An-Animal-a-Month: Fish
Click on the book covers to find more information about each title.
A fishbowl full of fun and information! Fish do so much more than swim. In this cleverly crafted picture book, children will meet fish that zap, sing, play dead, and so much more. It celebrates the freaks of the fish world, with their amazing adaptations, and reminds us of their commonalities. Rich language, full of rhythm, rhyme, and alliteration, and humorous, informative illustrations make this an outstanding nonfiction read-aloud for fun or lessons on adaptations. Share with children ages 3-10.
Kind of nonfiction: Expository literature – a narrow focus on fish with outlandish adaptations, carefully crafted language, and humor elevate this list book. (My categorization using Melissa Stewart’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.)
Ties to Next Generation Science Standards:
K-ESS2-2 (Construct an argument supported by evidence for how plants and animals can change the environment to meet their needs.) In the main text and back matter, children will see how flashlight fish can light up a dark environment using bioluminescence. With their lights, they can find food and confuse predators.
4-LS1-1 (Construct an argument that plants and animals have internal and external structures that function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.) Turn to the back matter to find numerous examples of such structures, from the slime glands of hagfish that protect against predators to the pectoral fins of mudskippers that allow them to climb branches in search of food. Each structure could be the topic of a research project.
She lives in the midnight zone! This biography of an anglerfish follows one female as she grows from an egg to a fry to a fearsome adult. As she matures, watch her descend through the ocean’s layers into the midnight zone where “… sunlight is only a memory.” See how she hunts, stays safe, and reproduces using her fantastical adaptations. The luminous illustrations, crisp text, and enlightening back matter, will surprise and delight children ages 4.8.
Kind of nonfiction: Narrative nonfiction – a real character, setting, and plot that follows the unique life cycle of an anglerfish. (My categorization using Melissa Stewart’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.)
Tiny fish to the rescue! How can purchasing fish from the Amazon for your fish tank help save an ecosystem and people’s livelihoods? Find out in this outstanding scientific and cultural adventure book. Author Sy Montgomery and photographer Keith Ellenbogen take the reader into the jungle, into the river to meet the piabeiros (local fisher people), scientists, and veterinarians who are working together on a project that could save the Amazon, “the lungs of the world”. Readers will see how sometimes the solutions to big problems are not what you might expect. Ages 10-12+.
Kind of nonfiction: Narrative Nonfiction – immerses the reader in the experiences of the piabeiros, who make a living finding and selling fish for fish tanks, and the scientists and veterinarians, who are developing the best ways to care for and transport these fish. (My categorization using Melissa Stewart’s 5 Kinds of Nonfiction.)