About This Book:
A graceful tribute to the cycle of life reveals the secret language of skulls—and the traits and behaviors of the animals they once belonged to.
Strong, smooth domes, skulls are more than remnants of creatures that used to be. They are artifacts that allow us to travel back through time. Every ridge, hollow, and crevice of a skull reveals something about an animal’s habitat, food source, and skill set. By observing the characteristics of six different animal skulls, readers can learn about the lives once led by a lynx, a deer, a beaver, a hummingbird, a wolf, and an owl. Katherine Hocker’s lyrical text and Natasha Donovan’s fluid artwork, paired with sound scientific data and back matter resources, will ignite a child’s native curiosity and encourage mindful observation of the wonders hidden in nature—and ourselves.
*Review Contributed By Bethany Wicker, Staff Reviewer*
All About Skulls
I WAS: THE STORIES OF ANIMAL SKULLS teaches children all about skulls and shows pictures of what the animals look like alive before all that’s left is their bones. While death and bones are usually a morbid topic, this book colors the subject in a positive light that will spark a child’s curiosity. The writing is lyrical and educational which held my daughter’s attention. The illustrations highlight the details of skulls, but I do feel like the words were hard to read in some places because of the coloring. In the back of the book, the author revisits the animals featured while teaching more about the differences in their skulls. It shows how not all creatures were made the same. I like how the author also teaches about the human skull and what each part is responsible for.
Final Verdict: I would recommend this to children who are fascinated by animals and biology like my daughter is. It’s a unique way to learn about what is and what was: what happens to us after our bodies decay and only bones are left.
