Meerkat (African Animals)

Description

Discusses meerkats, including their African habitat, the food they eat, and their behavior.

Jody Sullivan Rake specializes in writing about any and all animals. After earning a zoology degree from San Francisco State University, she became an educator and science writer at SeaWorld in San Diego. She still lives in San Diego.

Gorgeous, large photographs with grade-appropriate, fascinating text introduce young scientists to these African animals. Each volume includes a world map with the African continent highlighted as well as an inset of map of Africa indicating the animal's habitat. The slightly larger size showcases the photographs without sacrificing white space for text. The high level of correlation between the text with the accompanying photograph adds to the immediacy of the information. These books beg to be shared. Each volume includes a table of contents, glossary, bibliography, FactHound Web site locator, and an index. The sites pulled up by FactHound are age-appropriate and from highly reputable sources like National Geographic, Animal Planet, and various zoos. These, and the other titles in the series, will be very popular with the youngest readers and will match many educational science standards. From the face-to-face photo of each animal on the front cover to the fascinating facts and pictures of the fur/hide on the back cover, this is nonfiction the way it is meant to be! Recommended.-- "Library Media Connection" Meerkats is a sample title in the African Animals series of eight titles for kindergarten and first grade students. Photos and carefully leveled text introduce readers to some of the most fascinating animals on the planet. Basic geography information, including maps, accompany descriptions of the animals and their habitat. Each book covers the life cycle and physical characteristics of such favorite African animals including cheetahs, elephants, leopards, giraffes and pythons.-- "Midwest Book Review, MBR Bookwatch" The cover provides readers with a face-to-face greeting by this sleek and furry African animal. The color photographs in each layout are close-up shots of the meerkats in their surroundings. The text begins with a brief description about the animal's habitat and includes a simple world map and a map of Africa to assist readers in understanding the region where meerkat mobs are found. There is basic information about how this mammal survives. The close-up snapshots show the creature digging for food and clenching its prey. There is a description on how the meerkats work together to protect the pups and the mob from predators. A glossary and an index are provided, as is a list of a few book titles for further information about the meerkats. The book code for the FactHound Internet site offers additional sites to visit. This book is part of the "African Animals" series; the animal information is presented in a similar format as is used in the rest of the books in this series.-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database" This offering from the Pebble Plus: African Animals series, part of the publisher's line of slightly oversize books designed for group sharing, introduces these small burrowing mongoose relatives to young audiences. Using a limited vocabulary that includes subject-specific terms, Rake describes the habitat, body, diet, and behaviors of this southern African creature. Crisp, close-up photos, many featuring meerkats perched on their hind legs and seemingly mugging for the camera, will intrigue young readers and help to clarify their understanding of the succinct text. In addition, endmatter that includes a table of contents, glossary, and list of further resources makes this an ideal choice for introducing research skills. Share this book with meerkats' many fans, who may have first encountered these appealing critters in The Lion King or in Animal Planet's popular documentary series, Meerkat Manor.-- "Booklist"