Animal The Definitive Visual Guide

Smithsonian Animal The Definitive Visual Guide
Published at DK

About the book

With more than 1 million copies sold, this updated and revised celebration of the animal kingdom features photos and descriptions of over 2,000 species and habitats.

Bringing animals, habitats, and up-to-date research to life for readers around the world, Animal explores the creatures that have fascinated and inspired humans for years, from intrepid Emperor penguins to fierce Siberian tigers, to the very intelligent and highly communicative humpback whale. This updated edition introduces the olinguito, the adorable, recently discovered mammal that looks like a cross between a cat and a teddy bear, and the Skywalker gibbon found in the tropical forests of Yunnan Province in southwest China and Myanmar. Perfect for gift-giving.

Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution.

My Thoughts

This is a marvelous book that presents animals found on planet Earth.   From the habitats to the various kind of animals in the animal kingdom, this book will provide information for your personal knowledge.  Whether you desire to learn more about a particular species or simply like to peruse in a book to learn whenever you feel like it, this book is a gem to have in your living room.

For each animal you will discover a map indicating where it is found, some data field highlighting the length, weight and so on as well as habitat symbol and information about the animal.    The book also provide the Latin name as well as the common name of the animal.

 

  

The book also contains a multitude of illustrations showing the animals in their environment.  Sometimes, you will have the opportunity to read a bit more about a certain animal due to the fact that a species might have different kinds.   For example, the elephants information covers about a page and a half.  The other half of the second page will present the African savanna elephant, the African forest elephant and the Asiatic elephant.   The main information highlights what is common about the three different kinds of elephants and then each section presenting a specific elephant will highlight what is particular for this specific kind.

From as far as I can remember, I always loved looking and reading books about animals.   This book is fabulous in many ways because you can sit by yourself or with your children in order to read from it.   It is a great book to have while researching a particular animal too.   The cover of the book is special too because some of its details is slightly above the regular cover.   Through the pages of this book, you will discover the fabulous world of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates. 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote these books. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

Amazing Quiz Books

Summer is finally here and with it a brand new boutique that is just in time to celebrate all things Canadian.   The Oh Canada Boutique from DK Canada put the emphasis on books that highlights Canadian contents of all sort.   As a for post to celebrate the Oh Canada Boutique, I will be reviewing three amazing books that contain fun quizzes for your kids; Amazing Animal Quiz Book, Amazing Space Quiz Book and the Amazing Earth Book.

Each of these books is jam-packed with incredible facts and eye-catching images .   Inside the books you will find over 1000 brain-straining questions that can become as addictive as  they are fun. Covering a vast range of subjects from creepy crawlies to our home planet and beyond these books can become a lifesaver when waiting for an appointment, travelling to visit family, or just to keep the kids busy at the campground.  

You will find three different levels of difficulty for the quiz - easy (green), medium (blue) and hard (red).   Each question will have a multiple choice answers where the child has to choose from.   Also throughout the book you will discover fun facts about the subject of the book.    For example, in the animal book you will learn that a housefly’s feet are 10 million times more sensitive than a human tongue.   In the Space book you will learn that the first record of a meteorite fall is in an Ancient Egyptian papyrus.   In the Earth book you will learn that coral reefs are home to 25 percent of all marine fish species.  Also at the end of each book you will also discover more about the subject in hand with fast facts. And to top it off, all answers are found at the end of the book. 

Wondering what kind of questions you will find for each level?   Here’s a sample (answers will be at the end of this blog post).

EASY

Frog spawn is laid in clumps.  How do toads lay their eggs?
a) individually   b) like frogs   c) in strings  d) in circles

 

MEDIUM

Which of these animals can propel itself through the water by clapping the two halves of its shell together? 
a)swan mussel   b)scallop   c)oyster   d)giant clm

 

HARD

What do ghost knifefish use to communicate? 
a) bubbles   b) color Changes  c) electrical signals   d) chemical signals

 

I find these books to be great to quiz your kids on specific subjects.  Like I mentioned I have received the Animal, Space, and Earth books.   A fourth title is also available which covers dinosaurs.   These books would make a great addition to a personal library whether you homeschool or not.  They are packed with great questions that you can challenge your kids to find the answer whether by digging in books or do a search on the internet.  I think these books are great to pack for a long trip, to bring along in the car, to discover at the dentist, or simply use in the backyard.   They are perfect in many ways and can be a source of learning where your kids learn something while having fun at the same time.

