Explore Science Animal by Animal - If My Mom Were a Platypus...
Written: Apr 07 '03 (Updated Apr 17 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Promotes family values, endearing illustrations, fascinating nature facts, very educational & enjoyable, high quality
Cons: Wish all the beautiful illustrations were in color
The Bottom Line: Children 8-12 will enjoy this beautifully illustrated nature book about the birth & growth of mammals. Read 14 stories told by baby mammals. Learn fascinating facts. Teaches family values.
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| glomarrone's Full Review: If My Mom Were a Platypus: Animal Babies and Their... |
Children 8-12 are naturally curious about themselves and the world around them. If My Mom Were a Platypus: Animal Babies and Their Mothers is a delightful animal book that will answer their questions about the birth & growth of 14 baby mammals. There is a strong emphasis on breastfeeding & the closeness between mothers & babies. Children also read of the important roles that families & communities play in the nourishment, support & survival of the offspring. Children learn that although the babies are very different, they all have in common that they nurse from their mothers. The book is recommended for children age 8-12 in the middle grades 3-6. The book opens with “If my mom were a Platypus… I would have hatched from an egg.”
Cover, Illustrations, Text, Glossary, Index, Price & Endorsements
On the front & back covers of the glossy hardcover book is a delightful wraparound color illustration of the Platypus & other mammals & their babies. The pages are of the same high quality as the cover, illustrations & text. The book is neatly divided into 14 short stories – one for each baby mammal including the African Elephant, the Giraffe & the Hippopotamus. An encircled E denotes 8 endangered mammals.
The book opens with a 2-page vivid illustration of a sunrise – the birth of a new day - that is simply beautiful. Children of all ages are quickly drawn into the text, enthralled by 15 large, full-color illustrations that open each story & the 60 black-and-white drawings that follow. Readers will delight in the minute details of each endearing picture. The expressive faces of the baby Orangutan with hair standing on end are simply adorable. Another favorite is the large close-up illustration of the African Lion cub lying near its protective mom. The final story’s illustration are the most touching of all. I wish all the graphics were in color but the B&W ones are really charming, too.
Stories are packed with fascinating nature facts about the characteristics & behavior of mammals. Children learn the interesting information directly from the adorable baby mammals themselves. Each baby answers the questions: How Were Your Born? How Did Your Grow? What Do You Know & What Do You Eat?. The story thoroughly describes the way offspring are born, eat, sleep, grow & mature. Children explore the caves, dens, nests and fields where the babies are raised. They learn how the parents protect the offspring & teach them survival skills. Each story ends with additional unusual facts about that mammal. For example, kids learn that Polar Bears aren't really white. Long hairs in their shaggy coats are colorless & hallow. Sunlight bounces off them & makes them appear white. I especially love the book’s final mammal story - you & your child will too.
The first animal is the Platypus. Platypus babies usually come in pairs. The mother makes a nest beside a stream to lay her eggs. Two leathery eggs are stuck together so they will not roll around. She scoops them up with her tail, placing them on her belly where they remain until they hatch 10 days later. When the mother platypus leaves the nest, she plugs the entrance with mud to keep her babies safe. The babies curl their bills into flat tubes to suck in shrimp & worms. They keep the food in cheek pouches until they surface. They grind the food in their jaws while floating in the water. Investigate similar interesting facts about other mammals. Read about the Pacific Gray Whale that spins during birth to help snap the umbilical cord. Learn why Koala Bears smell like cough drops. Find out why the Mexican Free-Tailed bats fly upside down. Discover why Hooded Seals are only infants for four days.
At the back of the book is a helpful Glossary with 24 definitions of science words. One example is the word, Wildebeest, which the glossary defines accurately & simply as “A large bearded African antelope with curved horns.” The word Durians is clearly defined as “The fruit of a tree that grows in Southeast Asia. It has a hard, prickly rind and soft pulp. To humans, it has an offensive odor, but a pleasant taste.” Other more common words such as Blubber, Tusks, Pride & Bull are also aptly defined.
The book ends with an Index, which is a listing of the names of mammals, broad descriptive terms & the page numbers where they are mentioned. This Index makes it easier for children to do research. For example, if a child was researching the word Krill, the child could quickly see that by turning to page 23 he would find a reference to the word rather than having to read the entire book. The book's ISBN# is 1-930775-02-4; price is $16.95. I found it for $13.56 on Amazon.com. The book is featured at the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, Museum of Science in Boston, the Capital Children’s Museum & The National Zoo in Washington, DC. The American Humane Association also endorses it.
About the Author, Readers
Award winning author Dia Michels, a science & health writer, was inspired to write the book during the difficult days of her first pregnancy. She decided to find out how other mammals handled pregnancy & birth, concluding that platypuses have it the easiest. Andrew Barthelmes, an art director, is the talented illustrator.
Children younger than 8 can appreciate the book by having it read aloud to them. The storyteller can explain unusual vocabulary as the words arise in the story. More advanced readers will be able to read the book entirely on their own, consulting the Glossary for definitions of unfamiliar words. Some younger readers may have difficulty with the book’s length. The book, however, really doesn’t have to be completed at once. Each story is self-contained & only four pages long. The short length of each story enables younger children to read the book at their own pace. Each story follows the same format, which also helps young readers. The book will also hold the interest of children older than 12 who have reading or learning disabilities. Most children will have lots of questions after reading the book.
About the Publisher – Website, Activity Guide, Newsletter, Book Set
Platypus Media LLC, a new independent publishing company is the publisher of this exciting book, which was released in 2001. The founder of Platypus Media is the author of this book, Dia L. Michels. The publishing company donates 6% of its profits to breastfeeding organizations.
Visit the publisher’s Website at http://www.platypusmedia.com for lots of information on parenting & breastfeeding. Parents, teachers & other professionals will appreciate the free curriculum-based Activity Guide on the Website. It contains great easy-to-follow ideas for expanding upon the information in the book. The Activity Guide is particularly useful for classroom teachers & parents of home schooled children. Kids will enjoy Cyber-Safari the kid-safe Internet treasure hunt. Parents can sign up to receive Platypus Post - a free electronic newsletter. Enjoy fun activities/crafts for the whole family. I noticed a terrific deal on Platypus Post. Order the book & 15” platypus plush pet set for $19.95. See complete details Online.
My Final Comments
I highly recommend the book for school & classroom libraries. The book with its fact filled material will make an excellent resource for children to use when working on projects or reports. The Activity Guide makes it especially easy for teachers to integrate the book into the curriculum.
I highly recommend this book not only because of its educational value but also because it promotes the importance of family closeness. In the book, the value & naturalness of breastfeeding are introduced to children through the more general topic of mammals. Children learn that breastfeeding is nature’s way of ensuring survival. The book is especially perfect for elementary school aged children living in homes where a new baby is expected.
This high quality book is readable, informative as well as entertaining. All the fascinating facts are carefully researched – some are quite unusual. They will learn a lot of fun & interesting science information about mammals in a delightful entertaining way. Children who are fascinated by animals will especially enjoy this book. The information isn't sugar-coated either. For example, kids learn that the male platypus has a spur on his hind leg that he uses to stun his enemy with poisonous venom. They also learn that bigger shrew babies push out smaller ones from the nest who soon die leaving their share of the milk for the survivors.
I was delighted to receive a review copy of the book from the publishing company through the efforts of Redlass. Thanks Bridgette!
Recommended:
Yes
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glomarrone
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Location: Cocoa Beach, FL
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It's been fun for 2-1/2yrs. Now it's time to say goodbye. I'll miss you all!
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