That's Not a Pet!

In pictures, polar bears look almost like teddy bears. With their fluffy fur and chubby body, it's almost possible to believe they'd make a good pet, until they're on the hunt for seals. This amusing and informative book explains simple but important facts about polar bears and why they wouldn't make a good addition to the family. These North Pole-dwelling mammals are just too big and carnivorous to play fetch in the backyard. Beautiful photographs of these bears in the wild aid in reading comprehension of this low-ATOS text.

Choosing the perfect pet is important. Many people look beyond dogs, cats, and hamsters. This entertaining book muses whether a crocodile would make a good addition to the family. Through accessible text, readers will learn facts about these reptiles, and why they're not the best creatures to cuddle. Well-chosen photographs support reading comprehension, while carefully crafted sentences seek to inform about the animal world as well as to amuse readers.

If people can have pet parakeets, why can't they have a pet eagle? The narrator of this fun book describes important facts about these majestic birds. Readers will find out that these birds of prey, and their supersharp talons, are much better off living in the wild than in our homes. The easy-to-follow sentences allow readers to practice their reading proficiency, while eye-catching photographs help demonstrate key points of the text.

The gentle giants called giraffes are so cute at the zoo. Whether they're rubbing necks or snatching leaves off the tops of trees with their long tongue, they're fascinating to watch. Readers will love learning giraffe facts in this low-ATOS book and seeing them in action in the colorful photographs. As they muse, along with the narrator, whether a giraffe would be a good pet, they'll realize that this amazing animal is just too tall to curl up on the couch at home.

There's nothing like coming home and playing in the backyard with your pet...elephant? This funny book will engage readers' imaginations, while teaching them about some of elephants' most interesting characteristics. They'll find out what an elephant does with its trunk, how its ears keep it cool, and where it can be found in the wild. The low-ATOS text meets learners at their reading level, while the lively photographs of elephants in action will delight them.

It's hairy, walks on all fours, and climbs trees. No, it's not a cat, it's a gorilla. Readers will imagine what it would be like to have a pet gorilla as they learn some intriguing details about the largest apes. They'll discover gorillas make nests to sleep in each day. They're only found in the rainforests of Africa and, because of their great strength and size, should probably stay there! This entertaining book, written at the low-ATOS level, is a perfect addition to any elementary science collection.