The Oh Canada Boutique contains numerous other titles that could be interesting for you.

The Amazing Quiz Books are available at your favourite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

   

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote these books. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

ANSWERS:   Easy: C  -  Medium: B  -  Hard: C

Creatures Great and Small Boutique

DK Canada is having a wonderful boutique for all creatures great and small.   From the tiny insect to the biggest animal on the planet, DK Canada has the book to spike the interest of your child in discovering everything about animals.  

 

Smithsonian Wildlife of the World

Wildlife of the World takes you on a journey through some of the most scenic and rich animal habitats — from the Amazon rain forests to the Himalayas, the Sahara to the South Pole — meeting the most important animals in each ecosystem along the way.

In Wildlife of the World truly spectacular portrait-style photography brings you "face-to-face" with individual animals in up-close and engrossing profiles on how the animals interact with their environments, mate, survive, and even play.

From the shaggy musk ox foraging in the Canadian high arctic to the angered Scottish wildcat prowling the Highlands to the rock-climbing gelada monkey of Ethiopia, each animal featured in Wildlife of the World plays a key role in its environment. An additional eighty-page illustrated reference section on the animal kingdom explains the animal groups and profiles additional species.

This book is impressive by the quantity and quality of the information within the pages.   The information in this book is divided into eight sections:

Animal habitats: forest, grasslands, extreme environments, aquatic environments.

North America: peaks and prairies, Canadian arctic, Yellowstone, central great plains, Sierra Nevada, Mojave desert, Florida Everglades.

Central and South America: land of the jaguar, Costa Rican rainforest, Andean Yungas, Amazon rainforests, the Pantanal, Andean altiplano, Argentine pampas, Galapagos islands.

Europe: plains and peninsulas, Norwegian fjords, Scottish highlands, the Camargue, Tagus valley, the Alps, Bavarian forest.

Africa: a sunbaked land, Ethiopian highlands, great rift valley lakes, Serengeti savannas, Congo basin, Okavango delta, Kalahari desert, Madagascan dry forest.

Asia: land of extremes, Arabian highlands, Terai-Duar savannas, Eastern Himalayas, upper Yangtze forests, Gobi desert, Nihonkai Montane forests, Bornean rainforests, Sulu-Sulawesi seas.

Australasia: the red continent, New Guinea Montane forest, North Australia savannas, great Sandy-Tanami desert, East Australian forests, great barrier reef, New Zealand mixed forests.

Antarctica: land of ice and snow, southern ocean islands, Antarctic peninsula.

Already I have plenty of use for this book.   The Olympics being in Rio this summer I will discover the animals of the Amazon rainforest with the kids.  I also plan to use this book next year for our Oceania unit with our homeschool coop.   I will also direct our readings toward the China habitats since we covered this region as part of our coop last year.

The pages are packed with stunning photos and informative data on the animals found throughout the world.   The fact that it is divided into regions of the world is interesting because you can tie the reading of the pages with your study in geography.   It is always nice to have a book that is a bit different than other ones you might have and this book is definitively unique by the fact that the information is classified based on a specific habitat found somewhere on a specific continent.   I really think this is a great book to own in your personal library.

Smithsonian Eyewitness Explorer Bird Watcher

In Eyewitness Explorers: Bird Watcher, young bird lovers can discover all they need to know about these winged wonders. In the book you will find over 30 hands on activities that allow budding ornithologists to build a birdfeeder, make a nest box, birdbath, and bird garden; plus uncover tracks and trails, study nests, explore different kinds of bird feathers and eggs, and learn migration patterns.

