Almost Gone: The World's Rarest Animals (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) [Paperback]

Steve Jenkins (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2

Let's-Read-and-Find-Out about

Endangered Animals

Have you seen a northern hairy-nosed wombat or an eastern barred bandicoot? These animals are so rare, they might disappear forever, and they're not alone. Read and find out about some of the animals that are almost gone.

Introduce basic science concepts to young children and help satisfy their curiosity about how the world works.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 3–This engaging title is informative as well as visually stunning. Jenkins captures the essence of his subjects with appropriately colored, cut-paper collage illustrations on stark white backgrounds. Each endangered animal is introduced in a single paragraph that typically contains a fact or two about its range, behavior, diet, and those conditions that threaten its welfare. The actual number remaining is poignantly noted. A middle section, Gone Forever, memorializes animals no longer on Earth with an indication of when they were last seen. In a hopeful third section, Jenkins discusses the Indian crocodile, whooping crane, and Alpine ibex, three animals that are coming back, due to the efforts to protect their habitats. All the animals included in this book are numbered and appropriately placed on a double-page world map. Those who have enjoyed Patricia Mullins V for Vanishing (HarperCollins, 1997) or Alexandra Wrights Will We Miss Them? (Charlesbridge 1991) will definitely gravitate toward this offering. Report writers may need more extensive information but the beauty of this book justifies its inclusion on most library shelves.–Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Gr. 1-3. Caldecott Honor Book illustrator Jenkins applies his considerable talents to the cause of conservation in this book in the long-running Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Using his signature cut-and torn-paper collages, he shows 21 endangered species, accompanying each image with a few sentences about the animal's habitat, a particular characteristic, and, sometimes, the reason for its endangered status. The art is not to scale, but Jenkins often works in text references to give kids an idea of relative size: a Yangtze River Dolphin "may grow to be eight feet long"; an Assam rabbit weighs "four or five pounds." As usual, Jenkins' artwork is fascinating. His papers, apparently handpainted, are carefully matched to catch subtle variations of an animal's skin or a sense of the shagginess of its coat. The last spreads consider four extinct animals and three species brought back from the brink by breeding or protection programs. A map designating the range of each species concludes this nicely accomplished entry in a generally stellar series. Stephanie Zvirin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Collins (January 31, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060536004
• ISBN-13: 978-0060536008
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 11 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,172 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #25 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Environment
  • #66 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature > Environment
  • #90 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Issues > Social Skills

More About the Author

Steve Jenkins has written and illustrated nearly twenty picture books for young readers, including the Caldecott Honor-winning What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? His books have been called stunning, eyepopping, inventive, gorgeous, masterful, extraordinary, playful, irresistible, compelling, engaging, accessible, glorious, and informative. He lives in Colorado with his wife and frequent collaborator, Robin Page, and their children. To learn more about Steve and his books, visit www.stevejenkinsbooks.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pleasantly surprised, May 24, 2006

By 

L. Ashworth (Sterling Heights, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Almost Gone: The World's Rarest Animals (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) (Paperback)

My son received this book as a gift from his first grade teacher for entering a project into the science fair. He enjoys reading this book over and over again. This book has made him think about all the different types of animals and how the envoriment can cause them harm. This book gives the description of the animal, size, location and what may be the cause of their extinction. It not only teaches about the worlds rarest animals but in the back of the book there is a world map of all the locations listed within the book. I believe that this book is great for educating our children on both science and geography. I would recommend this book to any science and animal lover.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEAUTIFUL BOOK!, January 6, 2008

By 

Say No to Plastics "Changing one person at a ... (Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Almost Gone: The World's Rarest Animals (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) (Paperback)

I was really surprised by how much impact this one book had on me and my 4 yr old. This book is so simply beautifully illustrated, informative, and eye opening even to adults. Some animals have fewer than 20 left on the earth and will most likely be gone forever. It helps open discussion for young kids about the earth they will inherit and simple things kids can do to help. I will be giving these out as gift to parents with kindergarden and first grader kids.

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Impressed, January 16, 2012

By 

Reviewer "VA Mom" (Fredericksburg, VA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Almost Gone: The World's Rarest Animals (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2) (Paperback)

We love this series... we must own at least 50 of the books, and we would give all of them 4 or 5 stars except this one. It was lacking. Nice if you're just looking for a list of animals and some info about them, but doesn't bring much else to the table.