Amazing Animal Camouflage

December 1, 2012

Gr 2-3- Night discusses the development of the various senses used by nocturnal animals in their hunt for food. From snakes with heat sensors in their heads to birds that can smell, the variety of strategies that have evolved is astounding. In Camouflage, a variety of creatures, great and small, are shown fooling predators and eluding danger by blending into the background and evading detection. From zebras to tiny fungus gnats, an array of animals appears in the simple text that explains the ways in which they seek to control their fate. In Partners, the mutual, commensal, and parasitic relationships between a variety of animals is made clear in both the illustrations and the text. That sometimes these relationships are not beneficial for both partners is clearly explained. The lively text informs without talking down to readers who may not yet be familiar with some of these unusual animal functions. These books are useful for both classroom use and early-reading interests.-Eva Elizabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

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