NONFICTION BLOG #1: ANIMALS NOBODY LOVES

NONFICTION BLOG #1 ANIMALS NOBODY LOVES

Bibliographic Data

Simon, Seymour. 2001. ANIMALS NOBODY LOVES. Vancouver, British Columbia: Chronicle Books LLC. ISBN: 1-58717-080-9

Plot Summary

In this attractive photo-essay nonfiction book, Seymour Simon teaches us about the most unlovable of animals. While many of the animals are familiar, some are more unusual like the Gila Monster and the Man-of-War. The facts and details about each animal are presented in a personal voice which makes each animal interesting and exciting to read and learn about. We also learn little know facts : Did you know that headless cockroaches can live for as long as a week ? or that piranha’s have killed more people than the great white shark?

Critical Analysis

The layout of the book is attractive, inviting and well organized. The book begins with an introduction explaining what the book is going to be about and setting the stage for keeping an open mind about the animals that are going to be discussed. The book is made up of double pages spreads for each of the 20 featured unlovable animals. For each animal presented there is a full page color photograph of the animal. The photographs are full page sized close ups that capture the animal in their natural habitat. The photograph of the piranha is one of my favorites. The reader is able to look at the piranha’s sharp pointed row of teeth while reading the text:

“Piranhas can strip the flesh from a large animal in just a few minutes. There are horrible stories of people being eaten alive by piranhas. No wonder this small fish is so feared.”

Wow, that definitely doesn’t read like a boring textbook! As from this excerpt from the book you can tell that the writing is clear, lively and interesting. The sharing of interesting details and little know facts show that the author is enthusiastic about the subject.

The book ends with some questions for the reader which encourages critical thinking and more reading. The last page asks these questions:

“Do you feel any differently about the animals in this book now that you know more about them? If you do, can you think of any reasons that made you change your mind? Perhaps you might make your own list of animals that you don’t love and think about why each of these animals is on your list.

Review Excerpt

From BooklistGr. 4-6. The photos (and even the text) won't do much to change the reputation of animals such as the vulture and the rat, but there's no denying they'll draw a crowd and a chorus of "Gross." The pictures are fine, large, and in full color, as fascinating as they are repulsive and scary: the yawning jaws of a shark; a hyena consuming bloody food; a wasp enlarged bigger than a human fist, stinging a grasshopper. Simon puts forward some interesting facts and dispels a few myths about these 20 unlovable subjects, but report writers won't find enough material here, nor are there notes to lead curious kids on to more information. There's no question this will look great on display, but it will serve kids best when it's presented with more fact-rich natural histories. Stephanie ZvirinCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


Connections

Crocodiles and Alligators by Seymour Simon
Gorillas by Seymour Simon
Spiders by Seymour Simon
Snakes by Seymour Simon
Wolves by Seymour Simon
Sharks by Seymour Simon
Big Cats by Seymour Simon
Wild Babies by Seymour Simon

Activities

Ask students to call out the names of some animals they don’t love
Write the list on the white board as students call out animals names
Group students to research more about one of the animals
Go to the library for students to look at other trade books on the animals and write up some new learned facts.