What Color Is Camouflage?
- Book Review,
by Carolyn B. Otto
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-Two welcome additions to a prolific series designed to educate and stimulate young learners. In the first book, Branley explores magnetism and the uses and history of magnets. Several simple experiments allow for hands-on, empirical verification of concepts. The illustrations, the tone of the text, and the device of a helpful mouse add appeal to a subject that may have had a limited audience. The second title, which is complemented by Lloyd's artful renderings, examines camouflage as an animal defense. Each spread shows several creatures blended into their natural environment; all of them are accurately illustrated and clearly identified. The final pages invite readers to take a closer look at the world around them and discover hidden life. These titles are well-designed, written, and illustrated. In both books, the information is relevant and succinct. These beautiful and simple introductions to science will appeal to any child who has ever asked, "Why?"-Christy Norris, Valley Cottage Library, NYCopyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Ages 5^-9. Otto says that camouflage is a kind of disguise, and Lloyd's detailed watercolor-and-ink illustrations show that disguise in action. You have to look closely to see the doe's spotted fawn crouched in the dappled thicket, the stick insect perched on a branch. Part of the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series, this brings biology right into your own backyard ("look closely when you go outside") as it celebrates the wonder of what nature hides and reveals ("sticks seem to crawl, leaves can fly, and a stone may have eyes and a beak"). The clear, rhythmic text dramatizes how camouflage helps both predator and victim, and new readers will want to talk about the natural law: there are animals that must hunt, and the hunted must hide. Hazel Rochman
From Kirkus Reviews
This handsome title in the Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science series shows and describes animal camouflage. Otto (Dinosaur Chase, 1991, etc.) takes a personal approach, describing wildlife encounters in her yard and surrounding area, in instances of animals hiding in full sight. Lloyd creates highly realistic double-page illustrations that amply demonstrate how such camouflage is possible. A tawny mountain lion stalks a similarly colored mule deer and her dappled fawn in the golden dry grass; a hermit crab disguises itself by ``dressing in plants, pebbles, and even living things,'' and the ptarmigan and hare change colors seasonally to match their habitats. A careful integration of text and illustration makes this an especially useful title in the series, as well as an attractive one. (Picture book/nonfiction. 7-10) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Book Description
What do a fawn and a hermit crab have in common? They both use camouflage to hide from their enemies. A fawn’s spots help it blend in with its dappled surroundings, and a hermit crab might be mistaken for an empty shell. This lyrical introduction to camouflage explains how and why a wide variety of animals use it to go undercover. Readers can also hunt for camouflaged animals in every illustration.
Card catalog description
Explains how animals, birds, reptiles, and insects vary their markings and color to hide from their enemies and respond to their environment.
About the Author
This is Carolyn Otto's third book in the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science Series.Her other books include I Can Tell by Touching, illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott, and What Color Is Camouflage?, illustrated by Megan Lloyd. Ms. Otto lives in Highland Ranch, CO.
Buy from Amazon
Compare Prices
|
|
Home
