Tag Archives: Fish

Elem. – Amazing Animal Self-Defense (Series NF)

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Ruby, Rex. Amazing Animal Self-Defense. Bearport, 2023. $19.95 ea. $119.70 set of 6. 24 p. Grades 1-4. 

Bloody Eyes. 979-8-885-09385-9.
Bubbling Drool. 979-8-885-09386-6.
Deadly Quills. 979-8-885-09387-3.
Eye-Watering Stink. 979-8-885-09388-0.
Gooey Slime. 979-8-885-09390-3.
Oozing Toxins. 979-8-885-09389-7.

The many unique defenses deployed by animals against predators are the subject of the new series Amazing Animals Self-Defense. This reviewer had the opportunity to examine the volume Gooey Slime: Gross Hagfish. Hagfish (also known as slime eels) are sea creatures that live mostly on the bottom of the ocean. Their predators include much larger animals such as sharks and seals. When one of these predators attempts to attack the hagfish, the hagfish shoots a gooey slime at the predator! The slime can clog gills, so many potential predators steer clear of the hagfish. Readers also will learn key information about the animal featured in each volume including habitat, diet, life cycle, and more. Numerous photos, including close up views of the self defense mechanism of the animal, are featured throughout the text. Each volume includes a glossary and a link to find additional resources online.

THOUGHTS: An animal that shoots slime at its predators?!? Say no more – this is certainly a topic that is sure to grab the attention of readers (As will the other self-defense mechanisms featured within the series)! A great choice for research or recreational reading, this series merits consideration for elementary libraries looking to expand their animal offerings. 

590s Animals

Elem. – Animal Fact Files (Series NF)

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McHale, Brenda. Animal Fact Files. Bearport, 2023. $19.95 ea. $79.80 set of 4. 24 p. Grades 1-3.

Animals in the Air. 978-8-885-09353-8.
Animals in the Sand. 978-8-885-09354-5.
Animals on Land. 978-8-885-09355-2.
Animals Under Water. 978-8-885-09356-9.

Animal non-fiction titles are a popular choice for many readers, who will likely gobble up the new series Animal Fact Files. Featuring engaging text and numerous photos, this series aims to share interesting and unique facts about various categories of animals. This reviewer had the opportunity to read Animals in the Sand, which featured facts on eight animals (meerkats, honeypot ant, shovel-snouted lizard, etc.) that make the desert their home. A brief introductory passage discusses what types of animals live in sandy habitats, before transitioning to two page spreads on each of the spotlighted spotlighted animals. Each spread features a fact file box to identify the type of animal, range, and diet. The remainder of the spread features 4-5 facts about the animal as well as 2-4 photographs. A closing chapter briefly introduces some additional creatures that reside in the desert. Each volume contains a glossary and index. 

THOUGHTS: Best suited for recreational reading as opposed to research, this series merits consideration for elementary libraries looking for engaging animal titles. Readers will enjoy the mix of animals featured, from the common to the less well-known. Sure to be popular with fans of fact-style books as well as animal fans. 

591 Animals

Elem. – Transforming Animals (Series NF)

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Gieseke, Tyler. Transforming Animals. Abdo, 2022. $21.95 ea. $131.70 set of 6. 24 p. Gr. K-2. 

Turning into a Butterfly. 978-1-098-24114-8.
 Turning into a Dragonfly. 978-1-098-24115-5.
 Turning into a Fish. 978-1-098-24116-2.
Turning into a Frog. 978-1-098-24117-9.
Turning into a Jellyfish. 978-1-098-24118-6.
Turning into a Newt. 978-1-098-24119-3.

The ability of animals to transform and grow has been a source of fascination to people of all ages for centuries. The Transforming Animals series explores the life cycle processes of six common creatures. This reviewer had the opportunity to examine the Turning into a Butterfly volume. The text takes readers on a journey of the life cycle of the butterfly–from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to adult butterfly. Each spread includes high-quality close-up photos of each stage of the butterfly’s life cycle. QR codes within the book allow readers to access a video, additional information, useful links and activities. Back matter includes a Making Connections page and a glossary. 

THOUGHTS: This series would be a worthwhile addition to any library serving primary age students. The life cycle of each animal is clearly and simply explained. Characteristics of each animal are also identified and explained. The supplemental material available via QR code is high-quality, and the activities easily could be incorporated into classroom science lessons. Highly recommended.

570s; 590s Insects, Animals           Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg SD

Elem. – Science Questions (Series NF)

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Andrews, Elizabeth. Science Questions (Set 2). Abdo Kids, 2022. $21.95 ea. $131.70 set of 6. 24 p. Gr. K-3. 

How Do Fish Breathe? 978-1-098-24107-0.
How Do Puppies Get Their Colors? 978-1-098-24108-7.
How Does a Body Heal? 978-1-098-24109-4.
How Does Plumbing Work? 978-1-098-24110-0.
Why Do Volcanoes Erupt? 978-1-098-24111-7.
Why Does a Boat Float? 978-1-098-24112-4.

