About Marsupials: A Guide for Children (About... (Peachtree Hardcover)) [Hardcover]

Cathryn Sill (Author), John Sill (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: About... (Peachtree Hardcover)

IN THIS LATEST BOOK in the acclaimed About_ series, educator and author Cathryn Sill uses simple, easy-to-understand language to teach children what marsupials are, how they look, how they move, what they eat, and where they live. Illustrator John Sill introduces readers to a variety of marsupials, from the well-known koala and kangaroo to the less familiar cuscus and quoll. An afterword provides details on the animals featured and inspire young readers to learn more.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3 Beautiful, detailed illustrations are the highlight of this simple introduction. Each spread includes one line of large-print text opposite a full-page picture of an animal. Characteristics of many different, primarily Australian, marsupials are described in language young students will understand. However, by highlighting characteristics that are so general, children might be unclear about what constitutes a marsupial. (They may live in trees…on the ground…or underground. Many marsupials are nocturnal they hunt and eat at night. Others look for food during the day.) An afterword does provide additional information about the number of species, location, and the nourishment of a newborn, along with clear details about the animals shown in each illustration. Report writers are likely to find the most useful information in this section. Christine Markley, Washington Elementary School, Barto, PA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 2. The Sills offer the tenth book in their series of guides to the animal kingdom, which began with About Birds (1991). Written with simplicity and dignity, this well-illustrated book identifies the characteristics and behaviors of marsupials in the wild and concludes with the importance of protecting these animals and their habitats. A typical double-page spread includes a line or a phrase of text on the left-hand page, facing a handsome, full-page painting of an animal in the wild. Well-suited to classroom sharing, the paintings are attractively composed and clearly delineated. In a six-page afterword, each plate is reproduced in miniature, and the basic facts expressed in the main text are supported with paragraphs of added information. The book concludes with a brief glossary and lists of recommended books, videos, and Web sites. Primary-grade teachers will especially appreciate the book's succinct text and fine illustrations. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561453587
• ISBN-13: 978-1561453580
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 10.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,900,569 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes learning so fun!, February 25, 2010

By 

sunny swimmer "sunny swimmer" - See all my reviews

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This review is from: About Marsupials: A Guide for Children (About... (Peachtree Paperback)) (Paperback)

This is the 4th book in this series that we have purchased for out toddler, and each one is just as good as the last. The illustrations are are phenomenal, the text simple but very informative, and everything comes together beautifully. I am certain that this book and series would be age appropriate for children as old as 8, but certainly are very good for curious toddlers as well. So happy to have found this series!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and entertaining picture-book format non-fiction, August 12, 2006

By 

HenderHouse (Libertyville, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: About Marsupials: A Guide for Children (About... (Peachtree Hardcover)) (Hardcover)

The 10th in a series of "About...A Guide for Children" books, ABOUT MARSUPIALS is a representative example of this terrific series. The "About...A Guide for Children" books are great nonfiction titles for the preK - 2nd grade set, each focusing on one type of animal (marsupials, mammals, birds, reptiles). The books are laid out in two-page spreads, eaching providing a very brief fact (for example, "Some marsupials do not have a pouch") and a beautifully detailed illustration of a specific type of animal. The large colorful pictures and the brief text make these terrific nonfiction additions to storytime and other read-aloud activities.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent part of a wonderful series., February 10, 2009

By 

Megan (Baltimore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: About Marsupials: A Guide for Children (About... (Peachtree Paperback)) (Paperback)

I can't praise these books highly enough; the illustrations are very appealing, the text is clear and simple without being babyish, and the layout is inviting.

Each double page spread features a charming picture of a particular marsupial on the right side, and a clean white page with anywhere from one word to one sentence describing an attribute of the marsupial pictured that also applies to other, sometimes all marsupials.

The simple text and layout make the book appealing as a read-aloud text for toddlers and preschoolers (my almost 3 yr. old loves this series) as well as an excellent choice for emerging readers.

It can be difficult to find high-quality nonfiction texts for the preschool and early elementary crowd, but this book and it's companions are a perfect choice. My 8 yr. old, who struggles with reading, enjoys these because they are within his grasp but are not oversimplified or dull.

At the end of the book are a few pages with thumbnails of each illustration accompanied by slightly more in-depth information about each animal. I read just a few of these at a time to my 3 yr. old, to match his comprehension and attention span; they are a very nice 'bonus' to an aleady delightful book. Very highly recommended.