Copyright Date:
2014
Edition Date:
2014
Release Date:
02/10/14
ISBN:
1-628-55213-1
ISBN 13:
978-1-628-55213-3
Dewey:
599
Language:
English
Reviews:
ALA Booklist
(Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)
Naturalist Holland's latest is part nonfictional photo-essay and part endearing narrative about some of earth's most unusual mammals. The story follows a group of beavers over the course of a year as they break the last of winter's ice, eat spring shoots, birth and rear their young, improve their dams, and winter in sturdy lodges. Much focus is placed on their unmatched ability to engineer their own habitats, but other topics are also explored, such as their social behaviors, diet, and life cycle. The text is rich in facts and is perfectly complemented with full-page color photographs of beavers on the move. A reproducible creative minds section in the back matter poses higher-order critical inquiries based on extra factual text and photographic clues. As a learning resource, the book is standards-aligned and ready-made for cross-curricular studies. Proof positive that nonfiction for emergent readers can be equal parts attractive, informative, and entertaining.
Horn Book
(Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)
Illustrated with full-double-spread color photographs (some unfortunately hampered by the gutter), this is a lively exploration of beaver life. Holland reveals a wealth of information about these animals and the ways in which they are well-adapted to their unusual lives: e.g., their "see-through eyelids that serve as goggles" and hind-foot toenails used to "remove splinters from between their teeth." Denser additional information is appended.
Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
ALA Booklist
(Tue Jul 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)
Horn Book
(Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)
Word Count:
638
Reading Level:
4.2
Interest Level:
K-3
Accelerated Reader:
reading level: 4.2
/ points: 0.5
/ quiz: 164415
/ grade: Lower Grades
Reading Counts!:
reading level:7.3 /
points:1.0 /
quiz:Q63081
Lexile:
AD590L
Along a stream a dam pops out of the water. Beavers are busy at work! These aquatic mammals have unique traits that aid them in building the perfect lodge to raise young beavers and keep predators away. Mary Holland's vibrant photographs document the beavers' activities through the course of a year. Do these beavers ever take a break? Follow along as they pop through the winter ice to begin the busy year of eating bark, building dams and gathering food just in time for winter to come again. This nonfiction picture book with a cuddle factor includes a 6-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 35-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online. The Beavers' Busy Year is vetted by experts and designed to encourage parental engagement. Its extensive back matter helps teachers with time-saving lesson ideas, provides extensions for science, math, and social studies units, and uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs. The interactive ebook reads aloud in both English and Spanish with word highlighting and audio speed control to promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, text engagement, and reading comprehension.