Packs: Strength in Numbers

by Hannah Salyer

Overview

★ "Part natural science, part deep ecology, wholly captivating."—Kirkus, STARRED review

★ "A must-purchase for every collection." —School Library Journal, STARRED review 

An exquisitely illustrated celebration of animals who live in packs, herds, pods, and more—including humans. Vivid art and exuberant vocabulary are perfect for emerging readers and parents looking for nonfiction picture books for home learning. Packs shows how togetherness and teamwork are the keys to survival of any species, and the many ways we rely on one another.

"Showing how different animals benefit from living and working in groups, Salyer’s debut is a great example of the inventiveness possible in a nonfiction picture book."—New York Times Book Review

Groups, packs, herds of millions, and more—our world teems with animals on land, air, and sea.
Packs is an inspiring celebration of how togetherness helps many creatures thrive, in both nonhuman and human communities.
Hannah Salyer’s stunning selection reminds us that teamwork is universal, there is brilliance in biodiversity, and there is strength in numbers. Includes an author’s note encouraging community engagement and activism, as well as a fun visual index of the animals featured.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781328577887
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/28/2020
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	172,475
Product dimensions:	11.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Hannah Salyer is a debut illustrator who lives and works in Brooklyn. She graduated from the Communications Design Department at Pratt Institute. In her free time she can be found playing with clay, cutting up paper, or burying her nose in different books.
www.hannahsalyer.com
Instagram: @h.salyer
 

Editorial Reviews

…Salyer's debut is a great example of the inventiveness possible in a nonfiction picture book.

The New York Times Book Review - Maria Russo

12/09/2019

From its incantatory opening—“Packs,/ herds,/ huddles,/ and pods./ Together,/ we are better”—Sayler’s artful exploration of creature behavior moves into examples of the way animals and insects find strength in numbers. Each pack-specific discussion ends with the refrain “Together, we”—bats communicate, flamingos dance. Refreshingly, Sayler looks beyond species stereotypes: “We lions live in a pride, and proud we are. Our strong bonds come from our keeping close... Together, we nurture!” Collective nouns are italicized (lions, pride; frogs, army). Sayler vividly illustrates joyful abundance, often juxtaposing a single blue-hued creature opposite vibrant spreads of groups in motion. The conclusion—“All together.../ ...we are better!”—is cannily paired with a bustling city park. The author’s note, opposite an illustrated key that names featured creatures, argues for preserving biodiversity. Ages 4–7. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"Showing how different animals benefit from living and working in groups, Salyer’s debut is a great example of the inventiveness possible in a nonfiction picture book."—New York Times Book Review "With supple, richly colored illustrations and enthusiastic text, Hannah Salyer draws readers... into the beauty and variety of wild creatures."—Wall Street Journal ★ "[An] uplifting, lively picture book that details the various ways a community structure helps a species thrive and survive.... Part natural science, part deep ecology, wholly captivating."—Kirkus, STARRED review ★ "A must-purchase for every collection. Salyer offers a beautiful look at Earth’s herding creatures." —School Library Journal, STARRED review  "[I]t’s the artwork that takes center stage, with Salyer’s striking, monochromatic spreads flooding the page and forcing the reader to confront the awesome reality of entire groups." —Booklist "[A] useful and entertaining resource."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books —

From the Publisher

01/10/2020

PreS-Gr 2—Lions, flamingos, and wolves stick together in a pride, a flamboyance, or a pack for protection and teamwork. This technique has proven successful for hunting, mating, and raising young animals. Beautiful two-page spreads enliven Salyer's narrative. Frogs, rendered in various shades of green, are depicted in their marshes, ponds, and swamps. Lions glow in shades of gold, and buffalo seem to thunder off the pages. Perfectly matched to the illustrations, the simple sentences summarize the animals' qualities. The final group shows a diverse collection of humans in an urban setting dancing, eating, skateboarding, and dog-walking to solidify the message that there truly is strength in numbers. All the animals are numbered and identified on one of the last pages of resources. This format is very helpful, especially in the case of zoanthids, gold saddle goatfish, and plate coral. VERDICT A must-purchase for every collection. Salyer offers a beautiful look at Earth's herding creatures.—Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Fairfax County Public Library, VA

School Library Journal

★ 2019-08-26
The community of species is celebrated in this picture book.

With a vigorous nod to the philosophy of deep ecology, author/illustrator Salyer presents an uplifting, lively picture book that details the various ways a community structure helps a species thrive and survive. The deep-ecology message begins with cleverly designed endpapers. Illustrated in an identical gestural style and palette, the front endpapers depict a small herd of elephants that spills onto the page turn, while the back endpapers show a diverse group of human bicyclists. The body of the book begins with four double-page spreads depicting, in a glorious overall design on each, a group of individuals within a single species. While stunning in their own right, the illustrations also work to underscore the message of beauty within community, and the text sums this up: "Together, / we are better." Amplifying this broad statement, the balance of the book details a single species per two-page spread, relating what a group of that species is called and giving an aspect of that species' behavior. "We lions live in a pride….we use purrs, licks, and nuzzles…. / Together, we nurture!" The final double-page spread shows a diverse group of humans interacting together, with the words, "All together… / …we are better!" Final pages note the extinction danger of many species, offer ways to help, and identify the species illustrated in the book.

Part natural science, part deep ecology, wholly captivating. (Informational picture book. 4-9)

Kirkus Reviews