The Night Book: Exploring Nature after Dark with Activities. Experiments and Information. Pamela Hickman. Illustrated by Suzanne Mogensen. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1996. 48pp., paper, $9.99. ISBN 1-55074-30S-6. Grades 2 - 6 / Ages 7 - 12. Review by Gerri Young. ***/4

excerpt:

"The night book will wake you up to the amazing world after dark."

Do you know why owls and hawks don't fight over food? Owls hunt at night and hawks hunt during the day. Night is necessary for many animals and plants to be able to survive as the night prevents too much dryness for some, and less competition for food for others.

Pamela Hickman has done it again, adding another good book to her list of science books for children published by Kids Can Press: Birdwise, Bugwise, Plantwise, Wetlands, and Habitats and the Kids Canadian Nature Series.

Night book is easy to read and use, as each chapter is well-laid out in a two-page spread with pleasant illustrations throughout. There are many activities, or easy experiments a child can do:

• identifying features of the Moon
• making a star scope
• testing echolocation in bats
• discovering how eye shine works
• measuring a plant's growth at night.

The young reader will find out:

• why it gets dark at night
• how animals sleep and dream
• why you can't see stars during the day
• why some animals come out only after dark
• how plants use the Sun and the Moon to grow.

Not everyone lives in the perfect-pictured habitat in this book or is able to see all the night-time animals, sounds, and stars, however, there will be something for every child to learn and try.

I can't help thinking this book has another life outside school libraries; it would make a wonderful gift to a young grandchild.

Recommended

Gerri F. Young

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © 1996 the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364