Animal Adaptations Reference Books
On this page you will find five nonfiction books about animals and their adaptations that will help you in your research. Each book listed is appropriate for grades three through eight. All of these books can be found at the East Lansing Public Library, and each has the call number listed with it. In addition to these books, you may find more books about animals using Dewey numbers J 590 and J 591.
Sea Creatures looks at some of the ocean’s unique underwater creatures, which are among the most adaptable on Earth. This book examines those animals, and the extreme behaviors and characteristics that help them survive. This book is filled with stunning photographs to accompany each essay, and is written for middle grade readers to easily understand. Also included are suggested websites, a glossary, and an index.
In Everything Animals,readers will explore 250 fascinating animal facts. Written for children ages eight to twelve, this book includes lots of interesting animal adaptations. Readers can learn about a dog’s powerful sense of smell, to animals that use venom to protect themselves. Colorful and detailed photos complement the animal information on each page.
In this book for elementary readers, author Steve Jenkins tells about twenty stinky, smelly animals, and how these smells help them survive. In addition to information about each animal, the book also contains a glossary, bibliography, and an infographic. To help best understand each stinky adaptation, there is a diagram grouping the animals according to the purpose of their smell, such as defending themselves or marking their territory.
Hidden Wildlife is all about one specific adaptation--camouflage! Author Jim Arnosky uses a combination of pencil sketches and full color illustrations to show animals that use camouflage to blend into their surroundings. The book includes explanations of how animals use shape, texture, and color to adapt to help them survive.
Extreme Animals takes a look at creatures that survive in conditions and places that humans never could! You will learn how animals have adapted to extreme conditions, from the South Pole to inside a volcano. Illustrated with a mix of drawings and cartoons, this book about extreme animal biology is perfect for any elementary aged reader.