A Mammal is an Animal

A Mammal is an Animal

What makes an animal a mammal? And what is not a mammal? Mammals have skeletons as deer have, breathe air in lungs as whales do, and are born alive as are calves. What is not a mammal? A ladybug has no skeleton, a fish breathes through gills and a bird hatches from an egg. Monkeys, dolphins, and elephants are mammals—and so are you and I! With clear, simple language, beautiful paintings, a chart, diagrams, and a cutaway, acclaimed author-illustrator Lizzy Rockwell has created a beautiful and informative book that introduces young children to animal classification and dichotomous inquiry. K-Gr 2—Aimed at young students just learning the different classifications of animals, this book provides basic information about mammal characteristics and ways to identify them. Specific traits are introduced one at a time, with examples of creatures at each stage, both mammals and nonmammals, to highlight the differences. The tone of the writing is conversational and best lends itself to sharing aloud with a small group. ("Let's try this. A bullfrog is an animal. A bullfrog breathes air into its lungs. But is a bullfrog a mammal? No!") Ink-and-watercolor illustrations are detailed and complement the text nicely. Labeled drawings showcase a variety of animals both in their natural habitats and on plain white backgrounds. Captions in a different typeface provide basic facts. Additional data and reference sources are appended. VERDICT A solid option for classrooms and libraries looking for a title that has a calming narrative tone.—Jody Kopple, Shady Hill School, Cambridge, MA "Quiet, pleasing ink-and-watercolor pictures illustrate the text, and an attractive two-page classification chart shows 'Life on Earth,' divided and subdivided into categories. This picture book provides young children with a simple, informative, age-appropriate introduction to mammals."— Booklist   "Largely eschewing scientific vocabulary in favor of clear explanations (the terms 'vertebrates' and 'invertebrates' are introduced in a diagram in the backmatter), Rockwell’s text focuses on the concepts. The fine-lined ink-and-watercolor illustrations are as clear and straightforward as the text, with the carefully labeled renderings of the animals examined particularly meticulous. . . . A clear, respectful introduction." — Kirkus Reviews   "Ink-and-watercolor illustrations are detailed and complement the text nicely. . . . A solid option for classrooms and libraries"— School Library Journal   "[Readers will] learn plenty about the ways that animals are categorized and classified."  —Publishers Weekly Lizzy Rockwell is the daughter of highly acclaimed children's book author and illustrator Anne Rockwell and art director and illustrator Harlow Rockwell. She has illustrated more than thirty children's books, including some in collaboration with her mother, and has written and illustrated several of her own, including A Bird is a Bird and Plants Feed Me.  She lives in Connecticut.  Find her online at https://www.lizzyrockwell.com/