"There are animals that build
homes that last for years and
years.
Prairie dogs live in big underground
towns made of tunnels that they dig
themselves. The tunnels have rooms
for sleeping, to use as nurseries, and
for going to the bathroom. The towns
can be dozens of miles long and decades
old."
This is an exemplary introduction to variety in animal abodes; it will be much appreciated by young children wanting to know more about the world of nature. The author begins each double-page spread with an opening statement about the home itself, shown in bold-face lettering. In small font on the facing page, he adds digestible bits of information for the animal that lives there. The following spread compares an opposite type of home - tidy/messy, big impression/barely see, sticks/stones/spit. While the homes are as different as can be, so are the animals' behaviors.
As happens with excellent nonfiction, this book may spark wonder for small children about what other types of homes animals build and live in. Simple, directed research will help them to discover more, and that is surely the point of reading good nonfiction text. Animals included are beavers, spiders, birds, polar bears, termites and more. Creating a list of other animals is a useful first step in expanding interest and furthering knowledge.
Mixed media illustrations are warm, captivating, and engaging for little ones. A final spread reminds that some animals have no homes at all. Back matter includes further material concerning animals and their homes. An index will take readers back to their favorite pages.
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