Reading Level: Grades 1-2 Interest Level: Grades K – 3
The wings of ruby-throated hummingbirds are incredible machines, beating nearly 53 times per second and strong enough to fly across the Gulf of Mexico in a single trip! Common in North America, these birds are a delight to observe as they zoom and hover in backyards and gardens. Learn more about ruby-throated hummingbirds in this brightly colored read!
An exploration of familiar backyard animals. Each spread is composed of a few sentences that provide basic information on physical characteristics, size, diet, predators, or offspring. Diagrams that repackage this content using photographs are found throughout. In addition to a map locating where in North America the topic species is most prominent, a conservation scale (ranging from a bright green “Least Concern” to a deep red for “Extinct”) is featured. The appeal here is the crisp photos that showcase the animals in a way that can be described simply as cute: an eastern chipmunk with its cheeks full, a squirrel with its tiny pink tongue out, a plump hummingbird on a branch, and a doe-eyed skunk. Consider these additions as primers for local outdoor field trips with lower elementary students.
