African Animals [Hardcover]

Caroline Arnold (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

The continent of Africa is home to an amazing variety of wildlife.

Zebras, hippos, lions, and many other animals roam its vast open grasslands. Other species, such as gorillas and snakes, inhabit its warm tropical forests. And a few other types of animals, including camels and foxes, can even survive in Africa's and desert regions.

Filled with twenty-five breathtaking full-color photographs, this captivating book highlights many of the most fascinating animals of Africa. Youngsters are sure to find their favorites here, and, through award-winning author Caroline Arnold's clearly written text, they will discover how each one--from giraffe to elephant, meerkat to leopard--is able to adapt to its own special environment in the wild.Filled with breathtaking photographs and kid-pleasing facts, this book features the most interesting animals of the African plains, forests, jungles, and deserts. Youngsters are sure to find all their favorites here and will learn how each one--from giraffe to elephant, meerkat to leopard--is able to adapt to its special environment.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2. Superb full-color photography, simple but intelligent language, and excellent organization make this a standout in the growing field of nonfiction for the very young. Almost two dozen African species, mostly mammals, are brought to life and placed in the context of their environs. A brief introduction to this lush continent, and a final note about extinction will get children (and the adults reading to them) thinking about their own place in the world. Animals are grouped by habitat (grasslands, forests, and deserts), and basic locator maps show the extent of each area on the continent. A two-page spread is devoted to each animal, and while it is the spectacular photographs that dominate each spread, the brief, boxed text explicates each picture. The straightforward information succeeds in placing the animal in its own environment while exploring the relationship between the creature and a child's own world. "If you were a giraffe, you would be able to see into a second-story window!" Occasional questions provide a natural segue to open discussion. "How would you like to sleep in a tree at night?" This is a book that youngsters will want to return to again and again. Share it with story-time groups or suggest it for one-on-one reading.?Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3^-5. Prolific wildlife writer-photographer Arnold takes a lucid look at 20 African animals. Arranged by habitat (grasslands, forests, and deserts), the book features color photographs of such wild beasts as zebras, warthogs, and gorillas. Although some of the single-and double-page spreads are on the dark side or a bit out of focus, they are also undeniably dramatic. They show close-ups of the crocodile's sharp teeth, the dark markings on the cheetah's nose, the python's scaly skin, and the leopard's rosette-shaped spots. Given the brevity and simplicity of the text, it is surprisingly informative. Basic characteristics are cited along with questions to the readers: "How would you like to sleep in a tree at night?" Well done. Julie Corsaro

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (March 14, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688141153
• ISBN-13: 978-0688141158
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,076,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Caroline Arnold is the author of more than 100 books for children. She writes both fiction and nonfiction and recently has illustrated some of her books with striking cut paper art. To see prints and cards of her illustrations, go to www.etsy.com/shop/CarolineArnoldArt. Recent nonfiction titles include A Polar Bear's World, A Bald Eagle's World, Global Warming and the Dinosaurs, A Panda's World, Giant Sea Reptiles of the Dinosaur Age, Super Swimmers, and Easter Island. Her recent fiction books include Wiggle and Waggle, a collection of five stories for beginning readers, and The Terrible Hodag and the Animal Catchers, a tall tale.
Her books have received awards from the American Library Association, the National Science Teachers Association, P.E.N., and SCBWI. Recently she received the Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Nonfiction Award for her body of work, the Leo Politi Award from California Readers, and from the Children's Literature Council of Southern California, the Best Written and Illustrated Suite of Nonfiction for children.
Caroline's interest in animals and the out-of-doors began when she was a child growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After majoring in art and literature at Grinnell College in Iowa, she received her M.A. in art from the University of Iowa. Some of her new books are illustrated with her own art. Caroline lives in Los Angeles and teaches part-time in the Writer's Program at UCLA Extension.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Captivated My 20-Month Old!, February 13, 2002

By 

Zahrah (NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African Animals (Hardcover)

When my son started to show an interest in animals, I went out and got this book. It was the first time in his 20 months on earth, that he sat down and paid attention to an entire book without trying to tear the pages, or without just simply finding something else to do. After I finished reading the book to him, and showing him the fantastic, real-life pictures, he was still sitting there waiting for me to turn the page to another picture of an animal. While my 20-month old enjoyed the real-life pictures, my 3 and-a-half year old enjoyed the reading, also. The author's words are informative, but not too deep or complicated. After checking this book out from the library, I had to go out and purchase it because I knew it was a must-have in my home, and my son would have missed the book terribly if I had returned it to the library and not brought it back home.