Imagine that you are afraid, but instead of running and yelling for help, you pretend to be a stick. That's how an inchworm defends itself! Animal Defenses reveals the unique ways in which animals protect themselves. Easy-to-do experiments and activities explain the tricks animals use to help them survive. With stunning, realistic illustrations, this book is an innovative approach to understanding animal life. Containing lots of interesting facts, activities and easy-to-do experiments, this title in the Animal Behavior series takes a resourceful approach to exploring animal life.
From the Publisher
... well-illustrated with large, clear colourful drawings of animals and explicit text. The entire book is inviting. Animal Defenses is a good adjunct to a classroom unit on animal behavior. An extensive index makes it easy to find a specific animal ...—Science Books and FilmsI was amazed at most of the information that is provided in this well-researched book. If it intrigues an adult, it is sure to have children saying WOW! ...A great book!—Brandon Sun
Clear, engaging prose.—Horn Book Guide
A most attractive introduction to animal defenses.—Booklist
Booklist
A most attractive introduction to animal defenses.
Horn Book Guide
Clear, engaging prose.
Science Books and Films
... well-illustrated with large, clear colourful drawings of animals and explicit text. The entire book is inviting. Animal Defenses is a good adjunct to a classroom unit on animal behavior. An extensive index makes it easy to find a specific animal ?
Brandon Sun
I was amazed at most of the information that is provided in this well-researched book. If it intrigues an adult, it is sure to have children saying WOW! ...A great book!
Children's Literature - Melinda Medley Sprinkle
When animals sense danger, it is natural for them to defend themselves. From the sublime to the more unusual, animals have many methods of protection. The obvious defense would be that of hiding or running away. But what if you are too slow or trapped with no escape? For the antelope and the red fox, lack of speed is not a problem, but for many animals, other methods of protection prove to be very convincing lines of defense. Some animals, like the toad, put on a show, changing their appearance to look dangerous. Others camouflage their bodies as if to hide and blend with the natural surroundings. Still yet, the box turtle and armadillo use their protective shells to avoid harm. Although often strange, these techniques assist many animals in their survival. Forest, sea, and tropical animal defense mechanisms are discussed here. Lifelike illustrations of each animal, as well as a table of contents and an index are included.
School Library Journal
Gr 2-4Kaner introduces such defenses as changing size or shape, camouflage, protective coverings, and group living. Each defense mechanism is explained in straightforward language with several examples and is accompanied by an accurate, full-color drawing that shows how the creature makes use of its type of protection. The book is similar in scope to Phyllis Perrys Armor to Venom (Watts, 1997); however, with its somewhat simpler text and the slightly more generalized approach, Kaners title is accessible to a younger audience. Theres enough information in this serviceable volume for a brief report but it will probably be best used as a secondary source.Arwen Marshall, New York Public Library Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
Animal Defenses is an interesting book that describes the various means that animals use to proect themselves: bluffing, camouflage, lookalikes, body structures, unplesant taste and odor, living and moving in groups, partnering with another animal, pretending, and speed. Each of these defense mechanisms is well illustrated with large, clear, colorful drawings of animals with explicit text. A wide range of species and habitats are described.Readers will learn about the toad that puffs itself up and stretches out on its hind legs and the walkingstick that curves up its abdomen and waves in the air to resemble a scorpion—examples of bluffing. Camouflage is shown by the Australian bird tawny frogmouth that sleeps in a tree all day, but is protected by its brown feathers and body shape that makes it look like a broken tree branch. The monarch butterfly/viceroy butterfly and the coral snake/king snake are presented as examples of copycats, or lookalike, another form of defense. Body structure, such as the armor found on turtles and armadillos or porcupine quills, is another defense that readers will learn about. These are only a few examples of the animals and their different defense mechanisms included in the text.
Intersperse throughout the book are "strange but true" sidebars that contain unusual facts about some animals that are sure to interest readers. The entire book is inviting. Animal Defenses is a good adjunct to a classroom unit on animal behavior. An extensive index makes it easy to find a specific animal. The only flaw in the book is its abrupt ending. A summary statement to balance the opening introduction is needed. Recommended, Grades 36. REVIEWER: MaryNalbandian (Chicago Public Schools, retired) ISBN: 1550744194
Hungry Mind Review
This book illustrates the amazing defenses of [animals]....[F]ascinating tidbits make this book a fun and informative read.
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