Total Pageviews

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Animals Illustrated: Caribou. Written by Dorothy and David Aglukark and illustrated by Amanda Sandland. Inhabit Media, Fitzhenry & Whiteside. 2019. $15.95 ages 5 and up


"Caribou have large, flat teeth
that are perfect for slowly
grinding down plants. Like cows
and goats, caribou belong to a
group of animals called 'ruminants'.
This means they chew their food for
very long periods of time, bringing
it up again and again to be broken
down by their flat, wide teeth."

I have told you about this series in previous posts. I think they are terrific, and exactly right for use with early years children wanting to know more about the animals of the Arctic. Each book in the series provides factual information that is perfect fare for them. The illustrations help with context and provide visual literacy. The facts presented will hold a child's interest without overwhelming them with too much information.

The format is the same for each, and the design has real appeal as a way to show young writers how to organize and present the important information they are gathering. Written by residents of the Arctic, they are personal accounts of what is observed as they pay attention to their surroundings. Facts presented include how the caribou care for their young, where they live, what they eat, and how the herd communicates. A labelled skeleton is especially impressive. 

The final two spreads add Fun Facts and Inuit Uses for the Caribou. 

"In addition to eating the meat, Inuit have many uses for parts of the caribou. Caribou skin is still used to make various items of clothing and was used traditionally as bedding in an iglu or qarmaq, and as diapers for the babies. Caribou bones and antlers were used to make tools such as combs, snow goggles, and parts of an ulu." 

Other books in the series include Arctic Wolf, Bowhead Whale, Walrus, Musk Ox, Narwhal and Polar Bear. 

No comments:

Post a Comment