{"id":11715804618,"title":"A Place to Start a Family","handle":"a-place-to-start-a-family","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Place to Start a Family\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePoems About Creatures That Build\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/david-harrison\" title=\"Author David Harrison\"\u003eDavid Harrison\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/giles-laroche\" title=\"Illustrator Giles Laroche\"\u003eGiles Laroche\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA poetry collection introducing animal architects that build remarkable structures in order to attract a mate and have babies.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany animals build something—a nest, tunnel, or web—in order to pair up, lay eggs, give birth, and otherwise perpetuate their species. Organized based on where creatures live—underground, in the water, on land, or in the air—twelve poems bring fish, insects, reptiles, mammals, and birds to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiles Laroche's intricate cut-paper illustrations are so life-like, readers will feel like they've stepped right into the homes of some of nature's best builders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBack matter includes more information about each animal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/now-you-see-them-now-you-dont\" title=\"Now You See Them, Now You Don't\"\u003eNow You See Them, Now You Don't\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/at-home-in-the-coral-reef\" title=\"At Home in the Coral Reef\"\u003eAt Home in the Coral Reef\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Video\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hgKtOIqINVY\" height=\"315\" width=\"420\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER SPREAD BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/place-to-start-a-family-spread.jpg?7472076953896801915\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Harrison, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnter Author bio here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Harrison's first book for children, \u003ci\u003eThe Boy with a Drum\u003c\/i\u003e (Golden Press, 1969), has sold millions of copies. David has since published more than eighty books, which have earned numerous honors, and lives in Springfield, Missouri.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/david-harrison\" title=\"Author David Harrison\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about David Harrison.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGiles Laroche, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiles Laroche has illustrated many children's books, including \u003ci\u003eDown to the Sea in Ships\u003c\/i\u003e (Putnam), and wrote and illustrated \u003ci\u003eIf You Lived Here: Houses of the World\u003c\/i\u003e (Houghton Mifflin). Giles lives in Salem, Massachusetts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/giles-laroche\" title=\"Illustrator Giles Laroche\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Giles Laroche.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eILA Teachers' Choice Award\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwelve poems present a variety of animal homes and mate-attracting constructions. Arachnids (trapdoor spider, garden spider), birds (red ovenbird, white stork), fish (stickleback, pufferfish), insects (termite, paper wasp), mammals (star-nosed mole, beaver, prairie dog), and a reptile (the king cobra) are each introduced by way of a double-page spread and a simple two-to-eight stanza poem. In four sections—building underground, on land, in the water, and in the air—animals are shown building webs, nests, food traps, and tunneled homes, along with their mates, eggs, or young. Laroche's layered, cut-paper illustrations are clear and intriguingly detailed, handsomely supporting the informational content of each poem. Rich colors and varied textures allow this 3-D original artwork to work well in two dimensions. Harrison's poems employ varied voices, rhythms, and formats; all are memorable and easy to understand. Some are humorous: a busy stickleback male appeals to a potential mother of his family: \"The best nest \/ that's ever been! \/ Please, \/ Ms. Stickleback, \/ swim in.\" Backmatter gives each animal an explanatory paragraph and, for several, a suggestion of books for further exploration. The author's and illustrator's own sources are not indicated. A bonus poem and terrific illustration on the last page describe \"A different kind of builder,\" sun coral, which creates coral reefs by congregating together. A fine synthesis of poetry and science.