African Critters

AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR: Robert B. Haas


PUBLISHER:   National Geographic Society

 PUBLICATION DATE: 09/09/2008

GENRE:  Non-Fiction Informational Picture Book

 READING LEVEL: 4th grade

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Dive deep into the African Savannahs and discover the different critters that live there! Here's a book for your little explorer, as Robert B. Haas introduces many animals like the cheetah, elephant, and lion, giving details of what they eat, how (if) they hunt, and what they do daily; also how they connect with one another. So get ready for a wild ride in the heart of the Savannah's, it will be one to remember.

INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Using a flow chart, the students will describe the roles of each animal in the different safari habitats, and how they are all connected.

REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Hannah Banbury, Valdosta State University ECSE

LABELS: Animals, Africa, Discovery, habitats, hunter.

The Hunter: A Chinese Folktale

TITLE: The Hunter: A Chinese Folktale
AUTHOR: Mary Casanova
ILLUSTRATOR: Ed Young
PUBLISHER: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
PUBLICATION DATE: September 1, 2000
GENRE: Cultural/Chinese READING LEVEL: 5-8 yrs old
BRIEF OVERVIEW: Hai Li Bu, a hunter, saves a snake from a crane with a shot of an arrow. The snake’s father, a king, rewards Hai with the ability to hear animals talk. The king heeded a warning: If Hai Li Bu tells anybody about his ability Hai will turn to stone. The Hunter heard from the animals that a storm was coming and would flood the village. Nobody would believe Hai and refused to shelter on higher ground. Hai had to explain his circumstance and hence turned to stone. The villagers were astonished that Hai Li Bu would sacrifice himself to save the village and the villagers escaped certain death.
INTEGRATED ACTIVITY: Make a Chinese snake using 1” wide by 3” long colored papers. Make circles, interlink and staple to make interlinked chain. Paint a snake face on the front link.
REVIEWER’S NAME & AFFILIATION: Robert Emond, Valdosta State University