This book encourage hands-on learning with 30 easy activities that help children observe, explore, and learn about the natural world. The book explains the science behind the activities, laying the essential groundwork for contextualizing the experience to come. But at the heart of the books are the activities themselves — a chance to learn by doing with experiments that can be carried out right at home. Most can even be completed with materials already on hand, so there's no complicated preparation or specialized equipment needed. Simply choose one of the projects and follow the step-by-step photographically illustrated instructions.  It will be really simple to do with your kids.  Besides, in the end you will have the opportunity to observe fabulous creatures – the birds.

 

I truly believe that bird watching is an activity that can be enjoyed by every one in a family.   Once you learn more about birds, you will enjoy the observations even more as you try to identify the birds.   Then you can venture your family in the forest or fields around your house in order to see which birds live in your area.  Bird watching is a great homeschool activity that can be done throughout the year.

Smithsonian Everything you need to know about birds

Have you ever wondered how birds fly or what's inside an egg? You can find out the answers to these questions and more in Everything You Need to Know About Birds.

From nocturnal owls to flightless penguins, learn about the different evolution and habitats of birds from around the world. Discover how almost everything about a bird's anatomy is designed for flight, yet how its skeleton is also similar to that of a human. See how golden eagles are used for fox hunting in Kazakhstan, and try to find the differences and similarities between an ostrich and the dinosaur Eoraptor.  This book is definitively packed with information about different types of birds all across the world, their habitats, breeding habits, anatomy, and oddities. You will also read about shocking trivia.  The book is perfect to learn more about everything that is bird related.   For example through the pages of this book you will discover the different types of birds that hunt, dive, swim, run, and dig, including vultures, crows, parrots, chickens, and more. 

   

The book contains numerous close-ups, an engaging text, as well as an innovative, high-quality design.   It could be the tool to have for in-depth research or a quick dip for fast facts on these amazing creatures that fly above our heads. 

 Smithsonian Super Bug Encyclopedia

Following on the success of Super Nature Encyclopedia and Super Human Encyclopedia comes Super Bug Encyclopedia — a look at the 100 most amazing insects on the planet!

Using macro photography and brand-new CGI artworks, Super Bug zooms right in to reveal the secrets of the most successful creatures on our planet. With incredible facts and stats for every bug, Super Bug showcases the superstars of the insect world. Find out which insect can snap a pencil in half, how a tiny moth can fly up to 70 miles an hour, and meet a dung beetle that can pull over 1,100 times its own body weight. Young readers will be wowed by what goes on inside the tiny world of ants, spiders, butterflies, moths, crickets, and other creepy crawlies.

Lively, informative, easy-to-access text based on the latest discoveries and scientific research showcases incredible feats of endurance, defense, strength, and speed while graphic, dashboard-style panels provides information at a glance.  You will be able to visualized with incredible 3-D models with cross-sections and strip layers.  It is the perfect book to explore every essential detail of the world of insects.

 

The book is divided into five sections: Amazing Anatomy, Animal Athletes, Fearsome Hunters, Tiny Terrors, and Life Stories.   Each of these sections will highlight a specific bug that can be found around the world.  For example, on the two pages about the emperor scorpion you will get a quick overview of the bug, see its cross-section with advance graphic, meet its deadly relative, learn  more about it and get all the stats and facts on the bug.   Did you know that a female scorpion may give birth to as many as 100 live young and that she will carry them on her back.   Impressive!  If your child desire to learn more about bugs, this is definitively a book to discover with him or her.

If these titles do not grab your interest or if you are looking for something more specific, head over to the Creatures Great & Small Boutique at DK Canada to discover other titles like The Bee Book or Everything You Need to Know About Sharks for example.   All the titles I have seen in the boutique would make a great addition for your personal library when you homeschool or for a quick reference for a school project.

Each of these four books can be found at your favorite bookstore, even on amazon.ca and amazon.com.

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Thanks to DK Canada for allowing me to promote this book. I was not monetarily compensated for this post . Please note that the post was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.

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.