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLively rhymes and arresting cut-paper collage illustrations are an appealing combination in this introduction to a variety of animals that build homes. The animals are grouped by where they build homes; for example, paper wasps and storks build homes “in air,” while sticklebacks and puffer fish build homes underwater. The poems vary nicely in structure, and while some are more successful than others, they are, overall, approachable and gently informative. Complementing the text, Laroche’s superb collage illustrations offer additional views of the homes described in the poems and are rich with detail, from the meticulous scales on the king cobra to the multicolored, individually cut branches and logs making up the beaver’s den. A cutaway section of a termite’s nest, revealing the cast network of tunnels within, is particularly engrossing. For readers looking for eve more information, the back matter provides additional commentary about each creature and the way it builds its home. A natural for classroom use, with eye-catching art that will lure little ones in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher's Weekly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 12 playful rhyming poems, Harrison explores the architectural feats of animals that build homes for themselves on land, in the water, and up in buildings and trees. A white-spotted pufferfish attempts to impress a potential mate (“Tiny sculptor\/ thinks grand,\/ builds a nest\/ out of sand\/ forty times\/ his own size\/ trying to\/ attract a prize”), while a red ovenbird spends months creating a domelike dwelling (“How do you know\/ to weave\/ like that?\/ With grass and hair\/ and leaves\/ like that?”). Laroche’s cut-paper illustrations, created with handpainted papers, lend a real sense of depth and dimension to the creatures’ layered homes of grass, leaves, and other organic material; closing notes discuss each animal in greater detail, and a bonus poem looks at the growth of coral reefs. An inviting introduction to a dozen industrious creatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNarrative poems describe how 13 creatures construct homes for their families, building intricate and oftentimes beautiful creations from materials such as thread, glue, and paper. An introduction in prose explains how animals, including people, build before the book delves into verse. Each subsequent section includes three poems about living things who build in that particular environment: builders underground, on land, in water, and in the air. A bonus poem about a different kind of builder, sun coral, completes the collection. The use of alliteration, rhyme, and onomatopoeia adds an inquisitive nature to the poems as it presents information regarding each animal’s habitat. The 3-D cut-paper collage illustrations exquisitely render insight into the architecture and daily life of each being. In “European Paper Wasp,” the microscopic world of this minute insect is vibrantly realized. Eggs glow golden within their cells and “Winged warriors\/warn with spear” in brilliant yellows and blacks. Harrison details how their nest is formed with paper and Laroche’s stunning technique of layering hand-painted papers renders this image to startling effect. As with their previous work on \u003cem\u003eNow You See Them, Now You Don’t: Poems About Creatures That Hide\u003c\/em\u003e, this is an exceptional example of collaboration. Some other animals included in this collection are star-nosed mole, king cobra, and beaver. Notes at the end provide Latin names of all creatures, further information, and titles to learn more. VERDICT This is a great selection for science and ­poetry enthusiasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eForeword Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this engaging collection of poetry celebrating animal ingenuity, lyrical verses delve into burrows, nests, webs, mounds, and hidden tunnels and chambers built to protect growing families, whether they slither, skitter, swim, fly, or crawl. Uniquely cut and layered multi-media drawings and paintings accompany couplets, winding concrete form, and innovative rhymes. Learn more about builders underground, on land, in water, and in the air through fun facts and resources recommended for further investigation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"A Place to Start a Family\n book cover image\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/place-to-start-a-family-cvr.jpg?6915490467342819525\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/place-to-start-a-family-hires.zip?7108231957985762710\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-748-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-63289-605-6 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: 978-1-63289-606-3 PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 5-9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e10 x 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 2. Standards 1-8, 10\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 3. Standards 1-4, 7, 8, 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]","published_at":"2017-08-08T15:37:56-04:00","created_at":"2017-08-08T14:42:35-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 3-6","Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_Animals \u0026 Dinosaurs","Browse by Subject_Poetry \u0026 Language","Browse by Subject_Science \u0026 Nature"],"price":999,"price_min":999,"price_max":1799,"available":true,"price_varies":true,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":46481400522,"title":"Hardcover","option1":"Hardcover","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"97488","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"A Place to Start a Family - Hardcover","public_title":"Hardcover","options":["Hardcover"],"price":1799,"weight":471,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":9,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"978-1-58089-748-8","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":32584878391375,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"41620","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"A Place to Start a Family - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":999,"weight":471,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":100,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623541620","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/place-to-start-a-family-cover.jpg?v=1570198266"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/place-to-start-a-family-cover.jpg?v=1570198266","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":"A Place to Start a Family book cover image","id":2447339618383,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":600,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/place-to-start-a-family-cover.jpg?v=1570198266"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":600,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridgeteen.com\/cdn\/shop\/products\/place-to-start-a-family-cover.jpg?v=1570198266","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch1\u003eA Place to Start a Family\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePoems About Creatures That Build\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/david-harrison\" title=\"Author David Harrison\"\u003eDavid Harrison\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/giles-laroche\" title=\"Illustrator Giles Laroche\"\u003eGiles Laroche\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eA poetry collection introducing animal architects that build remarkable structures in order to attract a mate and have babies.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany animals build something—a nest, tunnel, or web—in order to pair up, lay eggs, give birth, and otherwise perpetuate their species. Organized based on where creatures live—underground, in the water, on land, or in the air—twelve poems bring fish, insects, reptiles, mammals, and birds to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiles Laroche's intricate cut-paper illustrations are so life-like, readers will feel like they've stepped right into the homes of some of nature's best builders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBack matter includes more information about each animal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these:\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/now-you-see-them-now-you-dont\" title=\"Now You See Them, Now You Don't\"\u003eNow You See Them, Now You Don't\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/products\/at-home-in-the-coral-reef\" title=\"At Home in the Coral Reef\"\u003eAt Home in the Coral Reef\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e [TABS]\n\u003ch5\u003eWatch the Video\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hgKtOIqINVY\" height=\"315\" width=\"420\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER SPREAD BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg class=\"cvr-border-gray\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/place-to-start-a-family-spread.jpg?7472076953896801915\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDavid Harrison, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnter Author bio here.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Harrison's first book for children, \u003ci\u003eThe Boy with a Drum\u003c\/i\u003e (Golden Press, 1969), has sold millions of copies. David has since published more than eighty books, which have earned numerous honors, and lives in Springfield, Missouri.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/david-harrison\" title=\"Author David Harrison\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about David Harrison.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGiles Laroche, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiles Laroche has illustrated many children's books, including \u003ci\u003eDown to the Sea in Ships\u003c\/i\u003e (Putnam), and wrote and illustrated \u003ci\u003eIf You Lived Here: Houses of the World\u003c\/i\u003e (Houghton Mifflin). Giles lives in Salem, Massachusetts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/pages\/giles-laroche\" title=\"Illustrator Giles Laroche\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Giles Laroche.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eILA Teachers' Choice Award\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwelve poems present a variety of animal homes and mate-attracting constructions. Arachnids (trapdoor spider, garden spider), birds (red ovenbird, white stork), fish (stickleback, pufferfish), insects (termite, paper wasp), mammals (star-nosed mole, beaver, prairie dog), and a reptile (the king cobra) are each introduced by way of a double-page spread and a simple two-to-eight stanza poem. In four sections—building underground, on land, in the water, and in the air—animals are shown building webs, nests, food traps, and tunneled homes, along with their mates, eggs, or young. Laroche's layered, cut-paper illustrations are clear and intriguingly detailed, handsomely supporting the informational content of each poem. Rich colors and varied textures allow this 3-D original artwork to work well in two dimensions. Harrison's poems employ varied voices, rhythms, and formats; all are memorable and easy to understand. Some are humorous: a busy stickleback male appeals to a potential mother of his family: \"The best nest \/ that's ever been! \/ Please, \/ Ms. Stickleback, \/ swim in.\" Backmatter gives each animal an explanatory paragraph and, for several, a suggestion of books for further exploration. The author's and illustrator's own sources are not indicated. A bonus poem and terrific illustration on the last page describe \"A different kind of builder,\" sun coral, which creates coral reefs by congregating together. A fine synthesis of poetry and science.