How much do you know about the puzzling platypus?
Title: Platypus
Written by: Sue Whiting
Illustrated by: Mark Jackson
Candlewick Press, 2016, nonfiction
Suitable for ages: 5+
Themes/topics: animals, nature, Australia
Opening:
Beyond the snaking bend in the creek, where the water lazes in a still green pool, a scraggly gum tree perches on the edge of the bank. Its tangle of roots clings desperately to the earth, a catcher’s mitt for fallen leaves and broken-off branches.
Cleverly hidden behind this mesh of debris is the entrance to a burrow, and poking out of this burrow is a wide duck-like bill. But the bill doesn’t belong to a duck.
Brief synopsis
(from worldcat.org) This new edition to the Nature Storybooks series is about one of Australia’s most puzzling and unique animals – the platypus. Platypus leaves his burrow in the riverbank and dives into the cool green pool. It is dusk and he is hungry. Platypus is always busy, always moving, looking for his next meal. Follow platypus as he plays, swims, dives and scurries around his riverbank home.
Activities and Resources:
Classroom ideas from Walker Books
Why I like this book:
Platypus is packed full of interesting information about a very strange animal, but the book never feels like an informational text. The rich lyrical descriptions of the animal and habitat are accompanied by sidebars providing scientific details. The platypus’s world comes alive in the illustrations and language as the author slowly reveals the features of this puzzling creature and follows it through its day. Several other “Nature Storybooks” are available in the series as well.
Visit author Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Books for a plethora of picture books listed by title and topic/theme, each with teacher/parent resources.
Beth Anderson, Children's Writer 
Excellent choice. A lot of nature themes today! This looks like a winner with kids. I know very little about the Platypus and am intrigued. Lovely artwork.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Australia has so many intriguing animals!
LikeLike
What a wonderfully poetic opening. I am a big fan of Australian fauna and I think kids are too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, love the language of the opening – and they didn’t shy away from loooooong sentences – ha!
LikeLike
These are interesting animals. Looks like a good read. Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know practically nothing about the platypus. I’m going to see if my library has this little gem!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And now I’m wondering what the plural of platypus is. I’d love to think it’s platypi, but truly thought it was platypuses, similar to Octopuses. But the correct term is platypodes. Isn’t that awesome?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is awesome – of course just when you think you’ve found the pattern in English, it doesn’t fit – ha! No wonder the author wrote the story with just one platypus! Thanks for sharing that interesting tidbit!
(so would the singular of nematodes be nematus?)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Of course not! That would be too easy! Oh, the confusion….
LikeLike