2015 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 Book Award Sub-committee Chair, Michelle Solensky, E-mail: [email protected].
Outstanding Children’s Book Award Winner
Beautiful may not be the first word that comes to mind when you think about an insect that makes its living on the excrement of other animals, but your opinion may be swayed by this year’s winner of the Animal Behavior Children’s Book Award. Behold the Beautiful Dung Beetle, written by Cheryl Bardoe and illustrated by Alan Marks (Charlesbridge), describes three different types of dung beetles that use animal feces in different ways. Dwellers extract water and bacterial proteins before the dung dries; rollers form dung balls up to fifty times their own weight, and tunnelers stockpile dung clumps in burrows. They fight, they mate, they dig, and they sometimes steal each other’s dung treasures. After enjoying this lively and informative book, you will almost certainly consider them fascinating, perhaps even beautiful!
Outstanding Children’s Book Award Finalists
How to Speak Cat by Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman (National Geographic) explains the meaning of more than 55 poses and many behaviors commonly exhibited by our feline friends.
Feathers, Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart, and illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen (Charlesbridge) describes the role of feathers in temperature regulation, predator avoidance, mate attraction, sound production, and several other surprising uses.
Get the Scoop on Animal Puke! by Dawn Cusick (Charlesbridge) explains the many reasons why animals vomit, and what we can learn about animals from this unpalatable behavior.
Photo of the Children’s Book Award winner, Behold the Beautiful Dung Beetle by Cheryl Bardoe and illustrated by Alan Marks (Charlesbridge), and three book award finalists, How to Speak Cat by Aline Alexander Newman and Gary Weitzman (National Geographic), Feathers, Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart, and illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen (Charlesbridge), and Get the Scoop on Animal Puke! by Dawn Cusick (Charlesbridge).