Animal Tracks and Signs: Track Over 400 Animals From Big Cats to Backyard Birds

by Jinny Johnson, John A. Burton (Foreword)

When the wilderness calls—or even just the back yard—young nature lovers need a helpful guide to set them on the right track.

Now kids can learn about their favorite animals—from cheetahs to snakes—in a whole new way: from the signs they leave behind. What does a row of tracks signify? What can we tell from an accumulation of twigs left behind in the crook of a tree? What are those squiggly marks in the sand? Animal Tracks and Signs gives young readers the knowledge and expertise to interpret these mysteries.

This beautifully illustrated volume is a species-by-species guide to the clues left behind by over 400 animals on planet Earth. The inviting text helps readers identify what to look for when tracking animals (or imagining tracking them) in the wild or in the back yard: tracks and footprints; feeding signs; droppings and pellets; animal dens, nests, and hiding places; and other specific signs of animal behavior. The author also shares expert advice on how to observe animals in the wild anywhere in the world. Life-size illustrations of footprints (and droppings!) bring the wild alive on the page. Stunning wildlife photography and clear diagrams make this a visually powerful book sure to capture the imagination of every young reader.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Reference, Animals

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Douglas Summers-Stay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daniel got interested in this because of cub scouts. We often find raccoon, deer, goose, rabbit, cat and dog prints in the mud or snow when we walk in the woods. The trouble with this book is not the tracks-- nearly every page has a close up picture of some kind of animal poop. Daniel didn't mind, but I thought it was gross.

[Katherine]

I'm leaving unrated, since I skimmed the whole book, and only read about the specific animals I went looking for. I liked how the material is accessible for all ages. That said, since the book covers >400 animals, there wasn't a lot of information on the animals that were included, which was slightly disappointing. I think the material that was included is great for children, though.

Funnily enough, I read a review by someone who didn't like how many photos of feces were in this book, which made me want to pick it up even more, and I actually wished there were more photos instead of drawings so it could make my animal tracking even easier.

I'd say this is a good jumping off point if you want to start tracking animals, but you definitely need more specific information for your region since this book contains general information about animals globally.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of tracks, life-sized, a variety of signs. Very broad scope.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book on many levels. The pictures throughout the book are gorgeous, and of unusual animals as well as common ones. Information about the footprints (and tail prints) of various animals are well explained. Granted, it deals with droppings of these animals but not in a gross way. Young children who have not yet developed sufficient reading levels can still enjoy the pictures while another reads the information for them.

It more than meets the quality I'd expect from National Geographic.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for those of us who like to prod through nature and find the animals that live in it. It contains valuable information such as an image, animal's diet, tracks, body size and further comments. The intro to the book contains information on how to track and recording tracks by making casts and/or sketching the tracks.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very helpful resource. And I used it to make casts of some tracks that I found. The directions were simple and they turned out great. And using the book I was able to ID them. It's very easy to use and I really liked it. Although, there are a lot of species listed that I will probably never see. xD

[Theo Girvan · Rating 4 out of 5]

400 animals

[Jack & · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both children enjoy looking through the book and finding facts out about animals.