All summer I’ll be sharing books for kids of all ages on topics that will interest them or offer them a new interest to learn about. Most of the time these will be nonfiction books, but sometimes we can learn from fictional stories too. I frequently learn from books sent during a historical period because usually the fictional story is based on real events.
So, I hope you will stay tuned to these posts. They will always have Summer Read-to-Learn in the title and in the tags. There will be books from some of my favorite publishers like National Geographic, Phaidon, Chronicle Kids, Prestel, and many others.
To see all the posts from my Summer Read-to-Learn series, click HERE.
WILDS OF THE UNITED STATES
The Animal’s Survival Field Guide
By: Alexander Vidal
Published: July 12, 2022
Publisher: Chronicle Kids
Non-Fiction
Put on your hiking shoes because you are going on an adventure around the USA. You’ll learn how various animals survive in the wild based on their uniform, the families of animals they live around, their athletic abilities, and how they forage for food. The United States is divided into ten different regions to explore all the animals that call these places their homes.
There are so many unique facts about animals on every page. Did you know prairie dogs “kiss to identify other members of their family group? Beavers are the largest rodent in North America and can weigh up to 70 pounds. After recently being in Northern Minnesota, I enjoyed watching a loon glide across the lake, but I didn’t know they have three separate calls: one to announce their presence, one to locate their chicks, and one to claim their territory.
Many birds migrate to avoid the cold temperatures in their regular habitat. The Great Plains, including Iowa, is the route many migrating birds take called the Central Flyway. Inside the book, you can follow the rufous hummingbird’s journey as it migrates 8,000 miles along the Pacific Coast. There is also a scavenger hunt of sorts at the beginning of the book for kids to find answers to while reading.
This comprehensive book is quite spectacular with accurate illustrations and brief facts to keep kids engaged and wanting to turn the pages and learn more. The author hopes this book is a reminder to us that we share this amazing land with incredible animals who are vulnerable to our actions. Keeping their habitats safe and natural will help keep these animals coming back year after year.
Alexander Vidal studied cultural anthropology and spent time living in Africa and Asia before starting his career in illustration. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, he lives in Los Angeles, California.
To purchase a copy of WILDS OF THE UNITED STATES, click the photo below:
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Thanks to the publisher for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. This review is my honest opinion. If you choose to make a purchase through the above links, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.
Posted Under Alexander Vidal, animals, Book Review, Children's books, non-fiction, Summer Read-to-Learn, United States