Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations (Picture Book Science)

by Laura Perdew (Author) Katie Mazeika (Illustrator)

Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations (Picture Book Science)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

A nonfiction picture book that explores the amazing adaptations that keep certain species of bird alive and soaring!

Not all birds build nests with sticks and have good manners. Some construct nests with their own saliva, while others use vomit as a defense!

Sound strange? In Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations, curious kids ages 5 to 8 discover many of the unique adaptations of birds. Stories of these brilliant adaptations cultivate deeper discussions about the crucial environmental science topic of adaptations. Using an easy narrative tone and vivid illustrations, this book is perfect as a read aloud or an early reader. A limerick poem at the beginning of the book offers a language-based entry into science details. Layered text and back matter provide further information and encourage readers to dive deeper into the world of unique bird adaptations.

Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations is part of a set of five books in the Picture Book Science series that explore strange-but-true tales of adaptation. Other titles in this series include Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal AdaptationsAnti-Freeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish AdaptationsWater-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile Adaptations; andSunscreen, Frogsicles, and Other Amazing Amphibian Adaptations.

• Provides layered text and back matter that encourages more in-depth discovery

• Promotes a sense of awe and wonder about the natural world

• Uses humor to engage children’s attention

• Includes a hands-on, science-minded project to help support and reinforce deeper learning

• Meets Next Generation Science Standards in ecosystems, biological evolution, and heredity for grades K through 2.

Select format:
Paperback
$9.95

More books in the series - See All

Booklist

...readers will observe the complex mating rituals of bowerbirds and blue-footed boobies and learn the gross-but-useful reason for a vulture’s bald head (and their even grosser defense mechanism).

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3--Perdew captures readers' interest right away, starting with the title. Throughout the text, fascinating bird adaptations are highlighted, including special body features, unique mating rituals, and other seemingly bizarre behaviors. The bird world favorites are covered (owls, penguins, hummingbirds), but some unusual species make appearances as well. The book's layout includes beautiful illustrations of the birds in action and at rest. The artwork portrays other animals that could be found in some of the birds' habitats. An activity page in the back, a glossary, and a connection page that mentions other facts are included. On these appendix pages, readers can see photographs of the birds spotlighted in the book. VERDICT A cool science title for younger readers to learn about bird adaptation. Educators can use this text in the classroom; many STEAM lessons could be inspired by these funky adaptations.--Erin Olsen, Hunter Coll. Elem. Sch., NY

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Laura Perdew

Laura Perdew is a veteran nonfiction author, writing books for the education market on subjects ranging from toilets to pirates to politicians. This is her debut picture book. In addition to her work as an author, she is currently a writing consultant at the University of Colorado Boulder. Raised in Virginia, she now calls Colorado home.

Adelina Lirius was born in Kosovo and currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden where she works as a freelance illustrator. She earned a degree in art teaching from Uppsala University and studied illustration at Berghs School of Communication. This is her debut picture book.

Classification
Non-fiction
ISBN-13
9781619309494
Lexile Measure
850
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Nomad Press (VT)
Publication date
August 20, 2020
Series
Picture Book Science
BISAC categories
JNF051150 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Zoology
JNF003030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Animals | Birds
JNF051050 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Biology
JNF051110 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Experiments & Projects
Library of Congress categories
Birds
Animals
Adaptation

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