Beneath the Sun

by Melissa Stewart, Constance R. Bergum (Illustrator)

This lyrical tour of a variety of habitats offers young readers vivid glimpses of animals as they live out the hot season under the blazing sun.

When the sun is shining brightly, people put on sunscreen or scurry inside to cool off. But how do wild animals react to the sizzling heat?

Journey from your neighborhood to a field where an earthworm loops its long body into a ball underground, to a desert where a jackrabbit loses heat through its oversized ears, to a wetland where a siren salamander burrows into the mud to stay cool, and to a seashore where a sea star hides in the shade of a seaweed mat.

Constance R. Bergum's glowing watercolors perfectly capture the wonder of a hot, sunny environment.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Animals, Poetry, Nature, Childrens

32 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2013

About the author

Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 180 science and nature books for children. She offers a wide range of programs for schools, libraries, nature centers, and conferences. www.melissa-stewart.com"

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

For me (and in particular for my adult self), Melissa Stewart’s 2014 zoology (animal) oriented non fiction 2014 picture book Beneath the Sun book is textually speaking just a wee bit disappointing in certain seemingly minor but still rather frustrating ways. Sure, Stewart’s presented information for Beneath the Sun regarding how various animal species manage to stay cool and sufficiently comfortable during the often relentless heat of a blazingly hot and sunny summer day in a variety of habitats and ecosystems (in fields, deserts, wetlands and on the seashore) is definitely interesting, educational and is also sufficiently engagingly penned with regard to narrational style and with Melissa Stewart also keeping her printed words simple and without including, sans using overly complicated, overly sophisticated vocabulary and also (and thankfully) no scientific, biological jargon (which I truly do much appreciate, as this certainly does make Beneath the Sun more than suitable for younger children, for readers and listeners from about the age of five to seven or so).

However, even though Melissa Stewart for the most part and certainly provides with Beneath the Sun nicely textually uncomplicated but also mostly sufficiently informative and neither preachy nor simplistic descriptions (so that young children will or at least should learn just enough written details about how the featured animal species of Beneath the Sun keep cool during the daytime in summer without this potentially becoming too wordy, too involved), and that Constance R. Bergum’s accompanying artwork for Beneath the Sun is colourfully imaginative, lushly descriptive (but at the same time of course also intensely realistic) and as such a truly aesthetically delightful visual mirror of and for Mellisa Stewart’s words, both mirroring and sometimes also visually expanding on them, from an academic standpoint, I do as an adult reader have two very specific and also very frustrating bones of text-oriented contention with Beneath the Sun (and that these two issues have also forced me to only rate Beneath the Sun with but three stars, albeit that I still do recommend Beneath the Sun and that the combination of Melissa Stewart’s text and Constance R. Bergum’s illustrations for the most part is to be considered as being successful enough).

For one and first and foremost, I really do not understand why Melissa Stewart has not included in Beneath the Sun ANY supplemental information on the featured and presented animals, since in my humble opinion both extras on the animals themselves (such as breeding cycles, conservation status and in particular how climate change, how global warming might affect them) and in particular a bibliography section with both book titles and online resources for further reading and research would greatly augment and increase the educational value of Beneath the Sun. And for two and finally, while most of the information encountered in Beneath the Sun seems well researched and also making textual sense, I kind of find how Melissa Stewart is describing the Great Horned Lizard (a desert creature) in Beneath the Sun rather strange, as for me, it sure feels as though Stewart is trying to insinuate that the blood spurting from the eyes strategy behaviour is not just a tool to thwart potential predators but also a method for the Great Horned Lizard to keep cool (and which is most definitely not the case).

And please note that while some GR reviews for Beneath the Sun make the claim that Melissa Stewart supposedly does in fact list her sources, well, the Open Library copy of Beneath the Sun (from 2014) that I have just read most definitely has NO bibliography.

[American Mensa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This non-fiction picture book has very nice paintings for illustrations. I liked how the animals and habitats were illustrated with so much detail and color. It was very interesting to learn how different animals survive in the heat of the hot sun by adapting to their environment in different ways. The book not only taught me lots of serious facts, but also a couple of funny facts! I really found it funny to learn that turkey vultures spray urine on their legs to keep cool! The author of the book has divided it into nice sections based on where each animal lives, like the desert, a field, the wetlands, etc.

The book was a little boring because there weren’t very exciting facts on every page. And, some of the facts did not make sense to me. For example, the pages on the tadpoles that grow in the warm water does not tell me how they keep cool under the hot sun - it only tells me about their metamorphosis. It would have been nice if the whole book was about the same theme of how animals keep cool under the hot sun. It is a bit confusing when the author moves away from that in a couple of pages in the book.

I enjoyed reading this book for the first time, but am not sure if I could read it multiple times. I would read it many more times if I found the facts and details exciting.

I would recommend this book for children ages 5 and above.
Dhruv K., age 7, North Texas Mensa

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What do animals do when the sun gets too hot for them? Read this and find out how animals in various habitats protect themselves from the sun, told in simple text and accompanied by gorgeous illustrations. I especially like the cyclic nature of the text, beginning and ending with people and the rising and setting of the sun. I love it when I can learn something from a children's book! Recommended!

