Category Archives: Animals

May31

Animalia Workshops

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Animalia Workshops

Watch Out! There are Animals About: As you explore your city habitat, keep an eye out for animals because they are everywhere. Look, listen and learn about “city animals” and how they live with and around people. Live Animals, presented by Animalia. 45 minutes, all ages, no registration required. Schedule

City Critter Chats: Meet animals face-to-face and spend time getting to know about them. Ask questions about the animal you see and try your hand at sketching it. Presented by Animalia. No registration required. Schedule

We’ve had great Indiana weather this Spring! Here are some ideas to get you started exploring and having fun in your own wild backyard:

If you want to explore a little further than your own backyard here are some great places right here in Indianapolis to go find some outdoor adventure:

Some books you might like about animals, science and nature crafts right in your own backyard:
Backyard Bugs Think Like a Scientist in the Backyard Yard Monsters Backyard Cookbook
Wildlife Gardening Backyard Science Backyard Pets Backyard Detective
Backyard Science Birdhouses Organic Crafts Eco Crafts

Find more books with these Catalog Searches:

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Mar26

Staff Recommend – An Elephant in the Garden

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Staff Recommend – An Elephant in the Garden

An Elephant in the Garden

1944. Elizabeth’s mother works at Dresden Zoo, where her favorite animal is an elephant named Marlene. When the zoo director tells her the dangerous animals must be shot to prevent them running amok when the town is bombed, Elizabeth’s mother moves Marlene into the back garden to save her. And then the bombs start to fall…

Author: Michael Morpurgo

“This remarkable story, based on actual events, tells of young girl named Lizzie living with her family in Dresden, Germany during World War II. While her father serves his country, Lizzie’s mother takes a job at the nearby zoo where a bond is formed with an orphaned elephant named Marlene. As the threat of bombing looms, the zoo must face the task of disposing of the animals. Unable to think of Marlene being put down, the family houses her in their garden until the bombs finally fall. Along with the other surviving residents of the city, the family makes their way through the country side in search of safety.  Lizzie soon learns, however, that having an elephant as a travel companion in the midst of war can make the trek far more complicated. Morpugo has crafted a unique coming-of-age story with an unusual friendship at the heart of it that proves that some bonds are unbreakable.”

By :  Jeff Huttinger, The Learning Curve Central Library

More Staff Recommends

If you liked The Elephant in the Garden you might like some of these books about animals at war:
Cracker the Best Dog in Vietnam Faithful Elephants Saving the Baghdad Zoo Soldier Bear
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Mar10

Staff Recommend – Soldier Bear

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Staff Recommend – Soldier Bear

Soldier Bear

Believe it or not, a bear served in the British Army during WWll. In 1942 five Polish soldiers adopted a bear cub from a boy in the mountains of Iran. They named him Voytek, which means “Smiling Warrior” in Polish. Voytek loved army life and the soldiers loved Voytek. He slept in the tent with them. He drank beer and smoked cigarettes. He took showers. He even caught a spy!

In order to travel with his company to Italy, he was officially enlisted as Private Voytek. During the battle of Monte Cassino he joined the soldiers passing ammunition to the front and never dropped a shell. The officers were so impressed they made a picture of Voytek with a bomb in his paws as the emblem of the Transport Company of the 2nd Polish Corps.

Read about Private Voytek’s amazing adventures in this book based on the true story of Voytek, the bear that went to war. Soldier Bear won the 2012 Batchelder Award for most outstanding book translated to English.

Mary Sullivan – Decatur Library

More Staff Recommends

If you liked reading about Soldier Bear you might like some of these books about animals at war:
Cracker the Best Dog in Vietnam Faithful Elephants Saving the Baghdad Zoo An Elephant in the Garden
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Jul5

Kid Review – Pee Wee’s Tale

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Kid Review – Pee Wee’s Tale

Pee Wee's Tale

When his owner’s parents let him go in Central Park, a young guinea pig learns to survive in the natural world with the help of a “park-wise” squirrel while trying to find his way back home.

D.R. says:

Peewee’s Tale is a great book about a guinea pig named Peewee that gets given to a little boy for his birthday by his uncle, which his parents dislike greatly. When the boy goes on a sleepover at his friend’s house, his parents let the guinea pig run away. Read Peewee’s Tale to find out if Peewee finds his owner or if he’s on his own.

:If you like Pee-Wee’s adventures trying to survive in a human world, try these:
I Freddy Streg Nona: Her Story A Cricket in Time's Square Charlotte's Web
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Feb26

Kid Review – Charlotte’s Web

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Kid Review – Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte's Web

A review came in yesterday from Claire. She says:

Even though this is a book for kids younger than me, I still liked it. The characters are interesting and seem just like people. Charlotte is one of the best characters I’ve ever read about!

I love Charlotte too, but I think my favorite character is Templeton the rat. It’s Templeton, afterall, that finds words for Charlotte to use in the web. He’s self absorbed, obsesses about food and only helps out when it’s in his best intersets to do so…but he’s also funny, which I always like in a character. What do you think?

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