Zoology for Kids

Zoology for Kids: Understanding and Working with Animals with 21 activities.
Written by: Josh and Bethanie Hestermann
Published at Chicago Review Press

About the book

An interactive introduction to working with animals, Zoology for Kids invites the next generation of zoologists to discover the animal kingdom through clear, entertaining information and anecdotes, lush color photos, hands-on activities, and peer-reviewed research. Young minds are introduced to zoology as a science by discussing animals’ forms, functions, and behaviors as well as the different ways they interact with their environments. Related activities include baking edible animal cells, playing a dolphin-echolocation game, and constructing a food chain. Young readers can peek into the world of zookeepers and aquarists, veterinarians, wildlife researchers, and conservationists as they “train” their friends, mold a tiger’s jawbone, and perform field research in their own backyard. This engaging resource provides readers with new knowledge, a healthy respect for the animal kingdom, and the idea that they can pursue animal-related careers and make a difference to preserve and protect the natural world.

My Thoughts

I was recently approached to review the book Zoology for Kids on my blog.  I was hesitant at first because we already have so much book on animal science.  However, this book is very different than the ones we have already.   How you may ask?   Well first they are written by a marine mammal keeper and trainer and his wife.  The Kratt Brothers have taken the time to write the foreword for the book as well.  Finally, the book is essentially teaching the kids how to understand and work with animals.   

Essentially the book will inform and teach your kids (and you as well) about the world of zoology and how people work closely with animals.    Visiting a zoo or an aquarium is easy but have you taken a minute or two to ponder on what needs to be done in these two environments?   This book will allow you to explore not only the jobs behind the scenes but also all you need to know about animals, their behaviors, their environments, the work that needs to be done from everyone involved in caring for these animals.

The book is divided in two major sections:

• Part I: Zoology for Beginners which covers the form and functions of animals, understanding animal behavior as well as animals and their environments. Activities in this section are bake an edible animal cell, dig up animal bones, play the dolphin echolocation game, explore concealing coloration, test your sense of direction, demonstrate a butterfly’s life cycle, communicate like a deep-sea animal, eat a bat fruit salad, and construct a food chain.
• Part II: Working on the Wild Side – Zoology in the Real Life which will inform your student on zookeepers, aquarists, and other zoo crew, veterinarians, wildlife researchers, and conservations warriors.  The activities included in this section consist of creating a behavioral enrichment, training animals, plan and draw an exhibit,  mold tiger teeth, build a stethoscope, take your vitals, how animals keep warm, performing a field research, invent a new species, survive habitat loss with a game, make an endangered species flyer, and interview a zoologist.

As you can see the book contains fun activities and lots of information.   Even though the book is recommended for age 9 and up, the book’s target audience would be about 11-14 years of age.      Ideally, the pre-teens and teens will find value in reading this book if they are interested in learning more about real-life zoologist.   

 

The book is also packed with amazing colored photos, a glossary, as well as a list of resources that could be useful if you use this book as a learning resources. The text can be taken in chunks when reading through it depending of the age of your kids.  I really think that this book could be very useful for a young person interested in learning more about zoologists and work in a zoo or aquarium.  It could be a great resource to go through before going to visit the zoo or the aquarium as well in order for your kids to learn more about animals and what it takes to care for them.

Zoology for Kids is available at your favourite bookstore, even amazon.ca and amazon.com.

  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Chicago Review Press for sending me the above mentioned book for review purposes . I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.