Australian Animals (Hardcover)

by Caroline Arnold (Author) "AT THE EDGE OF AN AUSTRALIAN FOREST a mother wallaby stops to look around..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 1-3-Arnold divides her well-organized text into sections that cover the four diverse biomes that are found on the Australian continent and focuses on particular creatures that inhabit these areas. The two-paragraph text describing each of the 17 animals is encased in a beige block to set it off from the full-color photographic background. Koalas, quolls, echidnas, dingoes, bilbies, and penguins are some of the animals introduced. Striking, close-up photos complement the author's comments.
Krista Grosick, Cuyahoga County Public Library, OH
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
Seventeen unusual animals from Australia are introduced with a brief text and a handsome, full-color, close-up photograph. Like Arnold's other titles, African Animals and South American Animals, this one arranges animals by habitat, focusing on animals of the forest, grasslands, desert, and coast. A map in each section shows where each habitat occurs on the continent. Some very odd creatures are presented, including koalas, possums, gliders, quolls, Tasmanian devils, platypuses, echidnas, kangaroos, wombats, dingoes, snakes, bilbies, and penguins. Children will relish the glossy, full-color photographs, and the text will provide a tantalizing introduction, but young researchers will need to look elsewhere for detailed information. No sources are given. The author does not indicate the size of most animals, and the "rabbit-sized" bilbies and the wombat are shown larger that the six-foot, gray kangaroo. Since no scientific names are given, the reader may search unsuccessfully for the thorny devil or quoll. And the popular kookaburra appears in a photograph but nowhere in the text. Handsome for browsing, but limited for school assignments and research. (Nonfiction. 7-9) -- Copyright © 2000 Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (August 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688167667
• ISBN-13: 978-0688167660
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #739,413 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Echidnas! Wombats! Dingoes! And more!, April 30, 2001

By	Michael J. Mazza (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

"Australian Animals," by Caroline Arnold, is a good introduction to the creatures of Australia. Directed towards younger readers, the book combines a simple text with plentiful full-color photographs. Animals described include koalas, bilbies, Tasmanian devils, and many others.

The book contains many memorable images: a baby wallaby peeking out from the safety of his mother's pouch, a platypus swimming underwater, a thorny devil lizard trekking across the red sand, fairy penguins congregating by the seashore, and more. Overall, a brief but enjoyable book.

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Kids Book, February 18, 2008

By	Chrisitan H. Gunther - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book would be good for very young children but it is pretty limited in its presentation of Australian animals. There are relatively few animals shown in the book. The entire book can be covered in about 20 minutes.