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBooklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLively rhymes and arresting cut-paper collage illustrations are an appealing combination in this introduction to a variety of animals that build homes. The animals are grouped by where they build homes; for example, paper wasps and storks build homes “in air,” while sticklebacks and puffer fish build homes underwater. The poems vary nicely in structure, and while some are more successful than others, they are, overall, approachable and gently informative. Complementing the text, Laroche’s superb collage illustrations offer additional views of the homes described in the poems and are rich with detail, from the meticulous scales on the king cobra to the multicolored, individually cut branches and logs making up the beaver’s den. A cutaway section of a termite’s nest, revealing the cast network of tunnels within, is particularly engrossing. For readers looking for eve more information, the back matter provides additional commentary about each creature and the way it builds its home. A natural for classroom use, with eye-catching art that will lure little ones in.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher's Weekly\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 12 playful rhyming poems, Harrison explores the architectural feats of animals that build homes for themselves on land, in the water, and up in buildings and trees. A white-spotted pufferfish attempts to impress a potential mate (“Tiny sculptor\/ thinks grand,\/ builds a nest\/ out of sand\/ forty times\/ his own size\/ trying to\/ attract a prize”), while a red ovenbird spends months creating a domelike dwelling (“How do you know\/ to weave\/ like that?\/ With grass and hair\/ and leaves\/ like that?”). Laroche’s cut-paper illustrations, created with handpainted papers, lend a real sense of depth and dimension to the creatures’ layered homes of grass, leaves, and other organic material; closing notes discuss each animal in greater detail, and a bonus poem looks at the growth of coral reefs. An inviting introduction to a dozen industrious creatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSchool Library Journal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNarrative poems describe how 13 creatures construct homes for their families, building intricate and oftentimes beautiful creations from materials such as thread, glue, and paper. An introduction in prose explains how animals, including people, build before the book delves into verse. Each subsequent section includes three poems about living things who build in that particular environment: builders underground, on land, in water, and in the air. A bonus poem about a different kind of builder, sun coral, completes the collection. The use of alliteration, rhyme, and onomatopoeia adds an inquisitive nature to the poems as it presents information regarding each animal’s habitat. The 3-D cut-paper collage illustrations exquisitely render insight into the architecture and daily life of each being. In “European Paper Wasp,” the microscopic world of this minute insect is vibrantly realized. Eggs glow golden within their cells and “Winged warriors\/warn with spear” in brilliant yellows and blacks. Harrison details how their nest is formed with paper and Laroche’s stunning technique of layering hand-painted papers renders this image to startling effect. As with their previous work on \u003cem\u003eNow You See Them, Now You Don’t: Poems About Creatures That Hide\u003c\/em\u003e, this is an exceptional example of collaboration. Some other animals included in this collection are star-nosed mole, king cobra, and beaver. Notes at the end provide Latin names of all creatures, further information, and titles to learn more. VERDICT This is a great selection for science and ­poetry enthusiasts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eForeword Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this engaging collection of poetry celebrating animal ingenuity, lyrical verses delve into burrows, nests, webs, mounds, and hidden tunnels and chambers built to protect growing families, whether they slither, skitter, swim, fly, or crawl. Uniquely cut and layered multi-media drawings and paintings accompany couplets, winding concrete form, and innovative rhymes. Learn more about builders underground, on land, in water, and in the air through fun facts and resources recommended for further investigation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg alt=\"A Place to Start a Family\n book cover image\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/place-to-start-a-family-cvr.jpg?6915490467342819525\" style=\"display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/place-to-start-a-family-hires.zip?7108231957985762710\" class=\"product-btn\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-58089-748-8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eE-book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-63289-605-6 EPUB\u003cbr\u003e ISBN: 978-1-63289-606-3 PDF\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 5-9\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 32\u003cbr\u003e10 x 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCorrelated to Common Core State Standards:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 2. Standards 1-8, 10\u003cbr\u003eEnglish Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 3. Standards 1-4, 7, 8, 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n[\/TABS]"}

