Rodent Rascals: Clever Creatures at their Actual Size

Rodent Rascals is a perfect example of what a stellar nonfiction picture book should be. The art is breathtaking, the writing is full of great information revealed in a charming, conversational tone, and there are loads of opportunities to use this book for (secret :) learning for all ages.First, the information is organized by rodent size rather than a traditional alphabetical structure. Don't tell your kids - they will figure it out after several readings! Younger children will love paging through and looking at the illustrations while learning the names. Older kids will eat up the fun facts and potentially do some map looking to figure out where in the world all these rodents reside. And if your child starts asking for a pet capybara, check out your local zoo - they just might have one on display.Don't miss the hindquarter hints as these rodent increase in size. Let your kids figure out just what might be featured on the next page. A glossary, catalog list, and additional web resources round out the features of this winner. This book works on multiple levels and will be great for multiple readings. Worth every dime.

Roxie Munro's coverage of these wonderful (and often maligned) rodents just warmed my heart.

Illustrations and stories of the animals are excellent.

There are all kinds of rodents on Earth, including some you may have even had as pets. A “rodent is a mammal with a single pair of teeth called incisors in both the upper and the lower jaw.” You probably won’t be prying open the jaws of your hamster or guinea pig any time soon, but yes, they are rodents. These critters gnaw one things to keep their teeth sharp, but also to keep them from continually growing (think beavers here). There are little tiny rodents you can hold in your hands, but there are also ones that can weigh more than a fully grown man. That big rodent just happens to be the capybara, but then again, there are those that lived in the age of the dinosaurs that make the capybara look like a mouse in comparison.There are thousands of different rodents, but the rodent rascals you’ll find in this book are “shown at their real size.” Of course you’ll be happy to know that the hamster is featured in this book, especially if you own one. Back to that tiny rodent. Now the pygmy jerboa “is the world’s smallest rodent” one that has some super-rodent powers. One interesting features is that “it has such strong legs that it can jump up to 10 feet (3 meters), many times its length.” Watch out, because chance are this critter can run faster than you can, believe it or not! The pygmy jerboa is some odd looking rodent, but the naked mole rate is an even stranger looking rodent. Does he have lips behind his teeth? You’ll just have to read this book to find out!You may be aware of one really famous groundhog known as Punxsutawney Phil. He’s a rascally rodent for sure and you’ve probably seen him on YouTube. He’s a Pennsylvania critter and they say that “after waking up in early February from his winter hibernation, he sees his shadow, there’ll be six more weeks of winter.” On the other hand, if he doesn’t, it’s said spring will soon be on its way. You’ll learn just how long Phil and his relatives have been predicting the weather. Think he’s right? Well, that’s grounds for a bit of research on your part. In this book you’ll learn all about several fun and fascinating rodent rascals, some you’ve heard about and others you’d never dream existed.RODENT RASCALS:Pygmy jerboaNaked mole ratLemmingsHamstersHouse mouseChipmunksNorthern flying squirrelsGerbilsThe desert kangaroo ratBushy-tailed wood ratsNorway ratHarris’s antelope squirrelGuinea pigsChinchillasPrairie DogMuskratsGroundhogAfrican giant pouched ratPorcupinesBeaversCapybaraThis is a great way to learn about common and unusual rodents young readers will love. The introduction hooked me from the start, offering up information that left me wanting to know more about rodents. Each rodent rascal has a short, fascinating mini-bio that will encourage even the most reluctant reader wanting to know more. The artwork, rendered in India and acrylic inks, is very appealing and, as mentioned, features the rascally rodents in their true size. In the back of the book is an index, additional information about the critters in this book, a glossary, sources, and additional recommended websites to explore.Age Range: 6 to 9 yearsGrade Level: 1 to 4(Library book).