Your Backyard Is Wild

October 15, 2009
Grades 2-4 Animal Planets popular host Jeff Corwin brings his wildlife smarts to a new series for the Junie B. Jones and Magic Tree House set. Nine-year-old Benjamin and his little sister, Lucy, head for a visit to their aunt, uncle, and cousin Gabe in Brooklyn. With parents who are a biologist and an ecologist, Benjamin and Lucy are used to noticing the wildlife wherever they travel. During this vacation, however, they expect that the only thing they will be seeing are the amazing sights of the city. Instead, they find wildlife in backyards, parks, and along the streets of New York, including milkweed, butterfly cocoons, snakes, and, yes, ratsall of which come as a revelation to city-slicker Gabe. With black-and-white spot illustrations throughout, Corwin has created a fun and inviting introduction to nature. Young readers will be glad to know that there are more adventures planned in the Junior Explorer series, and they may even be inspired to take note of what is happening outside their own homes.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)