Audience: Grades 4-8

Format: Kindle/Owned

A heartbreaking and yet hopeful book. It's hard to imagine being forced to leave your pets behind in a disaster or having to choose between saving your furry family and saving yourself. Hurricane Katrina was a disaster on so many levels. At least these two had each other.

This book gives an overview of the classification of living things and explains the different levels of animal classification including classes of vertebrates, the order of carnivores, and what defines each level. The language is perfect for 3-5 graders or older struggling readers or English language learners. 

There is a short quiz at the end of the book and a glossary that defines important words. Suggestions for books and websites with further information are also provided.

This is a cute read-aloud (or independent read) for elementary students to help them understand the characteristics of mammals and the different kinds of animals that fit into that category. It explains that mammals have hair, drink milk as babies, breathe air, are born alive, have big brains, are warm-blooded, and have middle ear bones & backbones. It explains it all in easy to understand language that would fit right into a third-grade curriculum. It then asks students whether a specific animal is a mammal and explains why or why not.

It is part of a series, including: What makes a bird a bird? and What makes a bug a bug?

This book can also be used with older students who need scaffolding, are struggling readers, or are English Language Learners.