Bert Wilberforce

It's hairy, walks on all fours, and climbs trees. No, it's not a cat, it's a gorilla. Readers will imagine what it would be like to have a pet gorilla as they learn some intriguing details about the largest apes. They'll discover gorillas make nests to sleep in each day. They're only found in the rainforests of Africa and, because of their great strength and size, should probably stay there This entertaining book, written at the low-ATOS level, is a perfect addition to any elementary science collection.

The gentle giants called giraffes are so cute at the zoo. Whether they're rubbing necks or snatching leaves off the tops of trees with their long tongue, they're fascinating to watch. Readers will love learning giraffe facts in this low-ATOS book and seeing them in action in the colorful photographs. As they muse, along with the narrator, whether a giraffe would be a good pet, they'll realize that this amazing animal is just too tall to curl up on the couch at home.

Whales are awe-inspiring creatures. They move their gigantic bodies through water gracefully. But some of these majestic marine animals have an odd way of protecting themselves from bloodthirsty sharks and other predators. They can create a cloud of waste, or poop, to hide in or to confuse their pursuer. While that's amazing, perhaps it's even more incredible that one kind of whale poop is so valuable it's called "floating gold" Readers will love all these facts and more in this fun, accessible book about these beautiful mammals.

Vultures have some pretty disgusting habits. Their idea of a yummy meal is carrion, or rotting meat. But they have an even grosser idea of how to protect themselves from their predators. They throw up on them Vultures can make their acidic vomit fly several feet to burn their enemy. This also makes them lighter so they can fly away. Readers may think these adaptations are gross, but they'll keep turning the page to find out even more in this entertaining and brightly designed book.