The Secret of the Bird's Smart Brain...and More!

by Ana Maria Rodriguez

Overview

Students will enter the world of scientists as they uncover the secrets behind birds' brains, the most under-appreciated of birds’ senses, the way frigate birds fly non-stop, how mama bears protect their cubs, and what grunts and bellows mean for pigs and alligators. Primary sources, including interviews with scientists, and full-color original and stock photographs support the cool narrative. Readers are presented with an engaging and approachable tone that simplifies complicated scientific principles. A hands-on activity makes this book a valuable addition to your library or classroom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780766088528
Publisher:	Enslow Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	07/30/2017
Series:	Animal Secrets Revealed! Series
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	7.25(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	8 - 11 Years

Table of Contents

1 The Secret of the Smart Bird's Brain 5

2 The Secret of the Junco's Perfume 12

3 The Mystery of Mama Bear 20

4 Pig Grunts Tell a Story 27

5 Alligator Bellows 34

Chapter Notes 43

Glossary 46

Further Reading 47

Index 48

Editorial Reviews

—The Baytown Sun — "With a plethora of beautiful informational books in this series about little-known animals, it was difficult to choose one to review. Any of the six will uncover animal secrets for elementary age children … Although the reading level is recommended in Grade 4, older children will find the information fascinating". —Growing with Science and STEM Friday blogs — "The next best thing to taking a field trip with a biologist".

From the Publisher

11/01/2017
Gr 4–7—Each book presents five examples of scientists from around the world (most from the United States and Europe) working to discover new information about an animal. Each chapter starts with a moment that triggered the scientist's curiosity about the animal's behavior, then describes the process of developing experiments, analyzing results, and drawing conclusions. The animal "secrets" are all intriguing, as are the strategies used to unravel the mystery. The scientists' own words, based on interviews with the author, capture the excitement of experimentation and discovery. Most of the research is current, though dates are usually provided only in the chapter notes. Some chapters include photographs of the scientists, sometimes interacting with their subjects, but others rely more on stock photos of animals. The stories themselves, though, are highly engaging, providing insight into modern scientific techniques and animal behaviors. VERDICT Fascinating animal science for readers not quite ready for the "Scientists in the Field" series.

School Library Journal