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't read many children's nonfiction books, so I'm not sure how this compares to others, but I just thought it was "okay." The information was interesting, but a couple of the facts were a bit much for 3. Bleeding from the eyes in self-defense? I mean, yeah, it's interesting, but it has nothing to do with cooling off and was just a little gruesome and random. The illustrations are really what had me giving this two stars instead of one. They were beautiful and really well done.

[Aliza Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

How animals deal with the heat in a variety if ecosystems. Narrative NF.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book gives great examples of how animals are adapted either physically or behaviorally to be in the sun. The illustrations were pleasant and it made me want to find more of Melissa Stewart's books.

[Francesca Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a great non fiction book for young children to learn about different habitats that are around them. The author did an awesome job tying the story back to humans and how they live. Tons of information, and the back matter explains where the author got her sources.

[Alison Whiteman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had fun reading children's books. I actually either learn something or my memory of grade school is triggered.

I did not know male osprey's soak their belly feathers to cool off and to give his thirsty chicks a drink.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written descriptions of creatures that hide from the sun or those that relish in the heat of the sun. Strong and colorful illustrations make this book something that is not dull or long-winded. Words on the pages are limited but clear. Perfect for parent and child to read together.

[Brenda Kahn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully designed, flowing accessible text and softly realistic illustrations. Too bad there's no backmatter.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa Stewart brilliantly introduces the concept of how living things deal with the heat of the sun by beginning with children cooling off in the sprinkler. She divides the story into four different habitats showing animals in their environments protecting themselves and their young ones in fields, deserts, wetlands, and the seashore. Each page shows animals gorgeously painted in intricate detailed watercolor in their habitats, cooling themselves off. Young listeners will be most interested in learning how turkey vulture cools down, "by spraying urine on its legs." The story returns to the children at the end about to enjoy a cool drink outside, before retiring for the evening. Lots of information is imparted about how a variety of animals adapt to the heat in their environments. The double spread of the horned lizard hiding under a shrub, accompanied by the fact that if enemies get too close, "the lizard puffs up his body and squirts blood out of his eyes" will be popular fact to remember.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beneath the Sun is a beautiful introduction to a common problem and how various living creatures deal with it. The heat of the sun is a blessing but can also be dangerous. Stewart reveals to the reader the many ways this problem is addressed. Humans love to run through sprinklers and drink cool drinks like lemonade. Jackrabbits release heat through their ears, horned lizards hide beneath bushes, and frogs use the warmth to develop from tadpole to adult. The illustrations are beautiful and add the perfect touch. I appreciated the focus on one aspect of adaptation since it allows the reader to compare the differences and similarities between the different creatures. I also enjoyed how the story starts with sunrise and moves through various habitats until it reaches sunset, it creates a coherent and understandable story.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melissa Stewart and Constance Bergum, who previously collaborated on When Rain Falls (2008) and Under the Snow (2009), turn their attention to animal behavior and adaptation during the hottest days of the year in a range of habitats, including a field, the desert, a wetland, and the seashore. They provide an accessible overview of how different animals survive in the heat - from a black swallowtail caterpillar that embraces the heat to a jackrabbit that hides in the shadows and uses its oversized ears to lose heat to a crayfish that burrows deep in the mud to stay cool. The artwork and the text pair nicely to create an informative picture book that would work well as a read aloud.

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoy a simple non-fiction picture book. It is a great way to get kids interested and begin to inform them about the world around them. This was all about cool creatures and how they adapt to the hot sun. I have no idea why the particular species were chosen to write about - it seemed a bit random. The watercolor illustrations were lovely though and it was pleasant to read especially in the summer.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to her "Under the Snow", a variety of animals in several biomes are shown in their survival struggle against the heat of the sun. However, is this not simple adaptation? I wonder why the author chose to portray survival as a struggle, especially in respect to the sun, which, without, we'd have no life anyway.
Realistic, soft illustration done in several sizes of frames.

[Anjelika Pizzuto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great informational book for everyone. It teaches us about turkey vultures, lizards, osprey, and so many other things that are beneath the sun. I liked the illustrations all, they are very well blended and full of color.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

How animals living in a variety of environments find refuge from the heat of the day. No back matter.

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book that makes the young reader think about how animals cope with hot weather.

[Selena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book helps us appreciate our air conditioning and see how many kinds of animals are made to survive without it. Great for a summer story time.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this trilogy by Stewart: When Rain Falls, and Under the Snow. Melissa shares some gruesome facts that kids love!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not in love with this one personally, but I think it is a solid beginning nonfiction title.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids will recognize many of these animals in different types of habitats.

[Ashley Biles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stewart. M. Ill: Bergum, C. (2014) Beneath the sun. Atlanta, Georgia: Peachtree Publishers.

This book tells and shows what happens on hot days in a field, in a desert, in a wetland, and at the beach. It goes through different animals such as a crab and how they cool off from the high temperatures.