  | House in the sky : and other uncommon animal homes Author: Jenkins, Steve | |
| Price: $6.50 | ||
Summary:
Dual layers of text explain how and why diverse animals make homes specific to their needs. From the turtle's shell, the beaver's lodge, or the seal's cave, each animal requires a special kind of home.
| Illustrator: | Gourley, Robbin |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (04/01/18)
School Library Journal (05/01/18)
Booklist (04/15/18)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 04/15/2018 Opening with the idea that “animals, like people, often need a cozy place to sleep, a hideaway for escaping danger, or a safe place to raise a family,” this informative picture book introduces a series of animals and their homes. From tree kangaroos to burrowing owls to barnacles on gray whales, Jenkins writes succinctly about these animals and their surprisingly varied dwellings. Each full-page or double-page entry presents a type of home and how it serves its occupant. Well suited to younger children, the main large-print text might include several animals in the one sentence that extends over multiple pages. A sentence or two in small type relates directly to the illustration. The book’s conclusion turns the opening sentence around in a satisfying way. An appended section offers additional facts about each animal, such as its size, location, migration, and diet. Gourley’s graceful, appealing watercolor illustrations support the text beautifully. Showing a broad range of animal homes and explaining related behaviors, this book is an effective read-aloud choice in the classroom or at home. - Copyright 2018 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 05/01/2018 PreS-Gr 3—A thoughtful picture book about where we live and why we live there. What are houses used for—to shelter, to impress, to protect? The text raises these and other questions, and each spread includes a whimsical watercolor illustration of an animal's home. Gourley balances muted tones with bright swipes of color to direct readers' attentions to specific elements of the structures. The examinations of creatures going about daily life are striking. Ants work, adult birds guard babies in the nest, whales bear barnacle colonies on their backs, the tree-kangaroo sleeps, the badger burrows; houses in the sky, houses on land, and houses underwater—each scene is depicted with care and includes more detailed information in a smaller font beneath the main text. Young ones can playfully enjoy Jenkins's warm prose and Gourley's delicate art, while older readers can engage in exploratory learning. More robust explanations of the different species at the end of the book make it an excellent STEM offering. VERDICT Purchase for its jeu d'esprit, its attention to detail, and its respect for the intelligence of its young audience.—Chelsea Woods, New Brunswick Free Public Library, NJ - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
