Book Review - Animal Mouths

Animal Mouths

By: Mary Holland
Publisher: Arbordale Publishing
Publication Date: May 2015
ISBN: 978-1-62855-5615
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: May 28, 2015

Is there such a thing as a critter that doesn't have a mouth? Almost everyone would think that's not a possibility, but it is. The adult luna moth has such a short lifespan it doesn't need one. They "only live for about a week" so snacking on leaves is not necessary. Naturally the majority of animals do have mouths, but some have teeth while others such as the common snapping turtle "use the sharp edges of their jaws to eat both plants and animals."

Birds of course don't have teeth, but rather use their beaks to access their food supplies. A grosbeak uses his beak to eat seeds, but red-shouldered hawks "have strong, curved beaks to tear the flesh of the animals they eat." If you've taken a close look at photographs of birds in this and other books, you've probably noticed each one is different. They have adapted to the type of food they eat. Why would an egret need such a long pointed beak? Perhaps that's something to think about as you study animal adaptation.

Obviously birds don't have teeth, but what about a frog? Yes, they "have a row of very small teeth along the edge of their upper jaws and on the roof of their mouths." Unlike the common snapping turtle, a frog needs those teeth to hold onto their prey before swallowing them. In this book you'll get to check out many different types of animals and learn how they eat their food as well as get a close look at their teeth, if they have any. What kind of teeth do you have to eat your food? You'll find out when you check out this book!

There are a lot of interesting facts and photographs that will keep even the most reluctant reader interested in the animal kingdom. Mary Holland's award-winning photographs make the book a standout one in her nature series of books for children. The pages are filled with full color photographs, including insets of animal skulls, and fascinating facts that will be of high interest to young animal lovers. In the back of the book there are four pages of activities as well as free complementary activities on the publisher's website.

Accelerated Reader: 4.5
Flesch-Kinncaid: 4.9
Lexile: 920L
Fountas and Pinnell: N

Quill says: This is a fascinating look at animals and how they are able to eat their foods, a perfect book for students in a homeschool or classroom setting.