They Just Know: Animal Instincts

by Robin Yardi, Laurie Allen Klein Narrated by Tyler Stoe

Overview

How do some young animals know what to do and how to do it? Does someone teach a caterpillar what to eat? Who gives a baby shark swimming lessons? Sometimes young animals learn things from their parents, but other times¿ they just know! Explore animal instincts through engaging text and fanciful illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"The dichotomy between the anthropomorphized scenes and the realistic ones artfully highlights the divide between the animal world and the human one. - Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews

2015-06-29
Drawing a line between human and animal behaviors, this debut from Yardi teaches children about instinctual behaviors. Alternating double-page spreads first show anthropomorphized animals "learning" how to do something and then the reality: spring peeper tadpoles don't get lessons in leaping at school, and no one has to teach them their iconic song. A turn of the page reveals: "Mother peepers lay a lot of lovely eggs and hop away. Little tadpoles just know what to do, all on their own." Klein's artwork is the real draw, though. The anthropomorphized scenes will certainly elicit chuckles from both adult and child readers: a mother sea turtle rocking her baby in a cradle, a baby kingsnake coiled round a teddy bear, a horn shark in a highchair, tiny tadpoles wearing backpacks. Turns of the pages reveal realistic scenes of the animals in their natural habitats. And the final message—animals don't need toys, help, or hugs, "but you do!"—is one every child will relish hearing. The "For Creative Minds" section in the backmatter delineates instinctual vs. learned behaviors and gives children a chance to determine which are which. A double-page spread then talks about life cycles and metamorphosis and asks readers to match adults and their young. The dichotomy between the anthropomorphized scenes and the realistic ones artfully highlights the divide between the animal world and the human one. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169824018
Publisher:	Arbordale Publishing
Publication date:	09/10/2015
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

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