A poetic and informative exploration of the many ways animals face the
challenges of winter.
When the autumn days grow shorter and the temperatures cool, animals
prepare for winter. Some, the hiders, choose a place to rest and wait
out the winter, hibernating under the ground or snuggling in a sheltered
spot. Other creatures are seekers, migrating to new locations where the
weather is milder and the food sources more plentiful. And then there
are the finders, who keep warm and fed by adapting to the new
conditions. Every animal knows just what to do -- following an ingenious
plan that's just right for them!
Jessica Kulekjian's lyrical informational picture book uses expressive
text supplemented with sidebars to explain how different animals survive
winter. While the compelling narrative tells the bigger story, the
sidebars provide fascinating information about specific winter animal
behaviors -- for example, how box turtles lower their heart rates, and
monarch butterflies travel all the way to Mexico! Salini Perera's
stunning illustrations show the concepts in detail and provide a visual
story, featuring a father and a child, that evocatively traces the
subtle changes in the landscape from late fall to early spring. Grouping
the animals into three categories makes for easier comprehension of
topics such as hibernation, migration and adaptation. Back matter
contains a guide to tracking prints in the snow, an author's note and a
list of resources. There are strong links here to primary grades' earth
and life sciences curriculums. This is also a perfect read-aloud for a
snowy day!
