What Can Live in the Mountains?

By: Sheila Anderson
Publisher: Lerner Classroom
Publication Date: August 2010
ISBN: 978-0761356769
Reviewed by: Deb Fowler
Review Date: September 2010

A habitat is where plants and animals live. If you look through the mountainous areas in the pages of this book, you will see many animals who live there. A small mountain goat can be seen adeptly scampering up the side of a rocky, mountainous ledge by using the rough pads on the bottom of his feet. The pads on his feet are an adaptation that allows him to climb jagged peaks that many animals cannot manage. Many birds and animals such as the deer also have adaptations that help them to survive in the mountains.

The Pika will use his long teeth to nibble at and “bite off plants” so they can “save them to eat during the winter.” The golden eagle has very sharp talons so he can easily swoop down and catch his meal. You can easily see that the shaggy “yaks grow thick fur coats” that will “keep them warm in the winter.” There are several other mountain animals that have adapted. Among the ones you meet in this book will be the snow leopard, big horn sheep, and the mountain lion.

This is an excellent overview of how mountainous animals have adapted in order to live in their environment. The young, emergent reader will be able to take a look at a vibrant photograph on each page and read a simple sentence. More difficult words are highlighted in bold throughout the text and explained in the glossary. For example in the sentence “Golden eagles have sharp talons,” the word “talons” is highlighted. In the back of the book is a paragraph that discusses the adaptations mountain goats have made. Additionally, there is an index, a glossary, and some “Fun Facts.”

Quill says: This is one is a series of six books in the “Animal Adaptations” series, a series you may wish to consider to introduce your young students to interesting nonfiction topics.