At Home with the Gopher Tortoise: The Story of a Keystone Species

by Madeleine Dunphy, Michael Rothman (Illustrator)

Did you know that more than 360 different kinds of animals and plants depend upon gopher tortoise burrows for survival?

The gopher tortoise digs burrows to survive, and in the process helps other animals. Burrows protect the tortoise and other creatures from the heat of the summer, the cold of the winter, and forest fires. Some animals use the burrow to find food; others use it as a safe haven to raise their babies. Owls, rabbits, skunks, frogs and scorpions are just a few of the animals that inhabit gopher tortoise burrows.

Glorious illustrations reveal the gopher tortoise's world both below and above ground while inviting text introduces children to the pivotal role the gopher tortoise plays as a keystone species. In this fascinating tale of ecological interdependency, children will discover how the fate of one species can affect the fate of so many others.

Other Books in the AT HOME WITH THE THE STORY OF A KEYSTONE SPECIES, AT HOME WITH THE PRAIRIE THE STORY OF A KEYSTONE SPECIES Free downloadable activities available on the publisher's website.

Genres: Childrens, Nonfiction, Science, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published July 29, 2010

About the author

Madeleine Dunphy’s books have been published by Hyperion Books for Children, Millbrook Press, and her own publishing company, Web of Life Children’s Books—a publishing company devoted to publishing picture books about the environment. Madeleine is also a teacher, activist and mother.

Madeleine has taught special programs at the California Academy of Sciences, Lawrence Hall of Science, Museum of Children’s Art and at dozens of elementary schools in northern California and abroad. She has a BA in anthropology from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a MA in education from Mills College.

Madeleine has traveled extensively to research her various books. Her travels include visiting the mountain gorillas in the Democratic Republic of Congo, camping out in the Amazon rain forest in Peru, visiting Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and scuba diving with sea turtles in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.

Madeleine lives in Oakland, California with her husband, daughter, dog, two cats and a hamster.

Reviews

[Amanda Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I travel once a year to Florida. We love animals and we while we are there we try to visit at least one place dedicated to native habitats. We have visited a couple of turtle hospitals and learned a lot about the different kinds of turtles in Florida which we have extended to our learning about turtles in our own state (WA). But the exciting thing for me was learning about Keystone species. I have probably heard about them, but it took this book for the vocabulary to sink in. I know that entire ecosystems rely on certain species, but I didn't realize that how one animal might be designated the Keystone. Meanwhile, I am reading Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. She talks about the importance of predators and the concept of how balance is upset by the removal of a predator. Her characters are slowly developing through the book around a Keystone character who has been removed suddenly and tragically. Back on topic, if you are not from Florida, you could still use this book. You could read the book and then explore your own local region and have the students argue which animal where you live is the Keystone of it's ecosystem.

[Nathan Grozan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations, and scientifically accurate and informative

[Inara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great information, but transitions were not clear.