At Home With the Gopher Tortoise: The Story of a Keystone Species

Did you know that more than 360 different kinds of animals and plants depend upon gopher tortoise burrows for survival?

The gopher tortoise digs burrows to survive, and in the process helps other animals. Burrows protect the tortoise and other creatures from the heat of the summer, the cold of the winter, and forest fires. Some animals use the burrow to find food; others use it as a safe haven to raise their babies. Owls, rabbits, skunks, frogs and scorpions are just a few of the animals that inhabit gopher tortoise burrows.

Glorious illustrations reveal the gopher tortoise's world both below and above ground while inviting text introduces children to the pivotal role the gopher tortoise plays as a keystone species. In this fascinating tale of ecological interdependency, children will discover how the fate of one species can affect the fate of so many others.

Other Books in the Series: AT HOME WITH THE BEAVER: THE STORY OF A KEYSTONE SPECIES. AT HOME WITH THE PRAIRIE DOG: THE STORY OF A KEYSTONE SPECIES.

Free downloadable activities can be found on the publisher's website.

Madeleine Dunphy is an educational consultant who teaches children about endangered environments. Madeleine has written several books for children, including all of the books in the Here Is the ... series. She lives in Oakland, California with her husband, Chris, and their daughter, Gwen. For more information about Madeleine, her books, and her school presentations, visit her website at www.mdunphy.com.

Michael Rothman is a noted natural science illustrator whose work has appeared in the science section of the New York Times, among other publications. His beautiful illustrations have graced the pages of Madeleine Dunphy's Here Is the Tropical Rain Forest, Jaguar in the Rain Forest, by Joanne Ryder, and Inside the Amazing Amazon, by Don Lessem. Michael lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut. To find out more about his work, visit his website at www.michaelrothman.com.