2004 Award Finalists
Amazing Things Animals Do
by Marilyn Baillie; art: Romi Caron
Review by: Dr. Abby L. Schwarz, Langara College
Amazing Things Animals Do, the RECIPIENT OF THE 2004 OUTSTANDING CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD from the Animal Behavior Society, discusses four aspects of animal behavior: helpful interactions, babies and family life, hiding and saving food, and communication. A "Who's who" at the end contains supplementary paragraphs on each species discussed. The information is fascinating, accurate and up-to-date, and Ms. Baillie's writing style is flowing, appealing and accessible. Children liked the variety and the "who's who" portion. One child commented,"I didn't know animals could do so much cool things! And I understand it!"
A Little Lemur Named Mew
by Joyce A. Powzyk
Review by Dr. Sue Margulis, Brookfield Zoo
A Little Lemur Named Mew offers a delightful and highly accurate portrayal of the first months of a young ring-tailed lemur's life. Events ranging from foraging on tamarind pods, to stink fights, to close encounters with predators are all presented in a compelling manner, with subtle and detailed illustrations. Taking us from Mew's birth in the dry forests of Southwestern Madagascar through the cyclones of the rainy season, we see the world through a little lemur's eyes. Although students' opinions ranged from "captivating" to "adventurous" to "boring," one 4th grader expressed the following opinion: "The pictures connected to the writing...and the details made me feel that I was actually there, watching them." By combining scientific accuracy with an engaging story, Powzyk entertains and educates by introducing us to Mew's world.
Borealis: A Polar Bear Cub's First Year
by Rebecca L. Grambo, photography: Daniel J. Cox
Review by: Dr. Paul V. Switzer, Eastern Illinois University
Borealis tells a story of the first 4 seasons of a polar bear cub's life. This book is largely written as a series of conversations between the cub and his mom as he learns about his Arctic home. These conversations are loaded with information both on polar bear biology and behavior and on other natural and human events in the Arctic. Borealis discovers how to hunt seals, why ptarmigan change color, why he should avoid the nests of snowy owls, and about people ("…don’t get too close. People can be unpredictable."). Children liked the story line, the excellent photography, and the additional facts at the end of the book, but some children didn't like the fact that the bears talked. Overall, Borealis is an interesting book with an engaging story line that provides children with a visual and factual introduction to the Arctic environment.
It's a Hummingbird's Life
by Irene Kelly
Review by: Dr. Becky Talyn, California State University, San Bernardino
It's a Hummingbird's Life depicts the life cycle of the ruby-throated hummingbird using interesting and exciting prose, engaging illustrations, and creative layout. The story provides a detailed account of the seasonal behaviors of these energetic but tiny birds, including breeding, feeding, flight and migration. The writing style is engaging, yet includes some thematic repetition to create a cohesive presentation for younger readers. Teachers found the book to contain a lot of interesting information. The children who reviewed this book liked learning about "cute" hummingbirds, particularly their acrobatic flight, long migrations, nesting patterns and feeding the young. Many children enjoyed the illustrations, and several found the story funny, particularly the section about how the hummingbirds lean out of the nest to poop. Text is written in "wavy lines" to mimic the motion of the hummingbird; although this style was a clever idea and appealing to adults, reviews from children indicated that some either had difficulty with the style or just didn’t like it. It's a Hummingbird's Life provides children with a fun and detailed look at a fascinating animal.
