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
and#8220;Lions and tigers and bears . . . and, well, a bunch of others in this look at some of the biggest animal carnivores on land . . . Lush acrylic paintings and descriptive text depict each predator's physical characteristics, habitat, hunting methods, diet, and special features, with an emphasis on how they contribute to the animal's survival in the wild . . . Four foldouts offer larger images of some of these amazing creatures, while pencil drawings in the margins give readers the feeling that they are turning the pages of Arnosky's sketchbook . . . A great match for children who like their animals extra wild.and#8221; and#8212;Booklistand#160;and#8220;Arnosky has been writing and illustrating books on nature and the environment since the 1970s and here focuses his artist's eye on the big predators of the world: lions, tigers, bears (oh my!), several other big cats, and wolves. Full-page, acrylic paintings grace every other page as well as the cover; in addition, four foldouts spill across two pages. The author also includes small, carefully rendered pencil sketchesand#8212;a typical bear skull or spot patterns on a dappled coat. Arnosky's text is highly personal, including details about how he created the paintings and his experiences tracking mountain lions . . . Included is a list of other titles for readers whose curiosity has been piqued by the brief text and by the author's obvious enthusiasm. This companion volume to Arnosky's dynamic Thunder Birds: Nature's Flying Predators (2012) and Shimmer and Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life (2013, both Sterling) is another eye-catching addition to a handsome body of work.and#8221; and#8212;School Library Journaland#160;
Review
"Arnoskyand#8217;s painterly eye and personal observations match handsomely in this face-to-face experience. The slim volume presents-head-on-life-size deptictions of a plethora of scaly or otherwise armored critters, along with a nice selection of data included in the conversational text. Neat foldouts of a passel of snakes, an American crocodile (with an infant perched on his nose), a skitter of lizards, and the heads of a variety of sea turtles add an interactive touch to the artistand#8217;s outstanding acrylics. Even libraries that have titles in Arnoskyand#8217;s "All About" series (Scholastic) will want to add this handsome, informative book to their slithery collections." and#8212;School Library Journaland#160; (Starred Review)
"Youngsters can examine beautiful and very detailed illustrations of different types of reptiles while they learn why these creatures differ and compare with other animals. The book presents facts about snakes, lizards, turtles, crocodiles, and alligators, especially their size, eating habits, habitats, natural predators, and prey. The book also answers the question of 'Where do reptiles go in winter?' An Authorand#8217;s Note describes how Arnosky safely observes reptiles. It also offers a further reading list and a metric equivalent chart for readers not familiar with American measurement systems. Arnoskyand#8217;s love of nature is contagious and spills across the pages. Because of its comprehensive coverage, this book is valuable for both and school and public libraries." and#8212;Library Media Connectionand#160;
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;Combining larger-than-life illustrations and thoughtful field notes, Arnosky takes readers on a tour of insect life. Foldout spreads display mayflies, dragonflies, beetles, butterflies, moths, and more, with each insect vividly described.... As with his other nature-themed books, Arnosky brings a personal and improvisational feeling to his work, including pencil sketches and writing that shares his own experiences....and#160;Arnosky's inquisitive spirit and gentle prose will likely move readers to take his cue to 'be mindful of the small.'and#8221;and#8212;
Publishers Weekly (*Starred review)
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Review
Praise for
Wild Tracks:
A 2009 ALA Notable Bookand#160;and#8220;A splendid example of Arnosky's skill at making natural history come alive for young readers.and#8221;--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
and#8220;Arnosky's infectious enthusiasm for nature is evident...Worthy...for its inviting format and its promising premise that kids can find tracks, interpret them, and have a great time outdoors.and#8221;--School Library Journal, starred review
and#8220;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#8221;--Booklistand#160;Praise for Slither and Crawl:
A 2009 Parents' Choice List of Recommended Titles
"Arnosky's painterly eye and personal observations match handsomely in this face-to-face experienceand#8230;. handsome, informative."--School Library Journaland#160; (starred review)
and#8220;and#8230;beautiful and very detailed illustrations--Arnosky's love of nature is contagious." --Library Media Connection
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)
Review
*"From the powerful osprey on the jacket with its outstretched wing and glittering eyes, through eagles and owls, herons and vultures, and loons and pelicans, Arnosky's painterly eye and literary hand portray more than 20 and#8220;flying predators.and#8221; The brief text is both informative and personal, if not in-depth. Readers are told that vultures have bare heads for and#8220;cleanerand#8221; feeding in and on a carcass as a practical matter, and given a personal touch of watching a thirsty brown pelican catch raindrops during a coastal downpour. Accompanying the masterful acrylics, myriad pencil sketches illuminate the margins surrounding the text, ranging from a great blue heron's spidery footprint to an actual-size eagle's foot, talons and all. The author supplies a list of birding sites, bird books, and a metric equivalency chart. Six foldout pages allow for the life-size illustrations. Elegant in format and artwork, this book will not accompany young birders into the field, but will be a rich resource for remembering special sightings, and inspire them to keep their eyes on the sky." and#8212;School Library Journal (starred review)and#160;"A baleful osprey holding a rainbow trout in its talons glares at readers from the cover of this elegant introduction to predator birds, Arnosky's latest exploration of the natural world. With oversized pages and four fold-outs showing accurately depicted, sometimes life-size images, the artist and famed wildlife watcher introduces eagles, hawks, vultures, owls, herons and pelicans. He begins, appropriately, with a bald eagle, shown at half its actual size, and a meticulous, full-sized drawing of an eagle foot. Inside the first gate-fold, the osprey, wing outstretched, shares space with comparable heads and silhouettes-a golden eagle, red-tailed hawk and peregrine falcon. With only a few paragraphs of text for each bird family and plenty of extended captions, the book economically yet thoroughly covers a great deal. Full-bleed paintings in acrylic and white chalk pencil include many close-ups, showing heads, eyes and beaks. Sketches show the separated tips of wing feathers and feathered feet that allow owls to fly silently, the heron's forward-facing eyes and the pelican's expanding throat pouch. In an afterword, the author reminds readers that these birds can be seen in American refuges and sanctuaries today and provides a list of some he and his wife have visited in their research. 