It’s Nonfiction Picture Book Wednesday!
What kid doesn’t love learning more about apes? Gorillas are the largest and strongest of the apes and a fascinating topic!
One of my absolute favourite nonfiction titles to introduce children to the great apes is the book Ape written by Martin Jenkins and illustrated by Vicky White (published 2007). Shared in my classroom here. The pictures are gorgeous and the text fascinating. An excellent read aloud for the primary classroom.
A goal I have this year is to fill my classroom with texts that many of my students can manage with independence. Books that will be picked up and read during book choice time or when learning more about a particular animal. I was so pleased to discover Gorillas by Kate Riggs (published 2012). Here is a book that my Grade 2/3s can read on their own with real success.
When my students learn about an animal, they are looking to find answers to some specific questions: How are the babies/young born and raised? What kind of interactions does the animal have with others? How does the animal’s body help it to do things?
This book – with an almost magazine style format – thin, sleek and full of facts invites the reader in to do a lot of learning. Discover what gorillas eat (lots of wild celery it turns out), how their babies grow and develop and the dynamics of their family groupings. We also learn how these gorillas spend their time – much eating (60 pounds of food a day) and napping (in addition to the 13 to 15 hours of night time sleep). Physical features are described and details of their habitat are outlined.
Features that make this book especially accessible:
- large full page colourful photographs with relevant captions
- bold words with definitions at the bottom of the page
- an index, suggestions for further reading and websites listed at the end of the book
This is a title that I purchased for my class nonfiction collection and I am happy that it was one of four titles in this series that I ordered at the same time. I think this will be a series my students will have a lot of success with! I look forward to reading more of these books by Kate Riggs.
The Amazing Animals titles in my collection:
My original goal was 60 nonfiction picture books for 2013. Progress: 33/60 complete 🙂
Thanks to Alyson from Kid Lit Frenzy for the inspiration to read and share more nonfiction picture books in 2013!
Do you have any favourite nonfiction titles about gorillas?
There's a Book for That 
These books look visually appealing! They seem like they would be a great addition to a classroom library. Will have to look for them, thanks for sharing! I wonder if Kellee has seen this post! She loves apes!
I was very excited to discover these books as I know that my students will devour them. So many nonfiction titles I love need teacher scaffolding to manage (at the mid primary age level).
Hmmm…don’t know if I have a favorite nonfiction book on gorillas. But I love Martin Jenkins books. Thanks for sharing. And congrats on your progress 🙂
Well thanks to you for the inspiration to keep me on my toes! I am a huge Martin Jenkins fans too.
As a second grade teacher I am also always in search of books, particularly non-fiction books, that my students can read independently. And their reading levels are so diverse and change over the year-it makes it a challenge to keep up with the volume needed! These books look awesome. They love animal books!
My kids too. LOVE animal books. They are so curious. One of our favourite read alouds was Steve Jenkins’ recent title On My First Day. They love learning about baby animals!
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