Simple, bold text walks readers through the estivation of different kinds of creatures, from a huddle of ladybugs to killfish hiding together in a damp log to wait for the rain, to a spotted turtle settling in for a peaceful summer nap. In addition to the bold action sentences, there are additional, brief paragraphs describing the animals and their behavior. This matches the illustrations, which constitute of clear drawings in natural colors, showing the animal estivating, and a sketch of the animal with additional details including its location and size.
Back matter includes more details about each animal, accompanying small black and white sketches of the creatures. There is a more detailed explanation of estivation vs. hibernation, some resources, notes from the author and illustrator about their creative and research process, and sources used, with those appropriate for young readers highlighted.
Melissa Stewart is a go-to for me when looking for nonfiction books to read-aloud in storytime and this latest book does not disappoint. It expands a popular and familiar topic - hibernation - and introduces a wide variety of interesting animals. It offers some interesting sidelights on research for older readers and the variety of information makes it a good choice for a range of classroom and library activities and reading situations, from storytime to independent reading.
Verdict: A must-have for any public or school library that serves elementary students; take this opportunity to make sure you have Stewart's previous titles and/or to check out her many nonfiction resources online.
ISBN: 9781580897167; Published April 2021 by Charlesbridge; Purchased for the library
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