It's Our Nature

by Rebeca Orozco, Menena Cottin (Illustrator)

Overview

A unique look at the social behaviour of wild animals for very young children, this book will find a home on school and library shelves, and in the hands of careful parents.
 
Offering a unique perspective on the animal kingdom and its social habits, young children will embrace this beautifully illustrated book, both visually and intellectually.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781770492837
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	09/25/2012
Pages:	24
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.30(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Born in Ensenada, Baja California, on August 26, 1956, Rebeca Orozco studied Communication Sciences at the Universidad Anahuac in Mexico City. She has written scripts for radio and television. She was awareded the Antonio Garcia Cubas Award in 2006 for her book Behind the Mask, Masks of Mexico. Rebeca is an accomplished storyteller and writer.
 
Menena Cottin studied design and illustration at the Pratt Institute in New York where she began writing books. Her most recent titles are Equilibrio and La doble historia de un vaso de leche. She lives in Venezuela. Best known in North America for her award-winning book, The Black Book of Colors (Groundwood) which was selected as an NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts, as included on the VOYA Nonfiction Honor List, included on the New York Times Best Illustrated Books list, was a Booklist Editors' Choice - Books for Youth and selected as on of School Library Journal's Best Books of the Year.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

 “…Cottin’s digital illustrations are sleek and modest, while Orozco, similarly understated in her anthropomorphism, presents graceful observations of animal instincts.”
—Publishers Weekly

“…This attractive title successfully introduces children to different traits that contribute to congenial living and is appropriate for group sharing or individual browsing. It differs from many other animal books because of its emphasis on humans learning from animal behaviors”
—School Library Journal

Editorial Reviews

In a book first published in Mexico in 2008, Orozco briefly describes biologically innate animal behaviors, ones that humans might do well to better emulate (“animals could show us a thing or two about responsibility, community, generosity, and tolerance,” she writes in an introduction). Flamingos exhibit a sense of community (“a group of parents, a sort of daycare, look after all the chicks”); baby crocodiles show trust by seeking safety in their mother’s mouth; and an octopus demonstrates commitment to each of her 150,000 eggs (“she does not leave the cave for three months, not even for a second!”). Cottin’s digital illustrations are sleek and modest, while Orozco, similarly understated in her anthropomorphism, presents graceful observations of animal instincts. Ages 5–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

…Cottin’s digital illustrations are sleek and modest, while Orozco, similarly understated in her anthropomorphism, presents graceful observations of animal instincts.”
—Publishers Weekly

“…This attractive title successfully introduces children to different traits that contribute to congenial living and is appropriate for group sharing or individual browsing. It differs from many other animal books because of its emphasis on humans learning from animal behaviors”
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 3—Believing that animals have feelings, Orozco suggests that humans could learn how to live more harmoniously by looking at how various creatures behave. She gives 10 examples of how specific animals demonstrate tolerance, responsibility, generosity, community, communication, trust, commitment, altruism, and brotherhood. For instance, female elephants generously nurse and protect younger elephants even if the babies are not their own. Wildebeests tolerate zebras that mix in with their herds for protection from predators. Other animals represented include the howler monkey, flamingo, dolphin, armadillo, crocodile, octopus, penguin, and wolf. Each behavior is explained on a spread, accompanied by a simple illustration. Cottin places minimally detailed animal shapes into spare habitats, giving the pages an uncluttered, clean appearance. The art is done in combinations of soft and gentle blues, pinks, grays, yellows, and greens with added browns, black, and white. Bright orange endpapers contrast with the lighter color choices. This attractive title successfully introduces children to different traits that contribute to congenial living and is appropriate for group sharing or individual browsing. It differs from many other animal books because of its emphasis on humans learning from animal behaviors.—Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH

School Library Journal