Explores the world of mice, deer, bats, various kinds of forest birds, opossum, salamanders, owls, bobcats, and rabbits, and describes their homes, families, food, and enemies.

Grade 1-3?On the surface, this looks like a simple book that gives basic information about woodland dwellers. Further examination, however, reveals that it is really chock-full of surprises. Readers are provided with life-size paw prints superimposed on the text, a treasure map of the forest floor, and a "forest sandwich" (a visual and textual interpretation of the animal life inhabiting each layer of the forest). The book begins with an introduction to the habitat itself, followed by short chapters about the various animals that live there. For example, there is a two-page account about how a mouse spent the winter and spring and birthed her babies in an abandoned robin's nest. "More about mice" follows, presenting factual information to back up the story. Bats, owls, deer, birds, opossums, salamanders, and rabbits are some of the many creatures detailed in this delightful work. Gorgeous pen-and-ink drawings grace each page, giving a sense of the beauty and wonder of the forest and its inhabitants.?Helen Rosenberg, Chicago Public Library, IL
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
Animals--rabbit, salamander, opossum, deer, bobcat, bat, owl, mouse--from the forest ecosystem are briefly described and illustrated in soft color-pencil drawings in this entry in the Wild Wonder series. Cooper includes animals from the forest floor, the understory, and the canopy, supplying for each creature a sentence or two about home, babies, food, habits, and enemies. Emerling provides small drawings of the animal and its footprint, the latter of which is life-size. Also included are a range map, a color key to the ecosystem, and more than a dozen other animals to discover in the drawings. There are minor anthropomorphisms: Deer tells one of her fawns to hide in the tall grass, Robin sings, ``This is my place. Keep out!'' and bug-eating bats go ``Yum!'' Economical, effective, and charming. (Picture book/nonfiction. 5-8) 

Book details

• Format Paperback
• Pages48 pages
• LanguageEnglish
• ISBN100916278719
• ISBN139780916278717