Otters and Owls in Nonfiction Monday!

A sea otter is quite large; a male can be as big as a German shepherd dog. They are good parents too. Sometimes sea otter moms will wrap their pup in kelp (a large, brown seaweed) to keep it in one place while she dives for food. River otters are half or a third of the size of a sea otter, but they are equally fascinating. River otters are speedy swimmers. They swim fast enough to catch fish, their favorite food. River otters hunt in the water and rest in dens on land, while sea otters stay in the water, finding shelter and food in forests of kelp. I like “Otters” very much. Its fluid and accurate text and its colorful, lovely illustrations combine well to introduce early readers to the otter world.
Same goes for “Owls.” There are about 180 species of owls in the world living in all continents, except Antarctica, but I am thankful to scientists who have agreed that all those species can be put together in one of two groups; barn owls or typical owls. Among all birds of prey owls are quite fascinating with their ability to glide so quietly not even a mouse can hear them. The great gray owl is the largest of them all, being almost as tall as a kitchen counter. The elf owl is the smallest of the owls. It would fit in a child’s palm. And here is an owl fact that made me giggle: “A group of owls is called a parliament.” A cool link to government studies!
Otters and owls are amazing animals, with fascinating adaptations that make them favorites of children and adults. Both books have a glossary and illustrations of the various species around the world, while focusing on the North American species. I believe these books will trap you in kelp or catch you with their talons (softly) and won’t let you go until you read the last page.
“Otters” (2003) and “Owls” (2004) are both written by Adrianne Mason and illustrated by Nancy Gray Ogle, and published by Kids Can Press, Toronto, Canada.
“Otters” ISBN: 1-55337-407-X “Owls” ISBN: 978-1-55337-624-8
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Some Secrets Are Out in Nonfiction Monday!

Following today's theme for Nonfiction Monday, I present an old jewel. Old, yes; outdated and boring, never! "Secrets of Animal Survival", a Book for World Explorers by National Geographic Society was released in 1983, but don't be too quick to dismiss this book because of age. It covers animal adaptations in the Polar Regions, deserts, rain forests, savannas, and mountains with focus on the basics plus cool details (secrets) all young readers will love to find out. What I like the most about this book is the illustrations. It has a load of color photos, sometimes three or four per page. It has full page color diagrams and smaller maps. One of my favorites is the cutaway of a bromeliad plant on page 59 showing trapped rainwater and the whole micro-ecosystem living inside this environment: frogs, spiders, tadpoles, mosquitos, and slugs. It's a great example of life systems in miniature. Turn to page 7 to witness what not many people have laid eyes on: a polar bear mom with her cubs sleeping inside their den under the snow. Check out desert travelers ( of various deserts), treetop life of the rain forest, helpful disguises, giants with tusks, grounded birds, animals built for speed, long-legged runners, termites, gliders and mountaineers. There are no hands-on activities, but there is a long list of additional reading. I just can't take my eyes of the amazing animal photos! For more literary treats, visit Wrapped in Foil, today's Nonfiction Monday host.
"Secrets of Animal Survival", a Book for World Explorers by National Geographic Society, 1983, ISBN: 0-87044-431-X