Customer Reviews

Squirrels: The Animal Answer Guide

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

If you have an interest in any of the squirrels in North America, you'll like this book. I am enjoying it immensely, and I have read most of the really good squirrel literature available. This new book is excellent.

Somewhere in the advertising literature, it says that the book is in question and answer form. This nearly put me off and caused me not to order the book. Don't allow that to happen to you. It is simply that the titles to each short section of the book are in the form of questions. The text that follows these headings is excellent. I'm glad I bought it.

For readers seeking knowledge of tree squirrels, I would also recommend The Natural History of Squrrels by Steele and Arizona's Tree Squirrels by David Brown. That would be in addition to, not in place of, Squrrels: The Animal Answer Book.

Few mammalogical books deal with families of mammals leaving aside charismatic groups like cats and primates. Well, the squirrels have had the light beamed at them, and they are the stars of this compact, easily digested volume all abou the squirrels of the world. There have been a few other books on squirrels in the past with accent on few.

I enjoyed reading this book and noted its extensive list of known species, decent illustrations and overview of the group as a whole. Sadly there is still a great deal that we don't know.

This book is pitched at the non specialist non paleontologist and I would have liked to have seen more on squirrel phylogeny and paleontology. I hope this book leads to more illustrated works on this intelligent, perky family of mammals which I happen to study. They do represent keystone (charismatic, well recognised) mammals and deserve better coverage.

We have been blessed with many squirrels in our area. Some are an endangered variety. This book provided more insight into general squirrel behavior. It provided the a number of answers to questions about these fascinating creatures. I would recommend this book to others who enjoy sharing a yard with squirrels and even to those who don't in the hopes they could begin to tolerate them.
I am especially happy that the book accurately discusses the subject of rabies and squirrels (no known transmission to humans). I used to work in public health and one of the most frequent panic calls I would get entailed a bite or scratch from a squirrel.
Like the authors, I enjoy observing and living in close contact with these creatures. While satisfied with the book, I will continue to seek even more in-depth information about squirrels. The only reason it didn't quite get a full 5 star rating, is because I hoped for more scientific depth. It does read well. It is a good basic book and I am happy I purchased it.

My husband and I adopted three abandoned baby squirrels, so this book has been a very interesting read for us. It does not contain everything we have wanted to know, and it really is not about raising squirrels, but it is very informative and well written.

Every which way to outsmart squirrels?
Don't try - the best way is FEED them.
The book is well done and has amazing
suggestions.

I purchased this book to found out info about my back yard squirrels. I think for an amateur person this book is great. I especially like the fact it shows all squireels around the world. A great book thanks,..............

This book was better than I expected. From the quippy titles for the chapters, I wasn't really expecting to gain as much knowledge as I did. Currently pursuing a veterinary technologist education and eventually, a wildlife rehabilitationist, this will be a bible to me in treating squirrels, ground hogs, and the numerous other mammal varities that fall under the squirrel family