Wild Babies [Paperback]

Seymour Simon (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Born To Be Wild!

Did you know that...

• opossums give birth to fifty tiny babies at once?

• Baby elephants weight over 200 pounds at birth?

• a newborn giraffe is as tall as a person?

Learn everything you ever wanted to know about exotic, irresisible baby animals in this fascinating book -- filled with full-color photographs.

Renowned science writer Seymour Simon takes on parenthood! In lucid prose he describes how thirteen different wild animals raise their young. Stunning photographs help place each animal in its distinct habitat, from penguins in the Antarctic to kangaroos in the outback. But whether it is an enormous polar bear fiercely protecting her cubs, or a sleek alligator swimming away right after her babies hatch, Seymour Simon shows us what is unique and important about each animal.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4. Simon spotlights 13 animal babies from a few different continents and both poles. While the focus is on mammals, a bird, a reptile, and an amphibian are included. The full-color photographs are striking and generous, and most often portray the youngster with its mother. The accompanying page of information is written in a simple but lively manner to pique the interest of young readers. The book has a logical flow as animals from similar environments follow one another, and both the text and the photographs provide some glimpses of the diverse habitats in which these creatures live. This is a beautiful browsing book, but it does not include maps, a glossary, or even all the basic facts about each animal. Bruce McMillan's The Baby Zoo (Scholastic, 1992) covers similar ground, but the subjects were photographed in a zoo, not in the wild.?Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ages 6^-8. Simon approaches the general topic of baby animals by focusing on specifics, introducing various little ones from birth until they are grown and/or ready to leave their families: the young kangaroo, opossum, raccoon, polar bear, emperor penguin, giraffe, elephant, baboon, dolphin, frog, alligator, and lynx. He describes the physical characteristics, growth, and care of each youngster in a few paragraphs of cogent text facing a full-page, full-color photograph of parent and offspring. Similar in format to the author's books on sharks, wolves, and whales, this volume combines appealing photos with intriguing details of animal life. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (April 4, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064462064
• ISBN-13: 978-0064462068
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 11 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,102 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #13 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Arts & Music > Photography
  • #24 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( S ) > Simon, Seymour
  • #43 in Books > Children's Books > Arts, Crafts & Music > Photography

More About the Author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association). His free, educational children's app, SCIENCE FUN TO GO, debuted in the Top 10 of all free children's apps in the Amazon App store, and features in app purchase of original Seymour Simon eBooks, as well as a multitude of free content.

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York. You can follow his daily nature walks and see his photographs from the field on Twitter (@seymoursimon) or on his Facebook group page. He also regularly hosts Q&As and sponsors book giveaways on GoodReads.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NEWBORNS ARE IRRESISTIBLE, March 3, 2004

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wild Babies (Paperback)

Newborn animals are irresistible, and the same can be said for Wild Babies, a captivating photo essay by science writer Seymour Simon.

Youngsters meet infant creatures in their native habitats - a week old giraffe, all 150 wobbly pounds of him; downy feathered penguin chicks; dolphin calves cavorting in the sea as circling adult females protect them.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who can resist baby animals?, December 28, 2000

By 

Michael J. Mazza - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wild Babies (Paperback)

Baby animals have a natural appeal to most children (and to many adults, too). Seymour Simon's "Wild Babies" is a good book for those interested in this topic. Directed towards younger readers, this book covers animal babies of many different species and geographic regions: kangaroos, emperor penguins, dolphins, alligators, giraffes, and more.

Each of the 13 species profiles consists of a two-page spread: a full-color, full page photograph on one page, with a simply written but informative text on the facing page. The book is full of memorable images: an elephant matriarch guarding her herd's babies, a polar bear cub and mother ambling across the arctic landscape, a baboon family engaged in a relaxing grooming session, and more. This is an outstanding book for the family library.