Now You See Them, Now You Don’t: Poems About Creatures That Hide (David L. Harrison)

Title:  Now You See Them, Now You Don’t:  Poems About Creatures That Hide 

Author: David L. Harrison

Illustrator:  Giles Laroche

Target Ages:  5 and up

Genre:  Nonfiction Poetry

Publisher Summary:

Some animals hide to hunt for food, and others hide to avoid becoming dinner.  It’s easy to see why a disappearing act is important for many animals. 

From the octopus to the polar bear, and from the praying mantis to the hawk, discover how and why many animals cleverly camouflage. 

Sample Poems:  Click on illustrations to make larger and to read the poems.

Evaluation:

What initially drew me to this collection were the illustrations after I saw some samples in an online review.  Fortunately, the vivid colors, varied textures, multi-dimensional artwork are even more stunning in person. Each two-page spread brilliantly illustrates the theme of the book from the flounder blending into the sand on the ocean floor to the copperhead snake hidden between layers of leaves to the American Alligator floating at the edge of the river waters.  Adults and children will enjoy looking at the pictures over and over. 

The nineteen poems in the collection blend science and art seamlessly.  A wide variety of creatures from the octopus to the owl to the walking stick to the American bullfrog are highlighted.  The rhythm, rhyme, and alliteration create a lovely read-aloud experience.  Lines like “The octopus is slyly shy./It’s hard to spot it lurking by” and “Without a scent,/the slightest trace,/to give away/its hiding place” are smooth and pleasant to the ear. 

I highly recommend Now You See Them, Now You Don’t:  Poems About Creatures That Hide.   The interconnectedness of illustrations and text as well as the perfect blend of science and art make it a memorable and beautiful collection.

Activities and Extension Ideas for Lesson Plans:

• Predicting:  Show an illustration.  Allow children to discuss their observations.  Then, encourage them to predict which animal it will be about (if more than one on the page) and to guess how the animal uses camouflage.  
• Science:  Use poems as a springboard to teach about animals, their habitats, and habits (especially use of camouflage). 
• Animal Classes:  Introduce children to animal classes.  Older ones can learn about the characteristics of each one and identify other animals in the same class.  Use this book with a unit on mammals, reptiles, amphibians, sea life, insects, or birds.
• Animal Food Chains:  Identify and draw the parts of one or more animal food chains represented. 
• Classify:  Classify animals based on their use of camouflage (to catch prey, to avoid prey, or both) or if they are hunters or prey. 
• Language:  The poems use ample rhyme and alliteration.  They would be perfect for a lesson—formal or informal—on either topic.
• Context Clues:  Write a poem on the board or on paper without the title.  Read it together.  Then, allow the students to use context clues to guess which animal the poem is describing.   (If the name of the animal is in the poem, cover it or leave a blank.) 
• Poetry Models:  Use one or more poems as models to create original poems with students (or they can work independently).  “Ghost Crab” is written using a list of words to describe what he “knows” like “scurry, hide, dig, hole.”  In addition, “Copperhead” is a letter written in poetic form from the perspective of the snake.  Write poems about what another animal “knows” or from different animal’s point of view in the form of a letter.

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Picture Books (Science): Life Cycles

At my local library, there is an exciting new science series exploring the life cycles of plant and animals (both vertebrates and non-vertebrates).  They are written by L.L. Owens and published by The Child’s World.  Of course, the series covers the most commonly researched life cycles like butterflies and frogs, but they also delve into others like a fern, a clown fish, and a chicken.  I checked out The Life Cycle of an Earthworm and The Life Cycle of a Snail. 

Each book begins with a general overview defining a life cycle.  Then, it delves into background information about the subject.  There are so many fascinating facts about snails in the book, such as how they move, sense, and eat.  Even though children will likely be more familiar with earthworms, there is still much to learn.  For instance, they use their skin to detect light and to breath air.  Next, their origins, early lives, and adulthood are described, which includes their habits and predators.  Finally, the reproductive process is explained.  Interestingly, snails and earthworms have both parts necessary to reproduce.   Each book is rounded out with a colorful 2-page summary of the life cycle. 

