Books About Animal Adaptations
On this page you will find ten books that may help you in your research on animal adaptations. You will find picture books, poetry books, nonfiction, fantasy, and realistic fiction books. Each addresses different aspects of animal adaptations, so read each description carefully.
Poetry
Fantasy
Animals Real and Imagined: Fantasy of What is and What Might Be
By: Terryl Whitlatch
In this 160-page book of illustrations, author Terri Whitlatch draws with precision and detail hundreds of different creatures, both real and imagined. The bulk of the book is made up of drawings and sketches. Included, though, are countless notes about anatomy and bodily function, playing a role to educate readers about the mechanics of animal bodies and how they help survive. This book is ideal for upper elementary students, and allows for children to analyze the role of anatomy in animal adaptations.
Realistic Fiction
Realistic Fiction
Endangered
By: Eliot Schrefer
Endangered tells the story of a young girl and a baby bonobo who are living in Congo during the time of war. When their lives at an animal sanctuary are upended, they must escape and survive in the wild jungle alone. This realistic fiction chapter book is appropriate for middle grade readers, and allows for readers to analyze the physical and behavioral adaptations that must be used for survival, by both the ape and the young girl.
Picture Books
Boom! Bellow! Bleat!
By: Georgia Heard
Illustrated by: Aaron DeWitt.
This clever book of poetry is designed for two readers to read together. It addresses some misconceptions about animal sounds, while also explaining why animals make different sounds. The illustrations show a wide range of physical characteristics of various animals’ appearances. This book includes lively and fun poems that engage readers with the use of onomatopoeia, and the author also includes a good deal of back matter with factual information about the animals in the book, furthering it as a valuable resource on animal adaptations.
Creature Features
By: Steve Jenkins and Robin Page
This is a book for middle elementary that explores the unique physical features of twenty five animals in a question-and-answer format. From noses to tusks, and beaks to feathers, the authors explore the function of different animal body parts and how they help them survive in the wild. The book also includes facts about diet and where each animal lives in the world. Back matter includes a bibliography for further investigation. Aimed towards elementary-aged children, this book is an engaging resource for physical animal adaptations.
Nonfiction
Nose Knows: Wild Ways Animals Smell the World
By: Emmanuelle Figueras
Illustrated by: Claire deGastold
In this interactive nonfiction picture book, elementary aged children will learn the different ways animals use their sense of smell and their noses to find food, attract mates, and “feel” their surroundings. This book is a great resource for studying animal behavior in an animal adaptations unit. With plenty of technical scientific language, Nose Knows is perfect for the science classroom while still staying appropriate for elementary students. The book also includes an index that proves useful as an additional reference.
The Fascinating Animal Book for Kids: 500 Wild Facts!
By: Ginjer Clarke
This book is both fun and educational, keeping middle grade readers highly engaged with colorful photos and over 500 facts about animals. Using language that is technical, yet age appropriate, author Ginjer Clark describes hundreds of animal adaptations. The book is comprehensive, covering animals from cave-dwelling glow worms to wombats, from lions to mantis shrimp. The book is categorized into themed chapters, making animals easy to find.
Way to Glow! Amazing Creatures that Light Up in the Dark
By: Lisa Regan
This is a Scholastic reader about a specific animal adaptation, bioluminescence. This book focuses on both above ground and underwater creatures that use bioluminescence to help them survive. It includes incredibly detailed photographs of each creature that also glow in the dark to demonstrate their real-life bioluminescent abilities. From fireflies to the lanternfish, many animals are covered. With each photograph there is ample information about the adaptation. The language is simple, but very informational and appropriate for all elementary students. The book also includes a glossary.
The Animal Book: A Collection of the Fastest, Fiercest, Toughest, Cleverest, Shyest―and Most Surprising―Animals on Earth
By: Steve Jenkins
This comprehensive overview of the animal world takes a look at over 300 animals, and their remarkable traits. It focuses on how animals have evolved, and their physical and behavioral attributes that help them survive, hunt, and mate. Included are graphs, illustrations, and countless facts about common and unique animals. This book is ideal for all ages, with understandable scientific language and engaging drawings. This is a great companion for learning about animal adaptations at any age.
Outrageous Animal Adaptations
By: Michael J. Rosen
Outrageous Animal Adaptations is an information-packed nonfiction book that covers 24 animals’ extreme adaptations for survival. From the geoduck to the waxy monkey tree frog, this book explains the adaptations for each extraordinary animal and includes interesting information as well. The book is infused with humor, keeping all readers engaged. Also included are source notes, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Ideal for the middle grades, as the language is fairly advanced.
The Big Snow
By: Berta and Elmer Hader
In this realistic fiction picture book, animals prepare an upcoming winter season in a cold climate. A number of different animals react differently to the upcoming cold; some gather food and find shelter, some migrate, and others prepare for hibernation. This book doesn’t include explanations as to why each animal does what it does to survive. It would be a good resource to facilitate a discussion among older elementary students already familiar with some animal adaptations, both physical and behavioral.