Before & After [Hardcover]

Jan Thornhill (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

Jan Thornhill uses vibrant art to introduce the "nature timescape" to children, depicting from picture to picture how natural scenes change over spans of time ranging from a few seconds to a year. The environments--a tropical coral reef, an African savannah, a meadow in North America, and the South American rain forest--will delight children as they point out what has changed from scene to scene in the before and after pictures. Age 4 and up.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3. In rich, detailed illustrations, flora and fauna are depicted in various habitats "Before" and then again "After" a period of time has passed. For example, a coral reef displays many species of creatures?fish, starfish, sea urchins, a giant clam. Turn the page and a few moments have passed during which some of the creatures have left the scene; others, such as a shark and a large turtle, have entered. A pond is shown at sunset. Turn the page and an hour has passed; the animals now begin their nighttime activities. Other habitats include an African savannah, a meadow, a South American rain forest, the edge of a forest in eastern Australia, and a school yard. For each area, different lengths of time elapse. Illustrated borders list the various animals found within so that children can easily identify them. The "Nature Notes" on the back page provide further explanations of what has taken place in these "timescapes." Thornhill has brilliantly executed this unique and clever idea that will lend itself to a good discussion. Children will be able to grasp the concept that time?whether a moment or a year?brings changes to any environment, including their own.?Helen Rosenberg, St. Scholastica High School, Chicago, IL
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

With scrupulous care and exhibiting obvious research, Thornhill (Crow and Fox, 1993, etc.) presents seven biomes, one in every spread--tropical coral reef, wetland, savannah, meadow, temperate forest edge, rain forest, and school yard--on which appear about two dozen animals in a natural setting; the animals appear again in miniature and labeled in the colored border. A second spread of the featured biome follows, showing it a few seconds later, a minute later, a day later, a year later, etc. Children can observe the action at a tranquil watering hole a minute before a lioness leaps onto the scene, or the few seconds it takes for creatures at a coral reef to scatter and hide once the shark shows up. At the school yard, the ``before'' scene shows that a habitat is being created, with trees in burlap bags and gardening equipment; the ``after'' spread is set a year later, when the garden has become leafy and birds, butterflies, squirrels, and frogs have settled into the environment along with the children. A section of nature notes provides an additional paragraph of information for each locale, while the handsome, heavily detailed full-color drawings make a guessing game of some of the animals' hiding spots. Useful for biome study or just for browsing. (Picture book/nonfiction. 3-8) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792270932
• ISBN-13: 978-0792270935
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 0.4 x 12.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #777,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent for the growing two year old, November 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Before & After (Hardcover)

We rented this book from the library for our two year old to read over a two week period. We all enjoyed the book so much that I'm here buying it. Fantastic illustrations along with education on various animals and ecosystems provide simple memorization cues for a two year old to focus on as they continue to "fill up their hard drive".