Animals have evolved a wide range of defenses to keep them safe from other animals that want to eat them. This volume explores the many defenses animals employ to protect themselves, including porcupine quills, insect stingers, and the flying hooves of zebras. Through full-color photographs and fun facts that accompany the fascinating and informative text, readers will learn how animals use their unique designs to survive another day. Sidebars provide more details on interesting points and a list of recent books and educational websites encourages students to do more in-depth research of their own.

Some plants have glossy green leaves. Some have colorful flowers. Some plants have long, sharp spikes. Amazing to look at and painful to touch, cacti and other prickly plants are always a favorite with young children. This book explores how many plants use thorns or spikes to defend themselves from animals that want to eat them. When it comes to cacti, the spines of these plants are actually long, thin leaves that have adapted to keep the plants from losing water in the dry, desert environments where they live. Filled with information perfectly suited to the abilities and interests of an early elementary audience, this colorful, fact-filled volume gives readers a chance not only to learn, but also to develop their powers of observation and critical thinking. From dramatic images to high-interest facts, this book makes learning about plant bodies, defenses, and adaptations a lively and engaging experience.

In Prickly Animals, early fluent readers learn about animals such as the sea urchin, porcupine, and pufferfish that protect themselves against predators with sharp spines. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they explore the unique adaptations of these prickly animals. An infographic explores the anatomy of a porcupine quill, and an activity offers kids an opportunity to extend discovery. Children can learn more about prickly animals using our safe search engine that provides relevant, age-appropriate websites. Prickly Animals also features reading tips for teachers and parents, a table of contents, a glossary, and an index. Prickly Animals is part of Jump!'s Back Off! Animal Defenses series.

Explains the processes "by which the pupil could be set at the working out of real problems in the growth and behavior of plants."

Text and photographs present amazing facts about sea stars.

Don’t get too close to a porcupine! These prickly creatures defend themselves with a suit of armor—30,000 sharp quills that can be shot like arrows into an enemy's flesh! If the needle-like quills aren’t enough to scare a hungry predator away, a porcupine makes a stinky odor that's so horrible it can make an enemy's eyes and nose water! These are just some of the fascinating facts kids will discover as they explore the world of these prickly animals. Large, eye-popping photos and clear, grade-appropriate text engage emergent readers as they learn all about the unique and gross ways porcupines protect themselves. A section in the back of the book profiles another animal that protects itself in a similar way, to help reinforce the concept of defense mechanisms.