Platypus! (Step into Reading) [Paperback]

Ginjer L. Clarke (Author), Paul Mirocha (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 24, 2004 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Step into Reading

Dive and swim. Spin and swoop. The platypus loves to play!

Beginning readers will dive right into this simple, Step 2 nonfiction book about one of the most unique animals on earth.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Dive and swim. Spin and swoop. The platypus loves to play!

Beginning readers will dive right into this simple, Step 2 nonfiction book about one of the most unique animals on earth.

About the Author

Ginjer L. Clarke is a freelance editor and author of several books for children, including the Random House Picturebacks Wild Moms! and Wild Dads! She lives in Richmond, VA.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (August 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375824170
• ISBN-13: 978-0375824173
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.2 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,648 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Mammals > Nonfiction

More About the Author

Ginjer L. Clarke writes fun, fact-filled nonfiction beginning readers about weird, wonderful animals. Her love for strange creatures started early, as the first story she remembers writing in the third grade was "The Strange Animal" about a small, pink-spotted imaginary creature called a Woofa. She loves that her job entails visiting zoos and aquariums, reading lots of books, and even watching TV for research. And she can work at home in her pajamas, which is a lifelong dream!

Ginjer's books, most of which are part of Grosset & Dunlap's All Aboard Science Reader series, have sold a combined total of more than 2 million copies worldwide. Her books Freak Out! and Gross Out! were on Publisher's Weekly's 2006 and 2007 lists of top 100 best-selling children's books. Her book Platypus! (Random House Step into Reading) was awarded the Maryland Library Association's 2005 Blue Crab Young Reader Award for Nonfiction and was selected by the National Science Teachers Association as recommended classroom reading. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Booklist, Horn Book, School Library Journal, Children's Literature, and regional newspapers and magazines.

Ginjer is an experienced and lively school, library, and conference presenter, who has appeared at many elementary schools, regional reading and writing conferences, statewide book festivals, bookstores and libraries, and even a zoo. She is a graduate of James Madison University and lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, young son, and several silly-looking pets.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun, readable introduction to a strange animal, August 26, 2004

By 

Darice L. Moore (Largo, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Platypus! (Step into Reading) (Library Binding)

My daughter is a younger than the age group specified, but she loves the story and the pictures -- as do I, the parent who has to read it a million times in a row. *grin* Fortunately for me, the delightful and informative text holds up to repeated readings aloud, and although the book is nonfiction, there's a nice narrative flow that pulls the reader into the life of the platypus. Both enjoyable and educational!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice book, not enough information., October 3, 2009

By 

R. Day (Dale, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Platypus! (Step into Reading) (Paperback)

Platypus! (Step into Reading)

Nice, but has minimal information about platypuses. No mention of where they live (is it Australia or New Zealand?). Mother P digs a tunnel, lays her eggs, snake tries to get them, they hatch, stay in the tunnel til they are old enough to go out, learn to swim and eat the worms on the bottom of the river, enjoy playing in the water. My 4 year old loves information about animals. Since he watches Finneas and Ferb and their pet, Perry the platapus, my boy was intrigued to learn about them. This book has drawings instead of pictures and is more of a story instead of informational. Although, it does say about how big it is, and that it's a mammal, and has a bill like a duck. I know this is level 2 and sometimes the information isn't as good as level 3 or 4. But still! At least mention where they are found.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, October 26, 2009

By 

Looking for the right book "fangtooth fish" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Platypus! (Step into Reading) (Paperback)

Very interesting book for low level readers in fourth grade. They were intriged and wanted to research
more wierd animals.