Module #11: Marsupials

Summary
This non-fiction book discusses many different types of marsupials, from kangaroos and opossums to quolls, planigales, and numbats. The book includes captioned photographs and lots of interesting marsupial facts, at least two of which are about poop.

Citation
Bishop, N. (2009). Marsupials. Singapore: Scholastic Nonfiction.


Impression
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The photos are great--they give a clear and interesting look at  the animals being discussed. The book talks about a lot of animals I have never heard of, and it was interesting to learn about them. The one concern I had was the font used to caption the photos was kind of hard to read--sort of italic with a cursive s that took me a moment to parse. If a young kid was reading this book on their own I could see it being an issue.

Review


"*Starred Review* In the same format as Nic Bishop Butterflies and Moths (2009) and Nic Bishop Frogs (2008), the scientist/photographer now introduces marsupials. This broad-ranging discussion includes the Virginia opossum and related animals in the Americas before turning to the main topic, the varied marsupials of Australia. Large in scale and often exceptionally clear, the many color photos will attract animal lovers to the book. A typical double-page spread includes a photo, a caption, and two or three paragraphs discussing the animals. On each page, one sentence within a paragraph is printed in large, colorful type, effectively creating a short text suitable for reading aloud to a younger child. In the book's center, double-gatefold pages open outward, creating a wide quadruple-page spread showing four stages of a sugar glider's flight. The volume concludes with a short glossary and a note in which Bishop describes his experiences photographing marsupials in Australia. This inviting title pairs some remarkable photos with a wealth of intriguing facts."


Phelan, C. (2009, October 15). [Review of the book Marsupials, by N. Bishop. Booklist. Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/

Uses
It would be a nice read-aloud for a small group who could get close enough to look at the pictures.