As an adult, I found myself expanding my own schema of knowledge, but the information is written in a manner that youngster will understand.  The text is well-written and appealing.   One of the highlights is the large, vibrant photographs of their stages and behaviors.  Many are rare action shots like a mole eating a worm or a snail laying eggs. 

I recommend this Life Cycle series for ages 7 and up.  In addition to the earthworm and snail, the following living things are covered: butterfly, chicken, clown fish, daisy, fern, frog, human, ladybug, polar bear, and snake. These books are a wonderful supplement or extension of a science curriculum.  Many families will, also, find them to be educational leisure reading.  

This post is linked up with Science Sunday at Adventures of Mommydom.  

Picture Book (Science): Luna Moths (Sandra Markle)

Summary of Luna Moths: Masters of Change (by Sandra Markle):

The book begins with a basic explanation of how insects are different from other animals.  Then, Markle identifies differences between moths and butterflies.  A detailed exploration of the luna moth’s body, inside and out, is depicted with broad two-page labeled diagrams.  Each one has additional information about it in text boxes.  The largest part of the book is focused on a chronological study of the moth by looking at its life cycle.  The stages are described and illustrated well.   An added feature is that Markle highlights the ways that other moths—in the larva and adult stages in particular—defend themselves.  The layout of Luna Moths: Masters of Change is reader friendly.  The sections are clearly labeled with bold titles in bright orange headline boxes.  The text is primarily on the left with a full-page, close-up photograph of moths in various stages and activities on the right.  Other pages have the text on top with bold pictures below corresponding to it.   The vibrant and organized layout patterns are pleasing to the eyes. The book concludes with information on other insect life cycles, a glossary of important terms, luna moth extension activities, and suggestions for book, video, and web resources.   

Evaluation:

My two favorite parts of this book are the diagrams of the body—internal and external—and the information on the various ways moths defend themselves.  On the external diagram, the basic parts are identified and described—head, thorax, abdomen, wings—as well as others like spiracles (breathing holes), compound eyes, body texture/scales, antenna, legs, and feet.  The internal figure lays out fascinating information about reproductive organs, heart, brain, and nerve cord.  I did not even realize they had all these parts in that tiny, tiny body.  The sections on protection from predators are fantastic.   They includes pictures of moths to fit each description, adding to its merit.   For instance, some caterpillars use their looks like the hag moth caterpillar that looks like a hairy spider and the elephant hawk moth one that appears as a snake ready to attack!  Others camouflage well or use poisonous secretions.  I cannot help but to be in absolute wonderment at our Creator whenever I study science.  There is so much variety, intricacy, and creativity.  My kids get tired of me saying these words. J 

I have read many children’s book on insects, butterflies, and moths, yet I learned a lot from Luna Moths: Masters of Change.  It is more detailed than many similar children's science books, but the straightforward text is highly engaging.   In addition, the eye-catching and brilliant photographs depict a variety of views and stages. This book is part of the Insect World series from Lerner Publishing Group.  Because I am so impressed with this one, I plan on looking up additional titles in the series.  I recommend this book for ages 8 and up.  

This post is linked up with Science Sunday at Adventures of Mommydom.  

Picture Book (Science): Star of the Sea (Janet Halfmann)

Summary of Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish (by Janet Halfmann):

Beginning on a starry night, an ochre sea star clings to a rock under the crashing waves.   When it is high tide, it moves along the ocean floor, avoiding predators.  On the shore, it inches along by twisting its body like a pretzel onto the shore to hunt.  Coming upon a mussel bed, it hunches over one and grips it with its strong feet.  A tug-a-war between them ensues until the sea star successfully cracks and feeds off it, in a most unusual and fascinating manner.  Follow this amazing sea creature as it fights its way back to the ocean before the tide recedes while protecting itself from predators. 

Evaluation: 

Author Janet Halfmann, along with illustrator Joan Paley, has created a superb picture book. The well-written text captures the magnificent sea star beautifully.  I found myself completely captivate by the story.  Hand-painted papers in watercolor blends are used to create a textured and enchanting vision of the ocean and the life of the sea star.  I recommend Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish for ages 4-10.   This book is ideal for leisure reading or as part of an ocean unit.  For more ocean related activities, see my Pinterest Teaching Activities Ocean Unit folder. 

