Ellen Jacksonhas written and published many fiction and nonfiction
books for children. She is the author of the award-winningTurn of
the Century,Cinder Edna, andThe Ballad of the Booster Bogg, among
others. Ellen lives in Californiawith her Miniature Schnauzer,
Bailey. She writes almost every day.You can visit her online at
EllenJackson.net.
Renne Benoitis the illustrator of several picture books,
includingMooncakes,The Secret of the Village Fool, andProud as a
Peacock, Brave as a Lion. Renne lives in Ontario, Canada.
Upbeat, if somewhat corny, rhymes help introduce ways in which 11
wild animals utilize tools. Subjects include a crow that bends a
piece of wire to reach an object, otters that use rocks to smash
open shellfish, and dolphins that use sea sponges to catch fish:
"Dolphins choose a cone-shaped sponge,/ wrap their beaks, then fish
and lunge." Longer prose passages elaborate on each animal's
activity: "Elephants strip leaves from branches," writes Jackson.
"They use the stripped branches to swat flies or other insects that
bite them." Benoit's mixed-media illustrations fall between
naturalistic and cozy, creating an accessible entry point to
learning about animal behavior. An author's note provides
additional background on animals' tool use and the habitats of the
featured animals.
-Publishers Weekly
Woodpecker finches, chimpanzees, otters, deer, and octopuses are
just some of the animals whose use of tools is explored in this
attractive, informational picture book. Rhyming couplets paired
with explanatory paragraphs in succinct, descriptive prose explain
how various species use objects to accomplish specific goals. A
helpful introduction explains what a tool is, defining it fairly
broadly ("Many scientists who study animal tool use define a tool
as an object that an animal uses to accomplish a goal"): the book
uses some clear examples (a chimp using sticks and straws to obtain
termites, otters using rocks to crack shells) as well as less
obvious ones (squirrels kicking rocks and sand at a snake, male red
deer covering their antlers with mud or grass to attract mates).
Soft watercolor, pencil, and gouache illustrations depict the
animals realistically. This book allows for a rich, up-close look
at a fascinating aspect of animal behavior, and while the use of
tools is the primary focus, the pictures will also enhance
discussions around animal habitats as well. The rhyming portions
make this title ideal for reading aloud with younger children,
while the more in-depth explanations allow for engaging independent
reading by older kids. An author's note goes into further detail
about tools, and the bibliography and additional resources showcase
some solid books and websites for kids. Useful for instructional
purposes and accessible enough for students to read on their
own.
-School Library Journal
Sure, people use tools, but animals? On each double-page spread of
this attractive picture book, Jackson introduces a species that
will surprise readers with its inventiveness and adaptability.
Short, rhyming verse introduces the ideas, while a large-scale
picture illustrates them, and a few sentences explain what the
animal is doing and why. For example, the rhyme "Otters on an ocean
swell / use a rock to crack a shell" accompanies images of otters
swimming, picking up a rock, and dining on the mullusk inside,
while the short prose text comments on what's happening. Also
featured are a woodpecker finch, chimpanzee, crow, deer, and
elephant, among others. An author's note discusses scientists'
ongoing discussion of animal tool use. Benoit's appealing artwork,
created with watercolor, colored pencil, and gouache, illustrates
the animals' unusual behaviors with warmth, color, and attention to
detail. An intriguing idea presented in an accessible way.
-Booklist
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