Tekiela, Stan. Whose House Is That? Cambridge, MN: Adventure Publications, 2021.
Younger students that are interested in spotting wildlife might use Whose House is That? as a guide to outdoor adventure this summer, since nearly all the animals mentioned live in Idaho. Some can even be spotted in the back yard or the neighborhood park!
Whose House Is That? employs a question-and-answer format with a few clues and a photograph of an animal’s home on a pleasing double page spread. After pondering the clues, the reader turns the page to find the answer and a photo of the animal in question with facts and pronunciation guides for unfamiliar words. To continue the fun, readers can try the animal house scavenger hunt suggested on the last page, complete with a safety note and a reminder to keep your distance from wildlife and their homes. The beautifully clear photographs are the stars of this title and students may want to linger on them.
Whose House Is That? would make a worthwhile addition to any elementary library’s wildlife collection. When read aloud, time outside afterward to look for animals’ homes is a must!
Dewey: 590 Interest Level: Grades 1-4
Awards and Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Older students might like: Adventure Is Out There: Over 50 Creative Activities for Outdoor Explorers by Jenni Lazell
Young Adult Readers might like: Scats and Tracks of North America: A Field Guide to the Signs of Nearly 150 Wildlife Species by James C. Halfpenny.
Fiction Pairing: Fishbone’s Song by Gary Paulsen
On the Web: Students can find more of Tekiela’s wildlife photos on his website, Nature Smart. It’s an information-packed reource and well worth a visit.