The Wild World Handbook: Creatures

by Andrea Debbink, Asia Orlando (Illustrator)

Overview

Packed with real-life tales of adventure, breathtaking illustrations, and hands-on STEAM activities, this handbook is an inspiring guide for the next generation of climate activists, conservationists, and nature lovers.

We share this incredible planet we call home with countless living creatures, from butterflies and falcons to koalas and dolphins. And just like us, animals everywhere are faced with the growing threat of climate change. 
 
Featuring seven categories of creatures, this handbook offers a roadmap for change and an invitation to explore the outdoors with fascinating facts, hope-filled stories, and hands-on STEAM activities. Each chapter highlights the biographies of scientists, artists, and adventurers from diverse backgrounds who have used their passion and skills to become courageous advocates for animals around the world. 
 
The second book in a middle-grade series for young activists and conservationists, The Wild World Handbook: Creatures empowers readers to appreciate and protect Earth’s wildlife.

Inside you will find:
  •  Seven incredible categories of creatures
  •  Fourteen inspiring biographies
  •  Seven kid-friendly DIY activities
  •  Seven fun field trips
  •  And much more!
 
Perfect for fans of Animal Planet’s The Zoo and National Geographic Kids.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781683692690
Publisher:	Quirk Publishing
Publication date:	11/02/2021
Series:	The Wild World Handbook , #2
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	53 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Andrea Debbink is the author of several books for kids and a former editor at American Girl magazine. Her favorite way to explore our wild world is hiking a trail or kayaking a river. She lives and writes in Madison, Wisconsin, and you can learn more about her at AndreaDebbink.com.

Asia Orlando is an illustrator and digital artist based in Amsterdam. She is the founder of #OurPlanetWeek, an illustration movement aimed at promoting environmental awareness.

Read an Excerpt

Introduction: The World Outside

Humans share the planet with magnificent creatures. Some of earth’s animals, however, are so commonplace it’s easy to forget how incredible they are. The squirrels that people shoo from bird feeders are amazing acrobats who plant new trees by spreading seeds. The butterflies that pollinate gardens are resilient long-distance fliers who can cross a continent all alone. And the tree frogs that sing on summer nights can survive winter by freezing as solid as ice cubes and thawing out again in spring. Common or rare, beautiful to our eyes or not, all animals have parts to play in their habitats and in the world. When you stop to think about it, there’s really no such thing as an ordinary animal.
     In The Wild World Handbook: Creatures you’ll learn about our world’s wildlife. Some species will be familiar, and some creatures you might only ever see in nature documentaries or learn about in books. You’ll read about people who have studied and protected wildlife such as a conservation biologist named Jamal who’s saving endangered manatees, a herpetologist named Joan who taught people about misunderstood reptiles, and a writer named Beatrix who wrote illustrated books about animals and then used her earnings to protect nature. If you’re inspired by their stories, this book also has ideas for how you can study and protect wildlife too.
     When we take a closer look at our fellow animals, we discover how much we have in common. Like us, they live in communities, make friends, use tools, build homes, raise families, and communicate in complex ways. But this isn’t all we share. We share habitats too. And humans have the ability to do great harm or great good to the environment we all depend on. Many animal species—from insects to polar bears—are in trouble because of climate change and other environmental threats like deforestation, overfishing, poaching, pollution, and disease. Sometimes the problems seem too big to solve. But as you may have read in The Wild World Handbook: Habitats, people just like you can solve intimidating problems when they use their creativity and skills to work with others and commit to long-term action. No matter what happens, it’s important to keep protecting the habitats and creatures in our wild world. When we help animals and the places they live, we help ourselves too.