This post is linked up with Read Aloud Thursday hosted by Hope is a Word.  

Picture Book: Ten Little Caterpillars (by Bill Martin Jr.)

Spring has sprung in most parts of the country!  My state barely had a winter this year (but I am not complaining).   The weather has been perfect this week—warm, sunny, cool breeze.  Today, we enjoyed an afternoon in the park and a visit to our favorite frozen yogurt place.  With all this warm weather, caterpillars will be emerging and soon after, beautiful butterflies.   

Ten Little Caterpillars (by Bill Martin Jr.) is a celebration of spring and new life.   One little caterpillar crawls up the stem of a wild rose bush.   Next, a second caterpillar wriggles up some flowers in the garden.  Then, a third little one climbs a cabbage head.  The narrative continues until the number 10 is reached.   The tenth caterpillar is seen transformed into a chrysalis and emerging as a tiger swallowtail butterfly.  The final pages revisit each caterpillar.  Brief information is offered on their feeding habits and the type of butterfly or moth they transform into is illustrated. 

The pictures (by Lois Ehlert) are watercolor collages against a white background to focus on the flowers, the vegetation, and most importantly, the caterpillars.   The illustrations have remarkable texture and vibrant colors.  Occasionally, creatures commonly in the habitats are included like ants, spiders, frogs, birds, and beetles.    Each item in the pictures is labeled to build vocabulary and sight word recognition. 

Ten Little Caterpillars is ideal for youngsters 2-6.    It is the perfect springtime read! 

Teaching Opportunities:

• Spring:  discuss spring activities outside
• Ordinal numbers:  practice the concept of first, second, third, and so forth
• Counting: count the caterpillars as well as items on the page, like leaves, ladybugs, and flowers
• Life Cycles:  learn about the life cycle of the caterpillar and other creatures
• Verbs:  for younger children, point out the strong verbs used (wriggled, crawled, climbed, sailed) and act them out; for older students, introduced them as the parts of speech that shows action and brainstorm other verbs
• Science:  distinguish between predators and prey; teach what preys on butterflies (ants, birds, toads, dragon flies) and caterpillars (birds, wasps, small mammals, lizards) as well as point them out in the pictures

This post is linked up with Read Aloud Thursday at Hope is the Word. 

Picture Book (Science): Hey Diddle Diddle (by Pam Kapchinske)

Summary of Hey Diddle Diddle (by Pam Kapchinske):   

The narrative takes place in the forest where living thing from tiny bugs to great bobcats live.  It begins with a jolly-looking insect roaming among the flora and with this stanza: 

A shiny green beetle was strollin' along

tappin' his feet and singin' a song.

He said, "Hey diddle diddle--whaddaya know?

I've got six legs to help me go."

On the next page, a slithering snake swallows him up, followed by hawk swooping down to snatch up the snake.  The illustrations help transition to a new food chain beginning in and along a pond with a group of frogs sitting on a lily pad.  The account continues using various creatures and rhyming quatrains, which also reveal facts about the various insects and animals.  It ends with a bobcat (the top of the food chain), singing

"Hey diddle diddle--now fancy that, 

a nap sounds good to this old cat.

The lion's king (or so they say),

I guess that makes me queen today."

Evaluation: 

Hey Diddle Diddle is an ideal way to introduce or reinforce the concept of food chains as well as science terms, like vertebrate, invertebrate, prey, predator, herbivore, and carnivore.  Children will enjoy the vivid illustrations in shades of green and brown that aptly capture the natural habitat of the living things.  In addition, the light-hearted, rhythmic lines are pleasing to the ears.  They can be used as a spring board for early readers to learn about sounds (rhyme and alliteration).  Older readers learn to appreciate poetic language and rhythm.  I recommend this book for ages 5-8.  

Teaching Opportunities:

Sylvan Dell has developed a 49-page across the curriculum teaching guide to help you with some of teaching ideas above and many more.  The book page also includes various quizzes and other resources.  

This post is link up at Hope is a Word for Read Aloud Thursday.  Check out other great read alouds HERE.