Koala (Young Zoologist): A First Field Guide to the Cuddly Marsupial from Australia

by Chris Daniels, Marianne Lock (Illustrator), Neon Squid

Overview

Head down under to study koalas in this beautiful nonfiction field guide for kids.

You might know that baby koalas spend time in their mother’s pouches, but there’s so much more to learn about these Australian marsupials! Turn the pages to discover why they spend 15 hours a day asleep, and how scientists use drones to monitor koala populations. Filled with simple science and plenty of animal facts, this book also explains why koalas love to munch eucalyptus leaves, and why they are most certainly not bears! It also looks at the conservation challenges these iconic animals face due to climate change and forest fires.

Written by Professor Chris Daniels and featuring stunning illustrations by Marianne Lock, Koala (Young Zoologist) is part of an exciting series of animal books from Neon Squid aiming to inspire the next generation of biologists and conservationists.

Also available: Humpback Whale, Giant Panda, African Elephant, Emperor Penguin, Honey Bee

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684492831
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/03/2023
Series:	Young Zoologist
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.60(w) x 8.70(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	IG980L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Professor Chris Daniels is a scientist, science communicator, and the CEO of the organisation Koala Life. He is focused on conserving Australian wildlife and connecting people with nature.

Marianne Lock is an illustrator and designer, based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Preferring pens and paper over tablets and computers, there is a homemade, nostalgic feeling to her work.

Neon Squid creates beautiful nonfiction books for inquisitive kids (and kids at heart). We believe the most amazing stories are real ones, so our books are for children who want to decipher ancient scrolls, orbit distant stars, and dive into the deepest oceans. Our books are a labor of love—written by experts, illustrated by the best artists around, and produced using the finest materials, including sustainably sourced paper. We hope that by reading them kids are encouraged to further explore the world around them.

Editorial Reviews

"Young readers will learn lots about koalas from zoologist Daniels’ lively, fact-packed, well-organized field guide... This installment in the Young Zoologist series will be a welcome addition in public and school libraries." —Kirkus

Praise for the Young Zoologist series:

"What makes this series stand out is that the illustrations, bite-sized facts, and clear labels make it easy for the youngest of readers to navigate the text and absorb the information there." — Booklist

"The well-illustrated Young Zoologist series guides readers through the lives and notable features of the spotlighted animals... prepares the young zoologist (aka the reader) for their upcoming adventure in the field, laying out tools necessary for investigating the animal. The bright, semi-realistic artwork could hold these titles on its own, but the easily digestible facts regarding life cycle, behavior, and conservation make the volumes well rounded. Each work is pragmatic in addressing the challenges these creatures face while helping aspiring zoologists learn ways to protect animals and their environments." —Booklist

From the Publisher

2022-10-12
Welcome to the world of this endearing Australian marsupial.

Young readers will learn lots about koalas from zoologist Daniels’ lively, fact-packed, well-organized field guide. Koalas are cuddly and adorable, and they’re fascinating, complex, and, sadly, endangered as well. From the beginning, the book casts readers in the role of an animal scientist, instructing them in such important matters as the equipment actual koala experts employ to locate and study the creatures in the wild. Children glean essential facts about the koala, including its scientific name, mating habits and reproduction, diet, anatomy, life span, relatives, habitat, and more. Facts are clearly presented, delivered in a conversational tone, with salient information offered up on discrete pages. Additionally, children are helped to differentiate between koalas and bears, for which they are commonly mistaken, and guided to understand the numerous serious environmental threats they face. Some koala myths and legends are even included. The attractive volume features illustrations rather than photographs; koalas and other Australian animals are shown in realistic settings, with text and images set against colored backgrounds. This installment in the Young Zoologist series will be a welcome addition in public and school libraries and will win fans among appreciative animal-loving casual browsers as well as report writers. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A sweet, enjoyable book about an intriguing animal. (glossary, index) (Informational picture book. 5-8)

Kirkus Reviews