A Place to Start a Family

A Place to Start a Family

Poems About Creatures That Build

By: David Harrison / Illustrated by: Giles Laroche

A poetry collection introducing animal architects that build remarkable structures in order to attract a mate and have babies.

Many animals build something—a nest, tunnel, or web—in order to pair up, lay eggs, give birth, and otherwise perpetuate their species. Organized based on where creatures live—underground, in the water, on land, or in the air—twelve poems bring fish, insects, reptiles, mammals, and birds to life.

Giles Laroche's intricate cut-paper illustrations are so life-like, readers will feel like they've stepped right into the homes of some of nature's best builders.

Back matter includes more information about each animal.

Maximum quantity available reached.

David Harrison, author

Enter Author bio here.

David Harrison's first book for children, The Boy with a Drum (Golden Press, 1969), has sold millions of copies. David has since published more than eighty books, which have earned numerous honors, and lives in Springfield, Missouri.

Read more about David Harrison.


Giles Laroche, illustrator

Giles Laroche has illustrated many children's books, including Down to the Sea in Ships (Putnam), and wrote and illustrated If You Lived Here: Houses of the World (Houghton Mifflin). Giles lives in Salem, Massachusetts.

Read more about Giles Laroche.

  • ILA Teachers' Choice Award

Kirkus Reviews

Twelve poems present a variety of animal homes and mate-attracting constructions. Arachnids (trapdoor spider, garden spider), birds (red ovenbird, white stork), fish (stickleback, pufferfish), insects (termite, paper wasp), mammals (star-nosed mole, beaver, prairie dog), and a reptile (the king cobra) are each introduced by way of a double-page spread and a simple two-to-eight stanza poem. In four sections—building underground, on land, in the water, and in the air—animals are shown building webs, nests, food traps, and tunneled homes, along with their mates, eggs, or young. Laroche's layered, cut-paper illustrations are clear and intriguingly detailed, handsomely supporting the informational content of each poem. Rich colors and varied textures allow this 3-D original artwork to work well in two dimensions. Harrison's poems employ varied voices, rhythms, and formats; all are memorable and easy to understand. Some are humorous: a busy stickleback male appeals to a potential mother of his family: "The best nest / that's ever been! / Please, / Ms. Stickleback, / swim in." Backmatter gives each animal an explanatory paragraph and, for several, a suggestion of books for further exploration. The author's and illustrator's own sources are not indicated. A bonus poem and terrific illustration on the last page describe "A different kind of builder," sun coral, which creates coral reefs by congregating together. A fine synthesis of poetry and science.

Booklist

Lively rhymes and arresting cut-paper collage illustrations are an appealing combination in this introduction to a variety of animals that build homes. The animals are grouped by where they build homes; for example, paper wasps and storks build homes “in air,” while sticklebacks and puffer fish build homes underwater. The poems vary nicely in structure, and while some are more successful than others, they are, overall, approachable and gently informative. Complementing the text, Laroche’s superb collage illustrations offer additional views of the homes described in the poems and are rich with detail, from the meticulous scales on the king cobra to the multicolored, individually cut branches and logs making up the beaver’s den. A cutaway section of a termite’s nest, revealing the cast network of tunnels within, is particularly engrossing. For readers looking for eve more information, the back matter provides additional commentary about each creature and the way it builds its home. A natural for classroom use, with eye-catching art that will lure little ones in.

Publisher's Weekly

In 12 playful rhyming poems, Harrison explores the architectural feats of animals that build homes for themselves on land, in the water, and up in buildings and trees. A white-spotted pufferfish attempts to impress a potential mate (“Tiny sculptor/ thinks grand,/ builds a nest/ out of sand/ forty times/ his own size/ trying to/ attract a prize”), while a red ovenbird spends months creating a domelike dwelling (“How do you know/ to weave/ like that?/ With grass and hair/ and leaves/ like that?”). Laroche’s cut-paper illustrations, created with handpainted papers, lend a real sense of depth and dimension to the creatures’ layered homes of grass, leaves, and other organic material; closing notes discuss each animal in greater detail, and a bonus poem looks at the growth of coral reefs. An inviting introduction to a dozen industrious creatures.

School Library Journal

Narrative poems describe how 13 creatures construct homes for their families, building intricate and oftentimes beautiful creations from materials such as thread, glue, and paper. An introduction in prose explains how animals, including people, build before the book delves into verse. Each subsequent section includes three poems about living things who build in that particular environment: builders underground, on land, in water, and in the air. A bonus poem about a different kind of builder, sun coral, completes the collection. The use of alliteration, rhyme, and onomatopoeia adds an inquisitive nature to the poems as it presents information regarding each animal’s habitat. The 3-D cut-paper collage illustrations exquisitely render insight into the architecture and daily life of each being. In “European Paper Wasp,” the microscopic world of this minute insect is vibrantly realized. Eggs glow golden within their cells and “Winged warriors/warn with spear” in brilliant yellows and blacks. Harrison details how their nest is formed with paper and Laroche’s stunning technique of layering hand-painted papers renders this image to startling effect. As with their previous work on Now You See Them, Now You Don’t: Poems About Creatures That Hide, this is an exceptional example of collaboration. Some other animals included in this collection are star-nosed mole, king cobra, and beaver. Notes at the end provide Latin names of all creatures, further information, and titles to learn more. VERDICT This is a great selection for science and ­poetry enthusiasts.

Foreword Reviews

In this engaging collection of poetry celebrating animal ingenuity, lyrical verses delve into burrows, nests, webs, mounds, and hidden tunnels and chambers built to protect growing families, whether they slither, skitter, swim, fly, or crawl. Uniquely cut and layered multi-media drawings and paintings accompany couplets, winding concrete form, and innovative rhymes. Learn more about builders underground, on land, in water, and in the air through fun facts and resources recommended for further investigation.

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-58089-748-8

E-book
ISBN: 978-1-63289-605-6 EPUB
ISBN: 978-1-63289-606-3 PDF

Ages: 5-9
Page count: 32
10 x 10

Correlated to Common Core State Standards:
English Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 2. Standards 1-8, 10
English Language Arts-Literacy. Reading Informational. Grade 3. Standards 1-4, 7, 8, 10