What do you think?
Rate this book
Petit monde vivant
What Is Hibernation?
Hibernation is one of nature's greatest miracles, allowing animals to sleep through periods of extreme cold (and heat). From the tundra to the desert, this ability enables animals to live in some of Earth's harshest climates. Full-color photographs and vivid text combine to give children a view of the many different ways that animals "sleep it off." Highlights - how an animal's body uses fat to survive and even wake itself up - how an animal finds and prepares its den for hibernation - animals that estivate, or hibernate to escape heat - animals that give birth and care for their young during hibernation
- GenresPicture BooksScience
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1997
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 19, 2019
John Crossingham and Bobbie Kalman’s What is Hibernation? is basically a general but informative introduction to animal hibernation (which is how many species of animals survive the winter) covering from what I can tell all or at least most relevant and necessary information on the subject simply but always thoroughly and with more than sufficient detail for the intended age group (in my opinion older children from about the age of eight onwards, although if What is Hibernation? were read with or to children, even six and seven year olds would likely enjoy and appreciate the easily understood but at the same time enlighteningly educational text).
Indeed, from the differences between true hibernators and those animals that do sleep during the winter but not in a state of almost death-like torpor, that hibernating insects often produce a type of antifreeze to survive winter snow and ice to animals that actually hibernate in the summer or in very dry conditions (estivation), John Crossingham and Bobbie Kalman really have done an admirable job presenting hibernation in all of its many forms and guises, as well as equally covering the preparations different animal species engage in or rather must engage in prior to settling down for the winter months, and how different animals awaken from their dormancy once winter gives way to spring (with the authors’ words accompanied by photographs which while not in any way works of art, do provide a visually realistic and engaging mirror).
And the ONLY reason why I am not ranking What is Hibernation? with more than three stars is that annoyingly and majorly frustratingly, there are no source acknowledgments whatsoever (no footnotes/endnotes, no bibliography, no websites, in other words no suggestions for further study and reading) included, which for one certainly does make it much more difficult to verify and ocheck the authors’ presented information and for two, this is in my opinion also rather academically dishonest. For since John Crossingham and Bobbie Kalman obviously had to do secondary research for their What is Hibernation?, the book or online sources from which they have gleaned their information and details on hibernation, these really and truly should be included as a bibliography.
Indeed, from the differences between true hibernators and those animals that do sleep during the winter but not in a state of almost death-like torpor, that hibernating insects often produce a type of antifreeze to survive winter snow and ice to animals that actually hibernate in the summer or in very dry conditions (estivation), John Crossingham and Bobbie Kalman really have done an admirable job presenting hibernation in all of its many forms and guises, as well as equally covering the preparations different animal species engage in or rather must engage in prior to settling down for the winter months, and how different animals awaken from their dormancy once winter gives way to spring (with the authors’ words accompanied by photographs which while not in any way works of art, do provide a visually realistic and engaging mirror).
And the ONLY reason why I am not ranking What is Hibernation? with more than three stars is that annoyingly and majorly frustratingly, there are no source acknowledgments whatsoever (no footnotes/endnotes, no bibliography, no websites, in other words no suggestions for further study and reading) included, which for one certainly does make it much more difficult to verify and ocheck the authors’ presented information and for two, this is in my opinion also rather academically dishonest. For since John Crossingham and Bobbie Kalman obviously had to do secondary research for their What is Hibernation?, the book or online sources from which they have gleaned their information and details on hibernation, these really and truly should be included as a bibliography.
March 7, 2009
Fantastic book about hibernation -who knew there were so many kinds of hibernation?! Who knew what happened during hibernation?! Who knew animals could survive this way for DECADES?!! A fact-filled book that I read out loud for an hour for four elemenatary-aged kids who were glued to the book.
November 20, 2021
This is a very complete overview of hibernation. It's very accessible and easy to follow, and it includes more information than many books of its kind.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews