About the Author

Daniel Nunn has written numerous books for young readers on a variety of topics, specializing in early years and elementary education. Like Eddie the Elephant, he enjoys playing hide and seek with his two young children. His favorite hiding place is behind the curtains in the living room!

Reviews

(3) PS Why Living Things Need series. Published spring 2012. These books explore what people, animals, and plants need to survive. Each book examines the particular life-sustaining element by defining it, explaining why it is necessary and how it functions, and presenting examples of it in use. Concise text, colorful photographs, engaging quizzes ("Which of these things does not need. . .?"), and a picture glossary make the information preschooler-friendly. Ind. Meredith M. Sittman The Horn Book Guide Spring 2013-- "The Horn Book Guide"

Each book in this series explains one of the essential needs that all living things have, and is a perfect fit for the first grade Life Science standard. Most first grade readers will find the full-color photo on each page with a single sentence interesting and accessible. There are additional features, such as close-up picture-in-a-picture, captions, and a pictorial glossary featuring a photo from the book to aid in understanding. Brook Berg, Library Media Specialist, Riverview Elementary, Farmington, Minnesota Library Media Connection October 2012 Issue Recommended-- "Library Media Connection"

This cleanly designed series explains what determines that humans, animals, and plants are living things. Their needs for light, air, water, food, and shelter are explained in short, simple sentences, introducing rudimentary life-science concepts. Each volume contains a quiz that tests readers on their newly acquired knowledge. The bright color photos, one per page, are attention-grabbing. This series is recommended for early elementary learners who may simply enjoy browsing the photos for pleasure. - Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME School Library Journal April 2012 Issue-- "School Library Journal"

Water is a liquid. LIquids are runny. Water has no smell, color, or taste. Water is one in a series of books that introduces young readers to the items living organisms need to survive. This necessary component of life is explored through defining water, where it comes from, who needs it, how they get it, and why it is important to living things. One sentence on a page makes that book inviting and the photographs support the text on each page. This simple book introduces the important concept of one of the things life needs to exist for the very early reader. It makes an excellent way to review living and nonliving things and then introduce this new concept. The rest of the books in the series include the other things all organisms need to live. The book includes a table of contents, a picture glossary, a one question water quiz, and an index. There is a notes section for an activity using water. Activity Take a walk around the house or classroom and outdoors. Make a list of the things you see. Then fold a paper in half and label the two colums needs water and doesn't need water. Categorize the words on the list and illustrate them. This site has good information, but you have to scroll down through the ads. This site has some lessons about what living things need. - SimplyScience6/20/2012 http: //simplyscience.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/why-living-things-need-water/-- "SimplyScience"