Editorial Reviews

A 2021 Foreword INDIES Finalist for Juvenile Nonfiction

“A treasure trove of animals, familiar as well as not so well-known, and the scientists and activists who help them survive and thrive.”—School Library Journal, starred review

“Animals are always a hot topic for kids, and this STEAM offering for middle-graders is sure to please.”—Booklist

“Filled with history and facts about creatures that are beautifully expressed and explained.”—Beary Into Books

“A wonderful book packed with amazing information!”—The Momma Spot

“A fantastic discovery tour of creatures!”—Nourished by Books

“A must have for families looking to make a difference in the world...Get ready to be blown away with the awe inspiring illustrations that fill the pages of this environmental stewardship handbook, while gaining practical tools and skills.”—Inspired by Savannah

Praise for The Wild World Handbook: Habitats
PureWow Happy Kid Award Winner 2021 for Best 8+ Book

“This gorgeous book features beautifully detailed illustrations, facts, stories and tips on making your own biome and helping to protect the environment.... A practical guide for young climate activists and junior conservationists.”—CNN Underscored

“Beautifully illustrated….An entertaining and educational book for environmentally conscious nature lovers that will inspire action.”—Booklist

“Well-designed and smartly organized...providing inspiration that proves that all types of people can enjoy and protect nature.”—Kirkus Reviews

“This accessible guide offers a good balance of detailed information with engaging activities and calls to action....A strong choice to inspire young changemakers for our planet.”—School Library Journal

“Hopeful, even as it leaves no stone unturned on the path to mitigating grave ecological issues like climate change, deforestation and overfishing...The result leaves readers — whether middle grade or middle-aged — informed, inspired and, most importantly, empowered.”—Madison Magazine

“For the quieter kid, or perhaps for an Earth-minded child who may need to stay indoors for part of the summer...With more facts, less adventure, this book offers ecology-based biographies, activities to do indoors, fun facts, places to visit, and information about our world.”—Terri Schlichenmeyer

From the Publisher

★ 01/01/2022

Gr 3–5—This fascinating and wide-ranging title connects animals, habitats, and the protection of our environment, detailing a variety of ways to approach wildlife and preservation. Divided into chapters that each explore a different type of animal—insect, bird, mammal or animal habitat, such as land animals or ocean creatures—the work features short sections that highlight different aspects of these species. Each chapter begins with an introduction to the species and interesting facts. Debbink then introduces a scientist or activist who has focused on this animal; many of these are women, young adults, or others who may not be familiar to most readers. This biographical section provides scientific details as well as fun facts. The subsequent sections, within each chapter, include field trip ideas, activities to support a particular animal's continued survival, and details on a specific scientific project that contributed to the study and protection of this species. What sounds in summary like a massive amount of information hooks readers from the beginning. It can be used by students at a variety of reading levels while providing many avenues of environmental exploration for all. The back matter includes a list of websites and resources for more information, arranged by species, as well as a bibliography and index. VERDICT A treasure trove of animals, familiar as well as not so well-known, and the scientists and activists who help them survive and thrive.—Susan Lissim

School Library Journal

2021-10-13
This handbook spotlights wildlife in our world, people who study and protect it, and ways to safeguard habitats and the creatures who live there.

Debbink—who featured habitats around the world in the previous series entry, 2021's Habitats—explores the creatures who share our world. The book’s scope is wide-ranging: Chapters are devoted to insects, birds, reptiles and amphibians, land animals, ocean creatures, freshwater life, and city wildlife. Within each chapter there’s an introduction; a page of facts; biographical information for people who have observed and described those creatures; a profile of an animal; a “natural wonder” (such as the remarkable marine journeys of ocean creatures); an example of people helping animals; two do-it-yourself activities; and stewardship suggestions on individual, local, and global levels. From Maria Merian observing insects in the 1600s to modern-day Tomas Diagne protecting turtles in Africa to filmmaker Dora Nightingale filming foxes in the U.K., the biographies are widely diverse. Hands-on activities are similarly varied. Reliable web references for further information are included, though some recommended apps aren’t available in the U.S. The author writes in a clear and engaging style, often addressing the reader directly, though there are some inaccuracies in the text. With such a broad scope, it is not surprising that some of the exposition seems oversimplified. Pleasing illustrations depict children of varying racial representations exploring outdoors.

A valuable resource that deserves more careful editing. (bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 9-14)

Kirkus Reviews