Reading a book with your child not only fosters literacy, but it also creates family memories that are treasured well into adulthood. We at North State Parent magazine are pleased to announce the arrival of a new book for you to share with your child.
In his children’s picture book Curious Critters, to be released this month by WildIris Publishing, photographer David FitzSimmons turns his camera on a variety of animals common throughout North America. Curious Critters presents stunning images of everyday animals, including a red flat bark beetle, an Eastern spiny soft-shell turtle, a spotted salamander, and many other intriguing creatures.
Each Curious Critter is photographed against a white backdrop, showcasing the animals’ colors, textures, and shapes with precision and clarity. Along with each photo is a vignette, told from the critter’s perspective, which both educates and entertains. For example, a bush katydid explains her bubblegum-pink color, a poetic opossum opines upon her often-shortened name, and a far-from-modest black swallowtail butterfly lets readers in on her secret for avoiding predators.
When parents read Curious Critters with their kids, not only will they have fun reading, but they also inspire in them a life-long interest in nature. Kids will want to swap TV and video games for a trip to the park or more time in the backyard. So, get ready to have a budding biologist on your hands!
Some interesting things kids will learn from this book:
- What turtles and humans have in common
- Why black swallowtail butterflies impersonate their toxic cousins
- How Eastern box turtles can live longer than humans (over 150 years!)
- If squirrels can fly
- Why crayfish grow new legs
- How bats find food
- Why frogs sing (kids love trying to sing like a bullfrog!)
- How jumping spiders jump and why they never have to look over their shoulders.
Curious? To see more sample photos from Curious Critters visit www.curious-critters.com.
About David FitzSimmons
David FitzSimmons is a freelance photographer and writer as well as a university professor. He photographs and writes for various magazines, including Outdoor Photographer, Popular Photography, and Shutterbug. His over-100 calendar credits include numerous titles by BrownTrout and Barnes & Noble. Curious Critters is David’s first children’s picture book.
One of five Sigma Pro photographers in North America, David presents seminars and workshops to a wide variety of audiences, from public school groups and college classes to nature centers and civic organizations. His works have been exhibited at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, the National Center for Nature Photography, and the Telluride Photo Festival, among other venues. David’s environmentally focused, multi-media performance, “350: Images of Fragile Earth,” travels widely. Visit David at http://www.fitzsimmonsphotography.com
Posted in: Education
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