Now You See Them, Now You Don't: Poems About Creatures That Hide - Hardcover

Harrison, David L.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1580896103 ISBN 13: 9781580896108

Publisher: Charlesbridge, 2016

Synopsis

Find me
if you can. . .
for if you
don’t,
I’ll be here
tomorrow . . .
you
won’t.
 
Animals and insects use camouflage to hide from hunters or to ambush prey. Stealth is a very useful technique when it comes to survival. In this fun and informative collection of poems, we meet animals such as the polar bear and the octopus; the ghost crab and the copperhead snake; and many more that use camouflage to hunt or to hide.
 
Giles Laroche’s intricate cut-paper illustrations are beautiful and life-like. Readers will have to look carefully or run the risk of a hunter sneaking up on them.
 
Back matter offers additional information about each of the nineteen animals.

About this title

About the Author

David L. Harrison has published more than eighty books, has been a keynote speaker or presenter at 265 state, regional, and national conferences in 30 states and has an elementary school named after him. David first book for children, The Boy with a Drum (Golden Press), was released in 1969 and has sold two million copies.

Giles Laroche has illustrated many children's books and both wrote and illustrated If You Lived Here: Houses of the World (Houghton Mifflin). Every illustration he makes involves drawing, cutting, painting, and gluing--and often has seven or eight layers.

Reviews

Gr 1–3—In this attractive collection of poetry about camouflage in nature, 19 entries are grouped into five sections: "Sea Life," "Reptiles & Amphibians," "Mammals," "Insects & Spiders," and "Birds." Each selection focuses on one creature, highlighting its use of camouflage in the wild. The verse is brief but catchy, and Harrison's sound use of rhythm and rhyme results in offerings that are pleasant to read aloud. Each poem is accompanied by an illustration done in cut-paper relief on hand-painted papers. Reminiscent of Steve Jenkins's collages, they are lively and engaging. Back matter contains additional information about each creature, including its scientific name and a few suggestions for further reading. VERDICT An altogether appealing volume for young poetry aficionados and animal lovers alike.—Lauren Strohecker, McKinley Elementary School, Abington School District, PA

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

An octopus changes color and shape. A flounder blends into the ocean floor. A baby deer hides in plain sight. A copperhead coiled in autumn leaves practically disappears. A polar bear looks white like snow and ice. A walking stick looks like, well, a stick.
            No matter the type of animal—sea creature, reptile, amphibian, mammal, insect, or bird—camouflage is useful. Whether an animal is the hunter or the hunted—or both—it pays to be hard to find. Turn the page to meet some animals that know how to hide . . . and see how they do it!

Edition details

• Publisher: Charlesbridge
• Publication date: 2016
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1580896103
• ISBN 13: 9781580896108
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Laroche Giles
• Number of pages: 32