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Children's Nonfiction Biology

Rock? Plant? Animal?

How Nature Keeps Us Guessing

by (author) Etta Kaner

illustrated by Brittany Lane

Publisher
Owlkids Books Inc.
Initial publish date
Oct 2022
Category
Biology, Rocks & Minerals, General, Flowers & Plants
Recommended Age
4 to 8
Recommended Grade
4 to 12
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9781771474443
    Publish Date
    Oct 2022
    List Price
    $19.95

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

An interactive guessing game featuring nature’s most unusual adaptations and characteristics

Can you tell the difference between a rock, a plant, and an animal? While it might sound simple, the vast diversity of life on earth can throw us some serious curveballs! Sometimes, what looks like a plant is actually an animal. Other times, what looks like an animal is actually a plant! Even things that look like living creatures can turn out to be unique rocks.

Young readers are encouraged to challenge their pre-existing ideas about the natural world in this engaging nonfiction book set up as a scientific guessing game, filled with lively illustrations and fun facts.

Each spread features a realistic illustration of either a puzzling critter, a perplexing plant, or a special stone. Every picture is accompanied by a simple prompt: rock, plant, or animal? The answer is revealed by turning the page to discover a beautifully detailed scene and a brief description of the “species.” Even for the most esteemed naturalists, the answers are hard to believe! Rock? Plant? Animal? lets its readers be detectives, encouraging curiosity and embracing surprise.

About the authors

 

ETTA KANER est une ex-enseignante. De nos jours, elle écrit principalement des documentaires pour les enfants et les éducateurs. Plusieurs de ses livres ont été primés; elle a notamment remporté le Silver Birch Award, le Animal Behavior Society Award et le Science in Society Book Award. Etta vit à Toronto, en Ontario.

 

ETTA KANER writes for both children and educators. A number of her books have won awards, namely, the Silver Birch award, the Animal Behaviour Society award, and the Science in Society book award. Etta lives in Toronto, Ontario.

 

Etta Kaner's profile page

BRITTANY LANE is a children's book illustrator and fine artist currently based in Stouffville, Ontario. She worked as a wildlife biologist for a decade, before turning to visual storytelling as a way to share her passion for and understanding of nature and wildlife with others. Rock? Plant? Animal? is her first children’s book. 

 

Brittany Lane's profile page

Awards

  • Winner, Silver Birch Express Award

Editorial Reviews

"Readers who like quirky guessing games or weird nature facts will get a kick out of this interactive book."

Booklist

"This book would be a wonderful addition to a unit on mimicry and adaptation ... A fun way to encourage reluctant readers, or for a partner read."

Youth Services Book Review

"An entertaining door into the mysteries of nature ... Encourages attention to detail."

Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database

"An enjoyable nature puzzle with welcome substance."

Kirkus Reviews

"This highly entertaining, interactive nonfiction picture book invites nature detectives to put on their thinking caps and prepare to be amazed."

Canadian Review of Materials

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