2008 Book Award Finalists

Animal Behavior Society Outstanding Children’s Book Award - 2008

Each year, the Education Committee presents an award for an outstanding children’s book that emphasizes animal behavior. This year, we received 55 submissions from 13 publishers in the United States and Canada. The review committee (Sue Margulis, Danielle Lee, Chris Cratsley, and John Roche) completed first round evaluations and narrowed the field to four finalists. The Committee then solicited reviews from children in grades 3-5, and donated all submitted titles to neighborhood schools (this year, over 200 books, with an estimated value of over $3000). Nearly 250 students reviewed the finalists, and selected the 2007 winner:

Where in the Wild?

Reviews of the three finalists follow. In addition, the winner of the 2006 Outstanding Children’s Book Award, Dr. Stanley Coren, attended this year’s ABS meeting and participated in a session on science writing. We thank our review committee, our partner schools and community groups, and the publishers for their continued support of the Award.

Where in the Wild? Camouflaged Creatures Concealed…and Revealed by David Schwartz and Yael Schy (photos by Dwight Kuhn). Tricycle Press, 2007.

Review by Sue Margulis, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago

What do you get when you combine delightful poetry, “hidden image” photography, and factual details about animal behavior? The answer is Where in the Wild. This outstanding book (recipient of the 2008 Animal Behavior Society Outstanding Children’s Book Award) introduces a series of well-camouflaged animals with a poem. Readers can try to spot the animal in the photo (which is fun and challenging), then lift the flap to reveal the hidden animal, along with wonderful information on the behavior and ecology of the subject. Species span a broad taxonomic range, including spiders, fish, salamanders, birds and mammals. Each poem is written in a different style, and the combination of poetry, prose and visual imagery is sure to enthrall young readers. Said one young reader: “It is a fun book to read. It has a lot of surprises.” Another reader noted: “Kids could learn by all the rich text and the good information and be excited.” This is a truly captivating book

Survival Secrets of of Sea Animals by Mary Jo Rhodes, and David Hall, (Photographer)

Review by Danielle N. Lee, University of Missouri - St. Louis

This book is great. I loved it. It explains all of the ways different sea animals avoid and wriggle their ways out the clutches of the most clever sea predators. The photos are excellent and the text is engaging. I highly recommend this book for young readers and environmental educators, too. This books is a great way to introduce the ecological concept of predator-prey dynamics to students in intermediate grades (3-5). It's a perfect way to get students apply and evaluate what they comprehend. Students can compare and contrast the adaptations and behavioral tactics of these sea "foes". The Student Reviewers of Clay Elementary really enjoyed the up-close and detailed pictures of the animals. The colors and adaptive weapons and tactics of the sea animals were very interesting to them. They found the book very easy to read and understand...That's always a good thing to hear.

Octopuses by Sandra Markle. Lerner Publications Company, Minneapolis

Reviewed by John Roche, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester.

Swimming through the ocean, an animal of high intelligence and complex behavior uses its camera-style eyes to look for food. But this animal is not a dolphin, seal, or sea lion—it is a far more distant relative of ours. It is a giant Pacific octopus. Octopuses, by Sandra Markle, tells readers about the lives and marvels of the giant Pacific octopus and several other octopus species. Readers quickly discover that while these relatives of garden snails are indeed not dolphins or sea lions, that they have lives and evolved traits that are equally, if not even more, astounding. Octopuses can change colors and shape shift to blend in to their surroundings to avoid predators. They can dart about rapidly when needed using jet propulsion. They can inject poisonous saliva into their prey. And the females carefully devote themselves to caring for their developing young. Sandra Markle is the author of several other books for children, has taught science to elementary school children, and has created programs on science for PBS and CNN. In Octopuses, she provides children and adults with a vivid tour of the natural history of octopuses, with informative text and beautiful photographs. She also provides a short glossary and a list of two books where readers can find additional information on these astounding creatures of the sea. Octopuses is a worthwhile read for those who are fans of these intriguing animals, and for those that are about to be fans.