'Nature's flying predators are magnificent creatures,' the author writes, and this is a deserved celebration. (bibliography, metric equivalents)" and#8212;Kirkus Reviewsand#160;"Marvel at these awe-inspiring creatures with us," invites author and illustrator Arnosky in this enriching avian celebration. Foldout pages group birds according to species and common characteristics. Lifelike owls peer at readers with deep, glassy eyes; in a section featuring birds of prey, an osprey's spectacular wing spans three panels, and journallike passages vividly document Arnosky's observations of each bird: "The pelican was catching raindrops to quench its thirst! Suddenly, I wanted to go out in the downpour and drink rainwater too." Arnosky's enthusiasm is evident in his deftly crafted images and in the immediacy of his 'field-note' style."and#160;and#8212;Publishers Weeklyand#160;and#160;"After revisiting favorite birding spots with his wife and 'partner in adventure,' Deanna, Arnosky offers a beautifully illustrated book featuring large avian predators: eagles, hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, herons, egrets, pelicans, loons, cormorants, and gannets. Beside paragraphs introducing each bird or group of birds, the book offers impressive, often full-size acrylic paintings illustrating, for instance, an osprey with one wing fully extended or a close-up 'group portrait' of owls that shows their relative sizes. In addition, small black-and-gray silhouettes illustrate an eagle, a hawk, and a falcon in flight, and shaded pencil drawings show details such as a pelican's pouch expanding as it traps a fish underwater. Whether holding a wounded wild eagle as a biologist stitches his wing muscle or watching a flock of vultures as they feed on an alligator carcass, Arnosky's experiences with birds form a memorable counterpoint to the information provided. An author's note lists the parks, refuges, and sanctuaries visited and recommends books for further reading." and#8212;Booklistand#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;and#160;
Review
Praise for
Wild Tracks!:
2009 ALA Notable
Named to 2008 School Library Journal's Best Books of the Year List
2008 ASPCA Henry Bergh Children's Book Award
*This is a splendid example of Arnosky's skill at making natural history come alive for young readers.and#8221; -Kirkus (starred review)and#160;and#160;Praise for Slither and Crawl:
2009 Parents' Choice List of Recommended Titles
and#8220;Arnosky's painterly eye and personal observations match handsomely in this face-to-face experienceand#8230;outstanding acrylics.and#8221; -School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Synopsis
How amazing are animals? Come inside this stunningly illustrated menagerie and see! Here, the world's most fascinating creatures are grouped in an array of categoriesand#8212;by their color, size, stripes, spots, speed, strength, spikes and horns, beaks, weird ears, and more. As children wander through the pages, meeting bumblebees and tigers; orange orangutans and purple pufferfish; giant whales and tiny hummingbirds; they'll begin to recognize patterns in the animal kingdom. Along with the eye-catching spreads, fun questions like and#8220;What animals have wings but do not fly?and#8221; prompt kids to consider nature's diversity and wonder.
Synopsis
Lions and tigers and bears . . . and WOLVESand#8212;oh, my! Acclaimed nature writer and illustrator Jim Arnosky introduces awe-inspiring wild predators: carnivores that survive by tooth and claw. Follow the huge paw prints of big cats like the African lion and the speedy cheetah; of massive bears like the fierce grizzly; and the gray wolfand#8212;forerunner of your own pet dog. One spectacular double gatefold plus two single foldouts present the animals up close and lifelike!
Synopsis
Snake fangs, alligator claws, and turtle shellsand#8212;all life-size! Go belly down on the ground, eye to reptilian eye, with acclaimed naturalist Jim Arnosky. Through large gatefolds and marvelously detailed, realistic art, he takes kids (safely!) up close and personal with these slithery, crawly creatures. Arnosky explains how to identify venomous snakes and their harmless cousins, where to find a 200-pound lizard, how to avoid becoming an alligatorand#8217;s lunch, and much more. Itand#8217;s the perfect gift for a budding naturalist, animal lover, or artist.
and#160;
A 2009 Parents' Choice Award Winner.
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Synopsis
In his fourth stunning nonfiction picture book for Sterling Children's Books, acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky brings out the beauty--and the and#8220;wow!and#8221; and the and#8220;yuck!and#8221; factors--of hundreds of insects and spiders.and#160;Eight spectacular gatefolds show moths and mosquitoes, butterflies and beetles, spiders and silverfish life-size, up-close, and personal!and#160;
A CCBC Choice 2013, the annual best-of-the-year list of the Cooperative Children's Book Center.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!
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Synopsis
Acclaimed naturalist and illustrator Jim Arnosky helps birds and imaginations take glorious flight in this breathtaking nonfiction picture book with six giant gatefolds.
Arnosky will draw out kids' inner explorer as he explains why there are no feathers on a vulture's head, which bird is the deep-diving champ, what makes an owls's wings perfectly silent in flight, and much more.
Readers can use this gorgeously illustrated book to bring the wilderness right into their rooms-or as a guide on their next expedition.
About the Author
Jim Arnosky is the author/illustrator of more than 100 books, and 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 are ALA Notable Books, including Christopher Award-winner
Drawing from Nature, and Jim has earned many starred reviews, including two for
Wild Tracks. Jim lives in Vermont, but travels all over the U.S. for school and library visits. Visit jimarnosky.com to learn more.
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