Been There, Done That: Reading Animal Signs

Spotting wildlife is a thrill, but it’s not easy. When Cole comes to visit his friend Helena, he can’t wait to see all the wildlife the forest has to offer—and is disappointed when all he sees are a few birds. Together the kids set out on a hike and encounter plenty of animal signs along the way. Through observation and her knowledge of animal behavior, Helena helps Cole learn what each of the signs means: something had been there; something had done that.

This fictional story includes a 4-page For Creative Minds section in the back of the book and a 37-page cross-curricular Teaching Activity Guide online. Been There, Done That is vetted by experts and designed to encourage parental engagement. Its extensive back matter helps teachers with time-saving lesson ideas and extensions for science, math, and social studies units, and uses inquiry-based learning to help build critical thinking skills in young readers. The Spanish translation supports ELL and dual-language programs. The interactive ebook reads aloud in both English and Spanish with word highlighting and audio speed control to promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, text engagement, and reading comprehension. Tap animals and other things that make noise to hear their sounds.

Written by Jen Funk Weber, Illustrated by Andrea Gabriel
32 pg, 8.5x10, Ages 4-8, Grades K-3, Lexile: 500

Reviews:

This book would work best in conjunction with examples of local wildlife and animal signs. Back matter includes additional facts, games, and animal statistics. VERDICT This nonfiction picture book would supplement elementary nature and animal lessons well.?Lindsay Jensen, Nashville Public Library for School Library Journal

When I go on hikes, or mountain biking, I like to look for animal tracks. I loved that the illustrations showed the animals leaving the signs.-Jewel, age 8 for Kids Book Buzz

Cole and Helena explore the woods looking for animals by following their tracks and trails. Each page shows a different mark left by a different animal. The end of the book has some great activities for kids to explore the world around them. Recommended for ages 7-10. - Southwest Ohio and Neighboring Libraries Review

Author/Illustrator Info:

Jen Funk Weber began writing professionally while working as a winter caretaker for remote lodges in Alaska, often passing six months or more with no electricity, running water, or human neighbors. Jen has written numerous puzzle and activity books, including Nancy Drew: Hollywood Head Scratchers, The Spiderwick Chronicles, Wild About Alaska: A Children's Puzzle Book, Wild About Sudoku, and Alaska's Puzzle Bears. Been There, Done That: Reading Animal Signs is Jen's debut picture book. Jen lives with her husband in a house they built overlooking the Matanuska Glacier in Alaska. They see their moose and bird neighbors often, their human and porcupine neighbors sometimes, and occasionally catch a glimpse of a coyote or lynx. Visit her website at www.jenfunkweber.com.

Award-winning artist Andrea Gabriel has worked as a professional illustrator for the past fifteen years. In addition to Been There, Done That: Reading Animal Signs and Little Gray's Great Migration for Arbordale, some of Andrea's other illustrated works include Where Do I Sleep? and Eaglet's World. Andrea is the author and illustrator of Wandering Woolly> and My Favorite Bear. Andrea lives in Bellingham, Washington with her family of two-and four-legged creatures. Visit her website at bigbearillustration.com