Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations (Picture Book Science)

by Laura Perdew (Author) Katie Mazeika (Illustrator)

Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations (Picture Book Science)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A nonfiction picture book about the incredible power of bizarre adaptations to keep mammals alive and thriving!

In Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations, children ages 5 to 8 learn how lemurs settle arguments and how earwax helps a whale’s sense of hearing, along with a host of other deliciously strange-but-true tales! The lively conversational tone used to deliver information on the unique adaptations of many different mammals engages a child’s sense of wonder while introducing the crucial concept of adaptation. A haiku poem at the beginning of the book offers a language-based entry into science details. A great choice both as a read aloud and for early readers who are curious about science.

Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations, is part of a set of five books in the Picture Book Science series that explore strange-but-true tales of adaptation. Other titles in this series include Water-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile AdaptationsAntifreeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish Adaptations; Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations;and Sunscreen, Frogsicles, and Other Amazing Amphibian Adaptations.

  • Provides layered text and back matter that encourages more in-depth discovery

  • Promotes a sense of awe and wonder about the natural world

  • Uses humor to engage children’s attention

  • Promotes cross-curriculum learning through poetry

  • Includes a hands-on, science-minded project to help support and reinforce deeper learning

  • Meets Next Generation Science Standards in ecosystems, biological evolution, and heredity for grades K through 2.
Select format:
Hardcover
$19.95

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ALA/Booklist

...delves into the weird, wide world of mammal adaptations, which includes whale earwax plugs, star-nosed mole sniffer sensitivity, and everything in between

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3--This entertaining science title highlights unique adaptations of 14 mammals. Following a few introductory pages, each animal is given a two-page spread. Animal profiles feature a simple topic sentence or fact rendered in a playful font. Brief paragraphs with smaller-size text offer additional information. A couple of descriptions seem subjective, such as the sentence discussing the southern elephant seals: "Like sloths, southern elephant seals may look like a bunch of large, lazy bums--with funny noses--when they are on shore. In the water, though, they move like a torpedo." Discussion questions encourage readers to contemplate animal adaptations beyond the text. In the section on bats, readers are asked, "How would you like to sleep upside down to make it easier to get out of bed?" With the exception of some small photos in the back matter, the animals are illustrated in color. Mazeika's illustrations use an anatomically correct but cartoon style. The animals are depicted as happy, serene, or playful. For example, the bats are drawn with softened facial features and smiles. Each animal appears in its natural habitat; the various environments showcase a nature-inspired palette. Back matter includes simple activities, facts, and a glossary. VERDICT Enjoyable, light reading for browsers and fans of animal nonfiction. A good addition to classroom libraries.--Lisa Taylor, Florida State Coll., Jacksonville

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for Biodiversity by Laura Perdew

Booklist Starred Review April 1, 2019
Nomad applies its dependable activity-book format to the new Build It Environmental Science series (4 titles). Here biodiversity is placed under the microscope—sometimes literally—in a text that makes daunting concepts, such as evolution, levels of biodiversity (genetic, species, or ecosystem), and why biodiversity matters, easy to understand without sacrificing scientific precision. By book's end, readers will truly understand what biodiversity is, its importance to the health of the planet, and humans' impact on the complex natural systems where it thrives.

Laura Perdew

Laura Perdew is a veteran nonfiction author, writing books for the education market on subjects ranging from toilets to pirates to politicians. This is her debut picture book. In addition to her work as an author, she is currently a writing consultant at the University of Colorado Boulder. Raised in Virginia, she now calls Colorado home.

Adelina Lirius was born in Kosovo and currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden where she works as a freelance illustrator. She earned a degree in art teaching from Uppsala University and studied illustration at Berghs School of Communication. This is her debut picture book.

Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781619309579
Lexile Measure
710
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Nomad Press (VT)
Publication date
August 20, 2020
Series
Picture Book Science
BISAC categories
JNF051150 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Zoology
JNF003140 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Mammals
JNF051050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Biology
JNF051110 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Experiments & Projects
Library of Congress categories
Animals
Picture books for children
Adaptation
Mammals

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