2014 ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD FINALISTS STIMULATE YOUNG READERS
Stories and pictures illustrate science in an exciting way. This year the Animal Behavior Society recognized one winner and three finalists through our Outstanding Children’s Book Award program. These books are targeted to people in grades 3-5 (ages 8-11). Inspire a future scientist by giving one of these as a gift or by encouraging your school or public library to acquire these titles.
The Animal Behavior Society will soon be soliciting books for next year’s award. Interested publishers should contact the committee chair Michelle Solensky (E-mail: [email protected]).
Outstanding Children’s Book Award Winner
Wendy Hein, the 2014 committee chair, writes, “Have you ever been stumped by the question, “Why does our dog do that?” This year’s winner of the Animal Behavior Society’s Children’s Book Award has the answers. The 2014 winning book, How to Speak Dog, is by Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman, DVM (National Geographic). Children and dogs don’t always communicate well. This book explains more than 50 different dog behaviors using kid-friendly language and photographs. This book will both fascinate and inspire children to see things from the dog’s perspective.”
Outstanding Children’s Book Award Finalists
The Mystery of Darwin’s Frog by Marty Crump (Boyds Mills Press) describes how scientists have studied an amazing South American frog whose tadpoles mature inside the male’s mouth.
Bats: Biggest! Littlest! by Sandra Markle (Boyds Mills Press) describes the different body sizes and features that make each bat successful in its natural habitat.
In Deep with the Octopus by Norma Dixon (Fitzhenry & Whiteside) is full of jaw-dropping examples of behaviors observed by those who study these highly intelligent creatures.
Photo of the Children’s Book Award winner How to Speak Dog, by Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman, DVM (National Geographic; upper left) and three book award finalists Bats: Biggest! Littlest! by Sandra Markle (Boyds Mills Press; upper right), The Mystery of Darwin’s Frog by Marty Crump (Boyds Mills Press; lower left), and In Deep with the Octopus by Norma Dixon (Fitzhenry & Whiteside; lower right).