Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations
Katie Mazeika
(Illustrated by)Description
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 Adaptations; Anti-Freeze, Leaf Costumes, and Other Fabulous Fish Adaptations; Water-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile Adaptations; and Sunscreen, 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.
About the Picture Book Science series and Nomad Press
Nomad Press books in the Picture Book Science series present real-world examples of science topics kids find fascinating! These nonfiction picture books consist of engaging narratives paired with detailed, accurate illustrations and layered text that offers ample opportunity for discussion and reflection. Elementary-aged children are equipped to recognize basic science concepts and identify the different ways they are demonstrated in real life, while being impressed with the idea that science is a constant part of our lives and not limited to classrooms and laboratories.
All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.
All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.
Product Details
| Publisher | Nomad Press |
| Publish Date | August 13, 2020 |
| Pages | 32 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Hardback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781619309494 |
| Dimensions | 9.5 X 9.5 X 0.3 inches | 0.7 pounds |
About the Author
Reviews
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.
Booklist Series Nonfiction Showcase
"Through layered, mischievous illustrations and detailed back matter, the Picture Book Science series plies young readers with a ton of useful facts about how all sorts of animals have evolved to survive in their environments. . .In Spit Nests, 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). . . Each book contains a hands-on activity that will get kids involved; the mammal volume even points out that human beings are mammals, too, and encourages students to consider their own place in their ecosystems. Classroom-friendly and fun, too."
Archimedes Notebook
Fun New Series on Animal Adaptations
"Let’s face it: animals are cool! And most kids I know love to read about animals. What’s even better than a book about animals is a whole series of books about strange and wonderful animal adaptations.
Laura Perdew has written a whole bunch of books – well, at least five – about animals and their unique adaptations. They are fun and breezy, and a perfect way to introduce young children to the different classes of vertebrate animals: reptiles, birds, mammals, amphibians, and fish.
Perdew introduces readers to unsung heroes of the animal world: star-nose moles, blue-footed boobies, and thorny devil lizards. She sings the praises of salamander slime and whale earwax.
In addition to highlighting animals and their adaptations, Perdew begins each book with a poem. There’s an acrostic, a limerick, haiku, cinquain, and free verse. Back matter for each book includes a glossary and activity that helps kids (and anyone else) learn more about the group of animals."
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