ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

While most kids know about hibernators, few have heard of estivators, animals that experience a prolonged dormant state during the summer. This colorful book introduces a dozen summer sleepers. Each appears on a double-page spread complete with a sentence in large type, a somewhat longer section of text in smaller type, and a notebook-style feature that includes sketches of the animal and indicates its actual size, range location, and scientific name. Representing groups as diverse as insects, crustaceans, fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals, the animals include the tiny mangrove killifish that flips head-over-tail until it lands in a water-filled hollow log, and the versatile yellow-bellied marmot, which outdoes itself by hibernating and estivating. Some animals use burrows abandoned by other creatures, while others make their own nests for estivation. Stewart's lively text offers entertaining factoids while clearly explaining how different animals use estivation to survive in hot, dry places. Brannen's pleasing illustrations, both sketches and watercolor scenes, enable the audience to envision the animals within their habitats. An attractive science book on an uncommon but interesting topic.

Horn Book (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Kids know a thing or two about hibernation, but most will find a new concept in estivation -- when creatures sleep during summer to avoid extreme heat or to conserve energy when their food sources are scarce. Parallels between these two animal behaviors are drawn right from the book's cover, where the word hibernate is crossed out over an image of a desert hedgehog sleeping soundly in a den, estivating when the sun is hottest. The book catalogs a wide range of estivation behaviors, from pixie frogs that cocoon themselves for a whole season to ladybugs that cuddle together in swarms of hundreds for their long summer sleep. Stewart's main text, a brief introduction to the concept, makes a great read-aloud, with text in smaller type providing additional details about each of the creatures we meet. Brannen's lush, textured watercolors show the estivating animals against detailed backgrounds that give an idea of their different native habitats. Sketches made to look as if they're ripped out of an observational notebook show the same creatures awake and provide additional scientific details. The back matter is strong, with information on each animal featured in the book, a comparison between estivation and hibernation, additional reading and sources, and author and illustrator notes. Laura Koenig

Publishers Weekly (Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

This engaging nonfiction picture book instructs young readers on the opposite of wintry hibernation: summery estivation, a more recently discovered seasonal sleep cycle engaged in by certain animal and insect species, including convergent ladybugs, the African lungfish, and the pixie frog. Stewart-s prose balances a conversational tone with easily absorbed facts about estivating beings across several continents (-At the first hint of summer, a yellowbellied marmot heads underground for some serious shut-eye-), with some pages including additional information in a smaller font. Inset diagrams with species details plus near-photorealistic illustrations by Brannen make the subject matter more accessible for visual learners. Budding biologists will especially appreciate this intriguing primer on a lesser-known process. Back matter includes more about the animals depicted, suggested further reading, author-s and illustrator-s notes, and selected resources. Ages 6-9. (Apr.)

School Library Journal (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

K-Gr 3 This picture book provides an appealing survey of a dozen animals that estivate. Brannen's simple, adept illustration on the cover introduces a pleasing pictorial scheme. The brief text highlights different places where animals sleep, including tree crevices, muddy hollows, and empty rodent holes. Ladybugs, fish, butterflies, lizards, and the yellow-bellied marmot are featured. Each spread depicts two views of the resting animal. Gentle watercolor scenes include a small black-and-white page that resembles a guidebook entry, which offers a sketch of the animal, its name, and brief facts. Readers learn that scientists have recently given more attention to the study of estivation. End material offers more details about each animal. Author and illustrator notes, a bibliography, and a substantial list of print and online resources are included. VERDICT A well-crafted and attractive text for animal fans, and a suitable introduction to the scientific concept of estivation. Margaret Bush, Simmons Coll., Boston