Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Green Spring is a city in Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 759 at the 2000 census. As of the census of 2000, there were 759 people, 255 households, and 239 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,901.9 people per square mile. There were 257 housing units at an average density of 982.6 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 93.41% White, 3.43% African American, 2.37% Asian, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.
Publishers Weekly
★ 10/06/2014
Judge offers an intimate study of the lives of animal babies and their parents, accompanied by her typically tender, naturalistic illustrations. Emphatic phrases like “the baby needs to be caressed and groomed” introduce spreads on these and other topics. Paragraph-long vignettes describe how the animals are cared for and slowly gain independence: “A two-week-old guanaco calf begins to eat a little grass. Over the next few months she will depend less and less on her mother’s milk.” Airy white space keeps the focus on the expressive animals, while endnotes and a glossary provide additional detail about the 26 featured animals. Ages 5–8. Agent: Linda Pratt, Wernick & Pratt. (Oct.)
Children's Literature - Sarah Maury Swan
Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents describes some of the babies in the animal kingdom and looks at some of their shared traits. The illustrations in this picture book are beautiful and the text is interesting, but the words are for older children, though the glossary in the back helps. For example, the word “regurgitated” is challenging for even six to eight year old children. However, just showing a young child the illustrations and saying the animal’s name encourages an interest in the natural world. Helpful information in the back gives the reader further resources, such as the section with facts on each animal and how it goes through its baby stage in months or years. Readers will learn that prey animals, such as deer, serve as food sources for other animals, learn to run when they are minutes old and are born with their eyes open. Predator animals, such as wolves, generally take longer to open their eyes and move around. Their parents bring them food, in addition to the milk provided by the mother. A nice bibliography includes several websites and the resource pages contain color illustrations to add more visual information about the animals. This is definitely a book worth having in the classroom. Reviewer: Sarah Maury Swan; Ages 5 to 8.
School Library Journal
★ 07/01/2014
K-Gr 2—This charming picture book presents more than 20 baby animals and their parents. Each spread begins with a simple statement, such as "The baby needs to move," "The baby needs protection," or "The baby is part of a family," followed by another spread that indicates how different animals accomplish this task (for instance, "The baby is hungry" is paired with descriptions of grizzly cubs nursing and wolf pups consuming meat regurgitated by adult wolves). The simple and clear language will keep readers engaged and their interest piqued. Rendered in pencil and watercolor, the illustrations depict these animals so tenderly that readers may forget that these are wild creatures. Back matter includes a short paragraph about each animal and a compilation of excellent websites that feature some captivating photographs of mammals. This title will surely be popular in the library as a beginning research tool, but some may find it quite appropriate as bedtime reading, too.—Martha Rico, El Paso ISD, TX
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2014-08-06
Small humans whose parents read to them will find fellow feeling with the well-cared-for wild babies in these pages. Judge, who has a particular gift for animal portraiture that connects other living things to human understanding, offers a look at 26 species of mammals as infants. These babies have much in common with their human audience: the need to eat, to be protected, to be caressed, to move around, to play, to learn. The words "the baby" precede each examination of how baby mammals begin to grow ("The baby is hungry"; "The baby is part of a family"), creating a memorable, participation-inviting pattern. Judge's soft pencil or charcoal lines capture the proud, wary, protective looks of parents, mostly mothers, and the slightly dazed, open look of the very young. Two marsupials (a kangaroo and a Virginia opossum, looking much like the old woman who lived in a shoe) are included, as are the marine mammals sea otters, hippos and polar bears—but no whales. Text in a comfortably large font against open space conveys just enough, while individual backmatter paragraphs provide more in-depth information about the specific circumstances, habitats and adaptations of each animal. A brief glossary uses the occasional difficult word in its definitions, and the source list is mostly adult-directed, but child-friendly websites are suggested. Warmly friendly and inviting for a wide range of ages. (Informational picture book. 2-8)
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