Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide [Paperback]

Richard W. Thorington Jr. (Author), Katie E. Ferrell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 2006

Did you know that a groundhog is really a type of squirrel? That squirrels control their body temperature with their tails? That most squirrels have yellow-tinted eye lenses that work like sunglasses to reduce glare? That tree squirrels can turn their hind feet completely around when climbing down a tree head-first? In Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide, Richard W. Thorington Jr. and Katie Ferrell unveil the fascinating world of one of the "most watched" mammals on the planet.

The diversity of squirrels is astounding. There are 278 species that inhabit all continents except Antarctica and Australia—varying in size from the lumbering 18-pound gray marmot to the graceful pygmy flying squirrel that is smaller than most mice. In many parts of the world they readily share human habitats, joining us for lunch in a city park, raiding our bird feeders, and sneaking into college dorm rooms through open windows. Reviled as pests or loved as an endearing amusement, squirrels have played important roles in trade, literature, and mythology.

Thorington and Ferrell cover every aspect of this diverse animal family, from the first squirrels of 36 million years ago to the present day. With over one hundred photographs and an intuitive question-and-answer format, this authoritative and engaging guide sheds light on a common mammal that is anything but commonplace.

(2006)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A delightful read, well written, well organized, and well illustrated. This is the only such account of the entire family of Sciuridae. As one who has spent most of his career studying squirrels, I was quite surprised at how much I don't know and how much I learned from this book! Thorington and Ferrell have pulled off an extremely thorough account that will be of tremendous interest to the general public and many scientists alike.

(Michael Steele, Ph.D., Wilkes University, author of North American Tree Squirrels 2006)

A completely authoritative scholarly guide to the biology of a group of organisms and... a completely readable, fully illustrated, and fascinating introduction for the general public.

(National Museum of Natural History Weekly Update & Forecast 2006)

Got squirrels? This book has answers. This is not a children's book... read it with an adult. Fun for all ages.

(Washington Post 2006)

Only a master at both scholarship and communication could pull this off as eloquently and clearly as Thorington and Ferrell have done.

(Natural History News 2006)

A deft account, for backyard naturalists and scientists both.

(Harvard Magazine 2006)

You may enjoy watching these acrobatic characters... [Thorington and Ferrell] will make them more interesting to observe.

(Tuscaloosa News 2006)

Unravels the mysteries of the 278 species of squirrels that inhabit the planet... this is a must read.

(Princeton Alumni Weekly 2007)

Well written and organized and contains numerous color and black-and-white photos.

(Wildlife Activist 2007)

It's rare to see all the science of a college text embedded into a lively presentation also geared for the general audience—but here, it works very well.

(California Bookwatch 2007)

Eminently interesting.

(Susan Lumenello Colloquy 2006)

This engaging guide sheds light on a common mammal that is anything but commonplace.

(Wildlife Conservation 2007)

In this wide-ranging, accurate, and revealing approach to the subject, squirrels are placed in a world-wide context.

(Kim Long Bloomsbury Review 2007)

Fascinating book sure to entertain readers of all ages and backgrounds.

(Internet Bookwatch 2007)

Thorington and Ferrell have succeeded in producing a short, accessible guide that is of tremendous value to both the scientist and the amateur naturalist alike.

(Michael A. Steele Journal of Mammalian Evolution 2008)

What a treat. Buy it, read it, but don't squirrel it away—pass it on!

(William L. Gannon Journal of Mammalogy )

An accessible account of the large and diverse squirrel family... this book will appeal to the general public and scientists alike.

(Southeastern Naturalist )

This book is an answer to all questions relative to the American squirrels.

(Francis Petter Mammalia )

About the Author

Richard W. Thorington Jr. is a curator of mammals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. For many years Katie Ferrell was Dr. Thorington's research assistant at the Smithsonian.

(2006)

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press (August 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801884039
• ISBN-13: 978-0801884030
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,231 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #42 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Mammals
  • #75 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Mammals

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book sure to entertain readers of all ages and backgrounds., December 9, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide (Paperback)

Written by Richard W. Thorington Jr., curator of mammals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, and his former research assistant Katie Ferrell, Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide is an information-packed primer all about various species of squirrels, from the common grey squirrel to black-tailed prairie dogs to flying squirrels. Presented in a question-and-answer format, Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide covers topics ranging from "Can squirrels see color?" to "Why do squirrels commit infanticide?", "Do squirrels make good pets?" and "What do squirrels have to do with the Cinderella story?" (Cinderella's famous slipper was originally a comfortable squirrel slipper; it became an impractical glass slipper due to a mistranslation!) Black-and-white photographs and a handful of color plates illustrate this fascinating book sure to entertain readers of all ages and backgrounds.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smarter than it tries to be, June 5, 2007

By 

Arthur Digbee (Indianapolis, IN, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide (Paperback)

This book is packaged a bit like a children's book, as an "animal answer guide" with lots of pictures. It is written as a series of questions and answers, though the "answers" may go for several pages and read like regular text. The Q&A format is really more of an affectation.

While much of the book could be enjoyed by pre-teens who really love squirrels, the information is probably too detailed for them. High schoolers writing a report on squirrels - - for whatever reason - - would find it very helpful. However, it's really written for a general audience.

What then will you find in this book, gentle reader? In short: everything you ever wanted to know about squirrels, and then some. You'll learn not only about the fox squirrel in your backyard but other North American squirrels such as woodchucks and marmots. You'll also learn a bit about squirrels around the world, especially in South and Southeast Asia.

The book is full of black-and-white pictures on many pages, and has two collections of color plates in the middle of the book. The black-and-white pictures tend to aim to be informative, while the color pictures are often beautiful art shots. So, if you think squirrels can be a subject of High Art, this is your book.

Actually, it's a remarkably good book on an unexpected subject. It's not quite as good as some other animals books I've reviewed (on wolves, bison and locusts - - see my reviews), and it's not really a "classic" book for anyone. so I'll only give it 4 stars. But it really deserves 4.5. It's hard to imagine a better book on squirrels.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BACKYARD FRIENDS, March 27, 2007

By 

H. Works - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide (Paperback)

If you have been observing the squirrels in your backyard or garden, and have been wondering just what they are "thinking" or what they are "up to," this is the book for you. Very well written, and particularly well organized, it is a book that you go back to again and again, right after observing your furry friends. You will enjoy it!