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Original Essays | April 29, 2013
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More copies of this ISBNThis title in other editionsJust the Right Size: Why Big Animals Are Big and Little Animals Are Littleby Nicola Davies
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:From a celebrated team comes a fascinating look at why we dont have super powers (alas) — and why size matters, for creatures big and small.
Did you ever wonder why there are no high-fl ying, wall-climbing, tall-building-leaping superheroes in real life? Find out what keeps big animals (like us) from engaging in astonishing feats of strength and agility, and yet why being tiny and all-powerful might have a downside. What if you could lift fi fty times your weight (hello, ant), but getting wet could kill you? Or you could soar like a bird, but a cold breeze would do you in? Whether big or small, our size defi nes more about us than we could ever imagine. Join the duo that brought us POOP, EXTREME ANIMALS, and WHAT'S EATING YOU? for a fun and intriguing exploration of what it means to be just the right size. Review:"This witty and informative book uses the 'Big Thing, Little Thing' rule (which explains how the length, surface area and cross section of an object or creature are relative to its volume and weight — thus, there are no 'car-sized spiders') to explore how size affects living things. Davies's often humorous text and Layton's energetic illustrations demonstrate why humans don't have superpowers ('we'd need toes tens of thousands of times bigger than a gecko's to hold us on the ceiling'), and later spreads discuss the advantages and limitations of being very small or very big ('Small animals have a bigger outer surface area for their volume than big animals, so they have trouble keeping warm'). The spot-on comic delivery and readily comprehensible explanations make this a prime pick for readers curious about physical science in the natural world. Ages 8 — up. (July)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
About the AuthorNicola Davies has written many award-winning books for children, including POOP, EXTREME ANIMALS, and WHAT'S EATING YOU?, as well as BIG BLUE WHALE, ONE TINY TURTLE, SURPRISING SHARKS, and BAT LOVES THE NIGHT. She lives in Somerset, England.
Neal Layton is the illustrator of POOP, EXTERME ANIMALS, and WHAT'S EATING YOU? He lives in Portsmouth, England. What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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Children's » Animals » General
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