell's THINGS THAT GO series.  In previous books, she covered cars, horses, trucks, and planes.  Now boats and ships!

BOATS! is a natural fit for me, seeing that I love books that are layered and have things to point at, discuss, and teach.  And that I love books that rhyme.

And the rhyme is perfect.  It's one of Patricia's strengths and she didn't let us down.  I had no problem reading it aloud the first time through.  It just glided off my tongue.  And given the topic I think that's pretty amazing.

Yachts with flags both fore and aft.
Dory.
Dingy.
Shell.
Raft.

also,

Ferries with their decks packed tight
ply the seas both day and night.

Icebreakers smash an icy floe;
penguins dive down deep below.

Which brings me to the second thing I really like about this book. There's lots to learn. Besides the many types of ships --sail types and motored types-- that author and artist name parts of the ships, some of the jobs that are available onboard, as well as some of the missions boats and ships undertake.

As far as artwork, as you can see in the samples above, it's rich and engaging.  But, I would note, the pages aren't in the vivid colors that some very young children prefer.  So if you get this book home and your toddler isn't immediately engrossed, put it aside until they are a little older.

Wonderful work by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy the artists.  We loved Ms. Hubbell's wordsmithing and I definitely recommend you check this book out.

Other reviews here.  And here.

Pam~


BOATS!  Speeding!  Sailing!  Cruising!
by Patricia Hubbell
Illustrated by Megan Halsey and Sean Addy

**Starred Review** ALA BookList

Page Count: 32
no reading level information currently available