
Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations
Related Books
The Moon
Small-but-Mighty Neighbor
The moon is one of the smaller celestial objects in the universe, but it has some very important jobs. Without it, Earth would be a very different place! Narrated by the character of the Universe, The Moon: Small-but-Mighty Neighbor offers up clear scientific explanations designed to gets kids excited about astronomy, covering topics such as the
$9.95 - $19.95Water-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile Adaptations
A lizard that walks on water? A snake that slithers sideways? These are animal adaptations! In Water-Walking, Sidewinding, and Other Remarkable Reptile Adaptations, children ages 5 to 9 learn how and why the green basilisk lizard runs on the water’s surface, along with the very good reasons sidewinder snakes move the way they do.
$9.95 - $19.95Levers Lessen the Load
Simple Machines for Kids
Coming November 2023 Have you ever played on a seesaw? You were using a lever! In Levers Lessen the Load: Simple Machines for Kids, readers ages 5 to 8 learn how levers and fulcrums can help us move far more weight than we can on our own by using mechanical advantage.
$13.95 - $20.95Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations
How do whales make their hearing better? What do lemurs do to make a point during an argument? In Stink Fights, Earwax, and Other Marvelous Mammal Adaptations, children ages 5 to 9 learn how lemurs settle arguments and how earwax helps a whale’s sense of hearing, along with a host of other deliciously strange-but-true tales!
$9.95 - $19.95Reviews
Booklist Series Nonfiction Showcase
“Through layered, mischievous illustrations and detailed back matter, the Picture Book Science series plies young readers with a ton of useful facts about how all sorts of animals have evolved to survive in their environments. Antifreeze includes fish that use suction cups to climb rocks (the Hawaiian goby) and fish that can breathe air (the lungfish, of course!). In Spit Nests, readers will observe the complex mating rituals of bowerbirds and blue-footed boobies and learn the gross-but-useful reason for a vulture’s bald head (and their even grosser defense mechanism). Stink Fights delves into the weird, wide world of mammal adaptations, which includes whale earwax plugs, star-nosed mole sniffer sensitivity, and everything in between. Sunscreen showcases primarily frogs, which are capable of some of the most bizarre things of all in the name of self-defense—some cover themselves in slime and others can even use their own poisonous bones as weapons after pushing them out through their skin. Each book contains a hands-on activity that will get kids involved; the mammal volume even points out that human beings are mammals, too, and encourages students to consider their own place in their ecosystems. Classroom-friendly and fun, too.”
Archimedes Notebook Blog
Fun New Series on Animal Adaptations
Let’s face it: animals are cool! And most kids I know love to read about animals. What’s even better than a book about animals is a whole series of books about strange and wonderful animal adaptations.
Laura Perdew has written a whole bunch of books – well, at least five – about animals and their unique adaptations. They are fun and breezy, and a perfect way to introduce young children to the different classes of vertebrate animals: reptiles, birds, mammals, amphibians, and fish.
Did you know that some fish have antifreeze and that archerfish shoot their prey? That water-holding frogs can stay buried for two years? Perdew introduces readers to unsung heroes of the animal world: star-nose moles, blue-footed boobies, and thorny devil lizards. She sings the praises of salamander slime and whale earwax. Click here to read the complete review online.
School Library Journal- June 2020
K-Gr 3–Perdew captures readers’ interest right away, starting with the title. Throughout the text, fascinating bird adaptations are highlighted, including special body features, unique mating rituals, and other seemingly bizarre behaviors. The bird world favorites are covered (owls, penguins, hummingbirds), but some unusual species make appearances as well. The book’s layout includes beautiful illustrations of the birds in action and at rest. The artwork portrays other animals that could be found in some of the birds’ habitats. An activity page in the back, a glossary, and a connection page that mentions other facts are included. On these appendix pages, readers can see photographs of the birds spotlighted in the book. VERDICT A cool science title for younger readers to learn about bird adaptation. Educators can use this text in the classroom; many STEAM lessons could be inspired by these funky adaptations.
CLEAR Reviews
"Science teachers will discover much to share in their classrooms, while students in grades 1-4 will find these texts entertaining enough for independent reading."
Praise for other books in the Picture Book Science series
Forces - Booklist Starred Review March 15, 2018
“Forces, despite its down-to-earth scientific grounding, manages to do the nearly impossible. Diehn brings gravity, magnetism, push-pull forces, and friction to life in everyday contexts, without a hint of schoolroom jargon. Children, parents, and teachers alike can enjoy learning the charming, often funny, relatable, and accessible science within this Picture Book Science series (4 titles) offering.”
Teacher Resources

Classroom Guides
For educators! Download a packet of essential questions, mentor texts, and Common Core State Standards to use in classrooms and libraries.
Classroom Guide
Collections
Looking for more? Take a look at related books in these collections!
Detailed Book Description
Not all birds build nests with sticks and have good manners. Some construct nests with their own saliva, while others use vomit as a defense!
Sound strange? In Spit Nests, Puke Power, and Other Brilliant Bird Adaptations, curious kids ages 5 to 9 discover many of the unique adaptations of birds. Stories of these brilliant adaptations cultivate deeper discussions about the crucial environmental science topic of adaptations in general. Using an easy narrative tone and vivid illustrations, this book is perfect as a read aloud or an early reader. Layered text and back matter provide further information and encourage readers to dive deeper into the world of unique bird adaptations.
Hardcover, $19.95 9781619309494 |
Paperback, $9.95 9781619309524 |