Chipmunk at Hollow Tree Lane

Like all the books in the Smithsonian Backyard Series, this one is awesome. We've been gradually collecting the books from this series over the last year or so, and my kids (age 4 and 8) have loved every one. These books are in story format, following an individual animal through its daily life, usually including caring for young, finding food, and evading predators. They teach so much about the real daily lives and life-cycles of the animals in them, without ever being dry or boring. The illustrations are beautiful and adorable while remaining realistic (never cartoonish). There is also a Smithsonian Oceanic Collection Series that is equally wonderful. Great to read just for fun, or to include in a homeschool curriculum, as we do.

This is a great book. My two year old loves it (though it would also be great for older kids) and has learned a lot from it. The illustrations are just gorgeous, and it's interesting enough that I don't mind reading it over and over again.

We own 4 or 5 of the SB's and have checked out a number from the library as well. We absolutely love this book! This is my son's favorite (and mine). It is well written and has great pictures with a section in the back identifying the various points of interest in the pictures (viburnum berries, gypsy mushroom, sarsaparilla, etc.) My favorite line is the one also noted by "sandyberger8". "Late afternoon sunshine flickers through the tree branches, casting lacy shadows on the ground." I highly recommend.

This title is just one in the prestigious Smithsonian Institution's Backyard Series for young readers. Representative of the high quality of these publications it is a November tale about a chipmunk. We find chipmunk stuffing his expandable cheeks with nuts and seeds in order to store enough food for the winter. Vivid descriptions of the obstacles this small animal faces help youngsters understand the wonderful world of nature and how it cares for its own. Davis's wildlife illustrations are bathed in autumnal tones; facts about the eastern chipmunk and a glossary are included.

This is a wonderful book about how a chipmunk mustprepare for winter. We love the books descriptivestyle. Sentences like "A cold wind ripples throughtree branches as she waits" and "Late afternoon sunshineflickers through the tree banches, casting lacy shadowson the ground" make this book a delight to read.