The Science Questions series from Abdo Publishing is back with another six volumes answering common student questions regarding science. Each volume examines a science-related question, explaining the answer using age-appropriate language and terminology. This reviewer had the opportunity to examine How Do Fish Breathe?, a question that many children undoubtedly have wondered when watching fish in a tank or in the wild. The volume explains how oxygen is present in water and how fish use their gills to help distribute oxygen throughout their bodies. The volume closes with a brief chapter mentioning how climate change is causing falling oxygen levels in the ocean. Each volume features numerous high quality photographs, diagrams, a glossary, and making connections questions. In addition, a QR code is present where readers can access online resources such as videos, links, and activities (word search, coloring page, etc.). 

THOUGHTS: Children naturally are curious and questioning–this series is a great option to hand students with science related interests or questions. The series (and the online supplemental material) also would be useful in elementary classroom science lessons. Recommended. 

500s Science                Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg SD

Elem. – The Library Fish

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Capucilli, Alyssa Satin. The Library Fish. Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers, 2022. 978-1-534-47705-6. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-2. 

The Library Fish by Alyssa Satin Capucilli is about Mr. Hughes, a public librarian who finds a fishbowl outside of his library one day. Mr. Hughes welcomes the fish into the library and puts her in the children’s section. The fish watches as every day Mr. Hughes reads stories, does book checkouts with children and the fish even gets to go on the Bookmobile! One day, there is a snow storm, and the library is closed. The fish takes this opportunity to go exploring in the library to see more of the books that Mr. Hughes reads out loud that she misses. When the night is over, and Library fish has read all of these wonderful books, she climbs back into her bowl and goes to sleep. In the morning when Mr. Hughes gets back, he notices that the fish may have yawned, and the last illustration shows Mr. Hughes looking at the books that are on the floor with a puzzled expression. The illustrations in this book are wonderful, and the reader will want to go back over this book merely to look at the illustrations again.

THOUGHTS: I adored this story!! There is so much diversity found within the book’s illustrations, and I really appreciated that the illustrator made that choice. The story is sweet and charming and would make a wonderful first week of school read aloud with Kindergarten students, or even a great story to share with older students and have them come up with unique pets that can be found in the library. Overall, this is a wonderful addition to any elementary school library collection. 

Picture Book          Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy

Elem./MG – A Curious Collection of Dangerous Creatures

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Bayly, Sami. A Curious Collection of Dangerous Creatures. The Experiment, 2021. 978-1-615-19824-5. 125 p. $18.95. Grades 3-8. 

Dangerous…it’s a word that evokes feelings of fear and terror in many individuals. While animals considered or called dangerous can pose some level of threats to humans, they are often misunderstood. Author and illustrator Sami Bayly spotlights some of these creatures and explores how they have adapted to ward off predators with amazing (and yes, dangerous) defense mechanisms. For example, the greater slow loris (a small, tree-dwelling primate native to some countries in Asia), produces toxins in its elbow glands. If you see it licking its armpit/elbow area, watch out! It’s collecting venom that mixes with saliva to create a toxic bite. The geography cone snail lives near coral reefs in the Pacific. From the outside, it looks like a beautiful seashell, but inside lives the world’s most venomous sea snail. One shot of the snail’s venom can kill up to 15 people! These are just two of the 60 creatures profiled in this engaging title. Each entry defines the danger profile for the animal, as well as identifying their habitat, eating habits and conservation status. Particularly noteworthy are Byly’s illustrations. Trained as a natural history illustrator, her detailed watercolor paintings are true works of art and bring the animals to life.
Note: A Curious Collection of Dangerous Creatures was previously published in Australia under the title The Illustrated Encyclopaedia of Dangerous Animals.

THOUGHTS: This fantastic title will give readers a new appreciation and respect for the ways animals have adapted to survive. Ideal for casual browsers or researchers, readers will find themselves engrossed by the interesting facts presented about each animal and the detailed illustrations. 

591.6 Animals          Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg SD

Elem. – The Science of Animal Movement (Series NF)

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Huddleston, Emma. The Science of Animal Movement. Abdo. 2021. Book: $21.95, Series of 6: $131.70. Grades 2-5.

How Birds Fly. 978-1-532-19292-0.
How Bugs Jump. 978-1-532-19293-7.
How Critters Climb. 978-1-532-19294-4.
How Fish Swim. 978-1-532-19295-1.
How Mammals Run. 978-1-532-19296-8.
How Snakes Slither. 978-1-532-19297-5.

The Science of Animal Movement series describes how animals are able to move depending on their body, size, and its surroundings. The Reviewer read How Birds Fly, focusing specifically on birds. How Birds Fly provides information on how the wide category of birds can move in a variety of ways. From the largest of birds, to the smallest, coast to coast and in every possible biome, birds are found and able to move differently compared to others of the same type.

THOUGHTS: This series provides great information on the science behind the movement of animals. The books come with several different information pieces, including large photographs, colorful text, links & QR codes, diagrams, charts, and more.

500s          Rachel Burkhouse, Otto-Eldred SD