Holland’s photos are a highlight, filling three-quarters of each page and sometimes including inset pictures—of the skunk’s rear with tail raised and of the beaver in midslap. Readers can see individual hairs and feathers and will want to curl up with the adorable fox… A de-tail-ed look at an important adaptation across species.
Once again Vermont naturalist and nature photographer brings us this fascinating and beautifully illustrated book on animal tails. This book explores the fields, forests and waterways of Vermont.
Each page focuses on one animal, a photograph of which takes up the majority of the large two-page spread. The photographs are full color and vibrantly detailed, often capturing more of the reader’s interest than the text at first glance. The text is detailed and long enough to support the curiosity of young readers, especially those that are interested in the world of animals. The final few pages of the book include even more text and information for curious minds, as well as a matching game of animals to their tails to test how much readers have learned. Readers who love learning about animals are sure to appreciate the detail on every page of this book. Reviewer: Mary Pearl; Ages 5 to 8.
This sweet picture book will speak to children from about four to seven or eight, with a focus on tails. Not all tails are the same, and author Mary Holland’s text highlights the important differences for young readers in simple, straight-forward language. Whether it is a beaver steering as he swims or warning other beavers of danger or a fox keeping warm in winter wrapped in a furry tail or an opossum grasping with his tail as he climbs, kids will find the ways and reasons interesting and fun to learn about. While Holland gives plenty of space to familiar animals, she throws in a few that will be quite unexpected and add to the fun of this book.
This is well-written, and visually pleasing. end pages include extension activities as well as additional information about tail adaptations. All in all a solid nonfiction book that would lead to interesting discussions and further research on the topic.
“Animal Tails” is a fascinating book written by Mary Holland that tells about many different types of animals and how they use their tails. Tails can be used in so many differing ways. Some of these you and your child may already know, others lesser known uses make this book fun. Take your young reader on a journey filled with gorgeous nature photography and study about the animal kingdom and their tails.
It is a beautifully illustrated, fun and informative book about animals and their tails. The pictures are amazing, sure to grab your child's attention. This book makes it fun to learn more about animals. My daughter couldn't seem to put it down. I can see why these books received so many awards. I think this book would be great for story time at home or in a learning environment at school.
Who doesn’t like a good animal tail…like a squirrel or bee which are just a few we can see in our own front yard. This book gives my girls more information on the animals they see every day. I even learned a few things reading this book! We especially love the amazing photographs!
Did you know that woodpeckers have stiff tails to brace themselves against tree branches and trunks? Or that a beaver uses its tail to warn other beavers of danger? Readers will learn all this and more in Animal Tails. With beautiful realistic pictures, this book shows the way many animals use their tails. It's interesting and educational.
I'd pair this photograph-filled text on animal tails with Steve Jenkins' What Can You Do with a Tail Like This? so that readers would have a chance to compare various appendages. In this particular book, though, they have a chance to learn about the different types of tails animals such as beavers, skunks, opossums, and foxes have and how they use those tails. Some tails help protect animals, shelter them or even enable them to stay balanced or steer their paths through the water or air. Although some of these are familiar, not all will be, and the text even introduces readers to species such as the tortoise beetle that uses its tail-like lower portion to shield itself from would-be predators. As is always the case with this thoughtful writer, the text is lively, and the photographs provide up close examinations of all the critters described here. Youngsters are fascinated by tails, making this title a sure-bet for inclusion in a science classroom library. - Barbara
Using photographs and text, Mary Holland shows different types of tails and what they're used for. Need to signal danger? If you're a white-tailed deer, just flip your tail up like a flag to alert the herd. Need an extra hand? Then you need a possum tail so you can haul extra nesting materials.
What I like about this book: The photos are gorgeous, and the text is clear and simple to read. Back matter includes a tail-match game and lots of information about tail adaptations.
With lots of great pictures, and easy-to-read facts throughout, young readers will be fascinated to read all about various animal tails. This book would also make an excellent resource for youngsters looking for references for school papers. At the back of the book are several pages of additional facts, and a tail matching game.
Quill says: Another excellent book in author Mary Holland's series that looks at various animal body parts.
The book can be a simply enjoyable traipse through the world of the animal kingdom where glimpses of critters with an appendage that facilitates their activities with the reader having fun just casually looking and reading. Or since the book is complete with pages at the back of the book that provide further in-depth learning activities and creative inquiry, the reader can delve further into the intricacies of each critter's existence and his use of said appendage that provides balance, warms, supports, etc. his very life.
"There are animals that begin their life with a tail, but lose it by the time they grow up." Did the reader know that? This applies to most frogs and toads. This and many other fascinating information regarding animal tails are revealed in this fact-filled fascinating book of information, especially regarding their tails. Included in this revealing book for children: Skunks; Virginia Opossum; Foxes; Coyotes; Muskrats; Beavers; and many more such creatures.
The photographs and interesting animal facts will draw children to this book. This is a fact filled book that will compliment any children’s library. I can see a teacher using the book for a unit learning about animals. It uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs.