Mighty Scared: The Amazing Ways Animals Defend Themselves

by Erin Silver, Hayden Maynard (Illustrator)

Overview

★ “Enthralling…Empowers readers to understand their own human coping mechanisms, while colorful, detailed images soaked in softly muted earth tones build a base of strong general knowledge. The challenge for readers young and old will be to see who says 'ew' first! A thoroughly engaging, fact—filled book with audacious and memorable animal responses to predators. A must—have for every library.” — School Library Journal

Learn about the wild, wacky and downright disgusting ways some animals react out of fear.

Are you afraid of the dark? Of getting lost? Or of something you saw in a movie? Maybe someone laughed at you for being scared or called you a chicken. That’s okay! In fact, it’s how humans stay safe in scary situations.

While people might run or scream, animals have amazing ways of protecting themselves when they’re afraid. Fulmar birds vomit, Texas horned lizards shoot blood from their eyes and hagfish slime their enemies. Full of incredible and sometimes gross animal facts, Mighty Scared explores how mammals, insects, fish and birds around the world respond when scary predators are near.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781459836068
Publisher:	Orca Book Publishers
Publication date:	02/13/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.75(w) x 10.75(h) x 0.25(d)
Age Range:	6 - 8 Years

About the Author

Erin Silver is an award—winning children’s author. Her books include Rush Hour: Navigating Our Global Traffic Jam (Blueberry Award winner), Sitting Shiva (OLA Best Bets, Vine Award finalist, TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award finalist), All Consuming: Shop Smarter for the Planet (Hackmatack Award nominee), In It to Win It: Sports and the Climate Crisis (Green Earth Book Award winner) and Good Food, Bad Waste: Let’s Eat for the Planet (2024 American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books finalist). She is also the author of two nonfiction picture books for younger readers, Mighty Scared and Plant Attack! (Silver Birch Express nominee). Erin is a sought—after speaker at schools, libraries and conferences. She has an MFA in creative nonfiction and a postgraduate journalism degree. Erin lives in Toronto.

Hayden Maynard is a Canadian illustrator who graduated from Sheridan College's Illustration program. His clients include the New York Times, The Walrus, the Globe and Mail, Reader's Digest and the Washington Post. Hayden lives in Kingston, Ontario.

Editorial Reviews

This well—organized, nonfiction illustrated book highlights some of the unique strategies animals use to defend themselves...The animals are given quirky personalities, and the illustrations are engaging and humorous, keeping readers interested.”

BC Books for Schools

A great addition to your school or classroom library for young science enthusiasts to discover.

Canadian Teacher Magazine

With peppy prose and colourful, detailed illustrations, this slim value introduces a surprising range of self—protective traits and behaviors from across the animal kingdom…An endnote aims to connect the animal defences featured to kids’ responses to feeling frightened, with suggestions for calming fears, like taking deep breaths. The lively approach and unusual focus set this animal book apart.”

Booklist

[Provides] facts that are often unknown and certainly surprising...There will be 'EWS!!!', but there will also be endless fascination.”

Sal's Fiction Addiction

★ “Enthralling…Empowers readers to understand their own human coping mechanisms, while colorful, detailed images soaked in softly muted earth tones build a base of strong general knowledge. The challenge for readers young and old will be to see who says 'ew' first! A thoroughly engaging, fact—filled book with audacious and memorable animal responses to predators. A must—have for every library.”

School Library Journal (SLJ)

A juicy topic [that] goes for gusto.”

Kirkus Reviews

The term ‘amazing’ in the title is very true; each animal is incredible in its self—defence. This book is informative and written in a tone that can be easily read and understood by young readers, who will see these animals, and themselves, in a new light.”

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)

Though most readers would not want to encounter any of the animals highlighted in Mighty Scared... they will be both fascinated and repulsed by the rather disgusting survival techniques mentioned, all part of the book’s appeal! Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials