Animals that make me say ouch!

This volume in the Animals That Make Me Say . . . series examines the many painful-looking ways animals, birds, insects, and amphibians survive in the wild. Color photographs, including those provided by the National Wildlife Federation, capture more than 150 animals in the act of foraging, defending against predators, and thriving in harsh climates. Evocative text bubbles link the facts to the photos, creating a puzzlelike feel as readers become acquainted with a variety of teeth, feathers, slime, venom, and spines. (Example: woodpeckers have shock absorbers in their heads to protect their brains.) Scavenger hunt challenges designed to encourage budding biologists to observe animals in their own surroundings, suggestions for further reading, and a glossary round out this bright, engaging resource.--Szwarek, Magan Copyright 2014 Booklist

Gr 3-5-These two animal-focused nature books will make kids sit up and take notice. The attractive photos from the National Wildlife Federation show bald eagles performing acrobatics in mid-air; zebras delivering a swift kick, leaving lion predators in their dust; shape-shifting spiders; and a South American male frigate bird with a bright red "bubble chin." The upbeat, accessible text is factual and entertaining, including funny headers and the occasional joke ("What's worse than a jaw of sharp, curved teeth? Two jaws, that's what!"). Each installment contains practicable "Scavenger Hunt" ideas to cultivate scientific observation skills. While younger students will love the vivid photos, older ones will appreciate the informative material. Solid wildlife overviews.-Kathryn Diman, Bass Harbor Memorial Library, Bernard, ME (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Defense OUCH! Hang on! South American sloths use their long, sharp claws to spend almost 24 hours a day hanging upside down in trees, feeding on nearby leaves and fruit. When they come down to urinate (pee) and defecate (poop), their claws serve as defense from predators. Play ball! Pangolins are endangered mammals that live in deep burrows in Asia and Africa. They feed on termites and ants in their mounds with long, thin tongues. Pangolins are covered in thick, overlapping scales made from keratin. When threatened by predators, pangolins roll into a ball. Lions and hyenas cannot get enough jaw traction to chew through pangolins when they are in ball shapes, but biologists have watched lions trying to eat them for hours at a time. OUCH! Crash...OUCH! The American bison (also called a buffalo) is the largest mammal in North America. Both males and females have thick skulls and short, curved horns. To fight, they crash into other bison or predators head first. Excerpted from Animals That Make Me Say Ouch! by Dawn Cusick, National Wildlife Federation Staff All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.