Animals That Climb

Gr 2–4 - This well-conceived series examines a variety of animals who share common attributes. Most spreads introduce a single animal, with four or five sentences focusing on the relevant behavior. Some sections examine one aspect of the adaptation, such as prehensile tails, highlighting several creatures who share the trait. The animals included here range from the expected (digging moles) to rare (flying dragons), along with species not typically expected within the category, such as running beetles. High-quality photographs feature two images on each spread, which often strongly complement each other. An impressive close-up of an owl's eyes paired with a wider view of its talons about to grab a mouse, for example, effectively highlights the creature's hunting characteristics. Closing pages list follow-up questions to extend readers' analysis, along with prompts to imagine new animals with these adaptations (such as wings, feathers, or side fins); both have solid potential to spur Common Core activities.