Pika: Life in the Rocks

The pika survives where life is rocky. A male pika scurries across a stone pile high in the mountains. He nips leafy twigs off bushes and piles them in the shelter of a rocky den. This hamster-size cousin of the rabbit builds a hay pile as big as a bathtub. In the winter, he feeds on his hay pile, tunnels through the snow for lichens, and pops out for low-growing plants. The story of how the pika avoids predators, survives the cold, and sings for a mate will enthrall young readers. Tannis Bill's simple text makes the true story of the pika accessible to all. Jim Jacobson's stunning photographs capture the pika in the act of living naturally.

Tannis Bill was an elementary-level teacher for nineteen years, with special training in early childhood education and early-reading intervention. She lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Jim Jacobson is an educator, outdoorsman, and wildlife photographer. He lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.