In a Backyard (Small Worlds)

From compost bins to woodpiles, North American animals make their homes in some unusual places. In a Backyard explores the sheds and treetops of our backyards, revealing the hideaways of mammals, insects, reptiles, birds and amphibians. Full-color photographs and illustrations show the variety of animals, including pond turtles, raccoons, sails, and snakes, that make the backyard their home. A special section gives tips for surveying backyard visitors and helps the young reader build a bird table. Fantastic fact boxes highlight: - Identifying insects - The sounds of songbirds - The mating habits of frogs Read more Continue reading Read less FROM BOOKLIST
Reviewed with Jan Green's On the Tundra.Gr. 2-5. Part of the Small World series, these two science titles work very well together, connecting the distant tundra wilderness and the wild things waiting to be discovered in a child's own backyard. Both books look closely at how plants and animals live together. Tundra includes the dramas of the wolf pack and the polar bear but also astonishing facts about small birds and insects that travel many miles to breed in the remote place. Backyard does an excellent job of weaving in basic biological facts, even classification (vertebrates, invertebrates; mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians; etc.) , with particulars of slugs and snails, frogs and lizards, bats, birds, insects, and the plants they need to survive in the garden. The attractive series design will hook browsers. The type is clear, and there are lots of color photos, occasional drawings, and screens of "fantastic facts." Each book includes a glossary but not a bibliography. Hazel Rochman
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REVIEW
..." The illustrations and photos have been well chosen and are both interesting and informative. Each book includes an index, glossary, and for want of a better word a "things to do" section. The fascinating tidbits about the different animals and insects will appeal to all children interested in nature... Children ages 9-12 will not only enjoy this series but will also learn why plans and animals live together under different surroundings." Read more Continue reading Read less