We specialize in hard to find items
All Categories
Shell, Beak, Tusk: Shared Traits and the Wonders of Adaptation
Share Tweet
*Price and Stocks may change without prior notice
*Packaging of actual item may differ from photo shown
- Electrical items MAY be 110 volts.
- 7 Day Return Policy
- All products are genuine and original
About Shell, Beak, Tusk: Shared Traits And The Wonders Of
Product Description We think of evolution as a tree with branches that make clear, linear sense—with one animal and its traits clearly derived from one that came before it genetically. But what about animals who share key traits but aren’t on the same family tree? This is called convergent evolution, and it’s the big idea that Bridget Heos tackles in a kid-friendly way in Shell, Beak, Tusk. From mammals to reptiles, and everything in between, Heos manages to make some intriguing comparisons—and bring to life theories of evolution and convergentevolution in bite-sized, easily digested chunks of fun facts, illustrated with full-color photography throughout. From School Library Journal Gr 1–4—Evolution encourages the development of traits that help animals to eat and avoid being eaten. Convergent evolution is the development of the same traits by different species, often located geographically far apart, in order to survive in their specific environment. On facing pages, animals with beaks, shells, or tusks are paired with others that have exhibited similar adaptations. For example, both the shell of a turtle (a reptile) and that of a snail (a mollusk) protect the more tender parts of the animals' bodies from harm. Black-and-white camouflage helps the penguin escape detection from the orca and allows the orca to sneak up on the penguin. A parrot and an octopus both use beaks to get at their food. High-quality, full-color, close-up photographs illustrate the concepts discussed and spotlight some more unusual animals from a variety of geographic regions. Heos suggests the possibility of discovering many other animals that arose through convergent evolution. VERDICT A beautiful presentation of a complicated concept, and a great selection for classroom use.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY Review "A beautiful presentation of a complicated concept, and a great selection for classroom use." –SLJ "Convergent evolution” sounds like a mouthful for elementary-grade kids, but in this beautifully photo-illustrated volume the concept is clearly explained and entertainingly reinforced..." —Bulletin "With a concluding rundown of the persistence of repeated traits, a bibliography, and an index, this fine first glimpse at evolution is sure to spark the interest and imaginations of little ones far and wide." — Booklist About the Author Bridget Heos is the author of more than 100 books for kids, including the popular Mustache Baby books and the nonfiction Just Like Us! series. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband and four children. authorbridgetheos.com Twitter @bridgetheos
