Synopses & Reviews
When children learn to recognize and read animal tracks theyand#8217;re actually mastering an ancient language of shapes and patternsand#8212;and gaining knowledge of the natural world. Acclaimed artist and naturalist Jim Arnosky has created a breathtaking and informative reference on the subject, filled with intricately drawn prints from creatures both wild and domestic, as well as large-scale paintings of the animals in their environment. Some of the art, labeled in Arnoskyand#8217;s own handwriting, even looks as if it came straight out of his personal notebooks. And best of all, many of the tracks are true to size, so kids can compare the trace left by a big-footed polar bear (whose paws act as snowshoes in its icy home) with that of a small bird. Adding to the eye-catching illustrations are four awesome gatefolds that display paintings of a bobcat, wolf, deer, and a variety of hoofed animals right next to their prints. Every spread has plenty of details on how to interpret the footprint, and the featured menagerie includes bighorn sheep and goats, chipmunks and rabbits, grizzlies and brown bears, horses and burros, domestic cats and dogs, and even slithering reptiles! This is the perfect gift for a budding naturalist, animal lover, or artist.
Jim Arnosky has been honored for his overall contribution to literature for children by the Eva L. Gordon Award and the Washington Post/Childrenand#8217;s Book Guild Award for nonfiction. Many of his books have been chosen as ALA Notable Books, including Drawing from Nature, a Christopher Award-winner. Wild Tracks! is Jimand#8217;s 100th book for children.
Review
*"This is a splendid example of Arnosky's skill at making natural history come alive for young readers.and#8221; and#8212;
Kirkus Reviewsand#160;(starred review)and#160;"...a terrific beginning field guide...the uniformly lovely illustrations and the compelling concept make this a book that young naturalists will enjoy year-round." and#8212;
Booklistand#160;*"Arnoskyand#8217;s infectious enthusiasm for nature is evident...The author invites readers to notice the variations among the tracks of different animals native to North America and the ways that the tracks of individual species can change and fool us. Readers learn that bears walking on slippery surfaces splay their toes so that their tracks give the impression of a larger animal. Arnosky lets children in on these insidersand#8217; tips with the amiable tone of a knowledgeable guide. Three kinds of illustrations support the text. The left side of each spread displays one of the artistand#8217;s signature paintings with a colorful setting backing up a precisely rendered animal. Pencil sketches of rows of tracks with measurements hint at the notebook he keeps (and surely hopes that his young readers will keep as well). Finally, life-size paintings of indented prints serve as a guide for readers lucky enough to find an animal track for comparison. Four fold-out pages add to the appeal of the book as a package...this new entry is worthy of purchase for its inviting format and its promising premise that kids can find tracks, interpret them, and have a great time outdoors." and#8212;
School Libraryand#160;Journal, starred reviewand#160;
and#160;and#160;2009 ALA Notable
Named to 2008 School Library Journal's Best Books of the Year List
Winner of the 2008 ASPCAand#174; Henry Bergh Childrenand#8217;s Book Award in the Nonfiction Environment and Ecology category
Review
and#8220;Arnosky has been directing his painterly eye and literary hand to the natural world for many years, ranging from artful works on raccoons in a cornfield to taloned raptors in the ether. Here he turns his considerable talents to life in the sea in the style of previous works such as
Thunder Birds: Nature's Flying Predators (2011) and
Slither and Crawl: Eye to Eye with Reptiles (2009, both Sterling). With foldout pages and many life-size illustrations, this overview is less tightly focused, touching on sea life from coral reefs to sailfish, from sea jellies to fiddler crabs, all depicted in a burst of shimmering blues and greens with splashes of yellow. The informative and lucid text is larded with personal experiences as Arnosky wades, kayaks, boats, and fishes in the and#8220;sparklingand#8221; world of water he so obviously enjoys. Soft pencil sketches ranging from coral species to sharks' tails slip along the outer margins of the pages of text, a gentle counterpoint to the exuberant, colorful acrylics. Informative, to be sure, and eminently readable, this dynamic title will be an explosive visual feast for many children.and#8221; and#8212;
School Library Journaland#160;and#8220;Arnosky's prose is both solidly informational and lyrical as it introduces each animal: 'Some jellyfish such as the moon jellyfish and upside-down jellyfish can swim from place to place by undulating their bodies.' Shaded pencil drawings of sea life with brief, handwritten descriptions add to the sense that readers are in the field alongside Arnosky. His descriptive accounts of his wild adventuresand#8212;such as photographing sharks by moonlightand#8212;are intimate and exciting; his respect for the natural world, contagious.and#8221; and#8212;
Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW)
Synopsis
Whether they fly, swim, or walk, every year billions of animals travel from one part of our planet to another. Meet these masters of migration, and follow their incredible journeys in this beautiful, fact-filled nonfiction picture book by BBC wildlife expert Chris Packham. From whales and wildebeest to butterflies and bats, you can discover each of their stories, pore over the map to see their migration routes, and uncover extra information in the "Find Out More" section.
Synopsis
What can you see in the deep blue sea? Dolphins, stingrays, men oand#39; war, and more! In
Shimmer and Splash, acclaimed author and artist Jim Arnoskyandmdash;whose award-winning nature books delight children, parents, and teachers alikeandmdash;captures the endless variety of spectacular marine species. From the beautiful (starfish, coral reefs) to the scary (sharks, barracudas) to the yucky (jellyfish), these undersea inhabitants will amaze kidsandhellip;especially in the seven fantastic gatefolds!
and#160;
About the Author
Jim Arnosky is the author/illustrator of more than 100 books for young readers, and has been honored for his overall contribution to literature for children. He received the first lifetime achievement award for Excellence in Science Illustration from the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for nonfiction. Many of his books have been chosen as ALA Notable Books, including Drawing from Natureand#160;(William Morrow and Co.)and#160;a Christopher Award-winner, and he has collected many starred reviews. His first book for Sterling, Wild Tracks, was a 2008 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year; 2009 ALA Notable; and received starred reviews in Kirkus Reviewsand#160;and School Library Journal. Jim lives in South Ryegate, VT, but travels all over the US for school and library visits, meeting hundreds of kids every year. Visit jimarnosky.com to learn more.