Jim Arnosky's All About Alligators

Arnosky, Jim

ISBN 10: 0590467883 ISBN 13: 9780590467889

Publisher: Scholastic, 1994

Synopsis

A colorfully illustrated trivia guide for young science buffs describes what alligators sound like, how big they grow, the habitats where they live, and their relationship with people. By the author of Raccoons and Ripe Corn.

About this title

Reviews

Grade 1-3-From the opening life-sized, six-page spread of an American alligator to the mysterious, mostly submerged gator glimpsing on the endpapers, watercolor illustrations invite children in for a look at the life cycle and habitat of this imposing creature. Basic information appears in large type and details appear in smaller illustrations with captions set into the backgrounds of many of the pictures. Physical characteristics, behavior, comparisons with other animals sharing its wetland habitat, and its place within that ecosystem are conveyed in simple, lively language and softly realistic illustrations. A warning about how to behave around these predators is convincingly placed between gaping jaws. The pages depicting alligator sounds are covered with what could be mistaken for childish scrawl, but the resulting imitations will be welcome in a story time, a classroom, or on a lap. Buy plenty- this one will crawl quickly off the shelves.
Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 5-8. Like snakes and sharks, alligators provide an exciting lure to the facts of science, and these scary creatures are a perennially popular subject in children's books. Arnosky's clear text and handsome watercolors convey a sense of wonder. At the same time, he explains a lot about behavior, habitat, and facts of physiology. What does "cold-blooded" mean? How does the alligator differ from the crocodile? What do alligators eat? How dangerous are they to humans? There's a close-up view of the third eyelid, which is transparent for seeing underwater, and of the open jaw with its sharp teeth. The double-page spreads are washed in pale shades of green and gray, depicting a realistic sense of the wetlands and the creatures that are an integral part of its ecology. Hazel Rochman

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholastic
• Publication date: 1994
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0590467883
• ISBN 13: 9780590467889
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 1