RODENT RASCALS, written and illustrated by Roxie Munro. Holiday House, 2018. 32-page full color nonfiction picture book with extensive back matter for grades PreK-5.
Starred reviews: Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. Bank Street Best Book of Year List 2019.
For dedicated webpage go to https://www.roxiemunro.com/rodent-rascals.html for reviews, articles, and Activity/Teachers Guides (School Library Journal's The Classroom Bookshelf PreK-6 grade; Holiday House Lesson Plan; and an Activity Guide from Judy Freeman).
Rodent Rascals, a STEM book, describes 28 rodents (the single largest order of mammals), including descriptions (sizes, sounds, colors, etc), behaviors, history, geographical location (ecosystems and habitats), uses by humans (laboratory testing, as a source of food, as a source of fur, as a help to astronaut scientists, electricians, more). Each animal is illustrated at real size, making Rodent Rascals accessible and understandable to even the youngest children. Extensive back matter includes scientific names; size (length and weight in Metric and Imperial measurement); environments, habitats and ecosystems; rodent shapes; their benefit or harm to humans; a history of rodents (including famous ones!) with humans; a glossary; a bibliography, and an index.
This book can be used to meet the following criteria in National Education Curriculum Standards:
LANGUAGE ARTS:
English / Reading for Perspective; English / Reading for Understanding; English / Evaluating Data; English / Developing Research Skills
MATHEMATICS:
Connections / Recognize and Use Connections Among Mathematical Ideas;
Connections / Recognize and Apply Mathematics in Contexts Outside of Mathematics;
Geometry / Use Visualization, Spatial Reasoning, and Geometric Modeling to Solve Problems
Measurement / Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement;
(as well as using measurements like length and weight, using Metric and Imperial; proportion and scale; efficient animal shapes for their lifestyle)
SCIENCE:
Physical Science; Life Science; Earth and space science; Science and technology; Science in personal and social perspectives
(students learn about rodents, ecosystems, habitats, measurement, climate and climate change, weather, geology, animal group behavior)
TECHNOLOGY:
Operations and concepts; social, ethical and human issues; research tools (rodents are used in the space station and laboratories)
As well as SOCIAL ISSUES (mine-sniffing Hero rats are discussed, as are experimental uses of rodents; as a source of food; as a source of clothing; as a pest)
GEOGRAPHY (habitat, ecosystems, geology)
HISTORY (rats and other rodents throughout history; as a source of disease; as a cultural phenomenon)
Guided Reading Level: Q
Grade Level: 4 Interest Level: 3–5
Instructional Standards
Reading Informational Text: RI.3-5.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Reading Foundation Skills: RF.3-5.3,4,4a,4c
Writing: W.3.1,2,3,7,8,10/W.4-5.1,2,3,7,8,9,9b,10
Speaking and Listening: SL.3-5.1,2,3,4,5
Language: L.3-5.1,2,3,4,4a,6 NGSS3-LS2
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics3-LS3
Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits3-LS4
Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity 4-LS1 from Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Roxie Munro is the author/illustrator of more than 40 nonfiction and concept books, many using “gamification” to engage and educate students. She does school visits, workshops, and lectures at educational, library and publishing conferences.
Starred reviews: Booklist, Kirkus, and Publishers Weekly. Bank Street Best Book of Year List 2019.
For dedicated webpage go to https://www.roxiemunro.com/rodent-rascals.html for reviews, articles, and Activity/Teachers Guides (School Library Journal's The Classroom Bookshelf PreK-6 grade; Holiday House Lesson Plan; and an Activity Guide from Judy Freeman).
Rodent Rascals, a STEM book, describes 28 rodents (the single largest order of mammals), including descriptions (sizes, sounds, colors, etc), behaviors, history, geographical location (ecosystems and habitats), uses by humans (laboratory testing, as a source of food, as a source of fur, as a help to astronaut scientists, electricians, more). Each animal is illustrated at real size, making Rodent Rascals accessible and understandable to even the youngest children. Extensive back matter includes scientific names; size (length and weight in Metric and Imperial measurement); environments, habitats and ecosystems; rodent shapes; their benefit or harm to humans; a history of rodents (including famous ones!) with humans; a glossary; a bibliography, and an index.
This book can be used to meet the following criteria in National Education Curriculum Standards:
LANGUAGE ARTS:
English / Reading for Perspective; English / Reading for Understanding; English / Evaluating Data; English / Developing Research Skills
MATHEMATICS:
Connections / Recognize and Use Connections Among Mathematical Ideas;
Connections / Recognize and Apply Mathematics in Contexts Outside of Mathematics;
Geometry / Use Visualization, Spatial Reasoning, and Geometric Modeling to Solve Problems
Measurement / Understand Measurable Attributes of Objects and the Units, Systems, and Processes of Measurement;
(as well as using measurements like length and weight, using Metric and Imperial; proportion and scale; efficient animal shapes for their lifestyle)
SCIENCE:
Physical Science; Life Science; Earth and space science; Science and technology; Science in personal and social perspectives
(students learn about rodents, ecosystems, habitats, measurement, climate and climate change, weather, geology, animal group behavior)
TECHNOLOGY:
Operations and concepts; social, ethical and human issues; research tools (rodents are used in the space station and laboratories)
As well as SOCIAL ISSUES (mine-sniffing Hero rats are discussed, as are experimental uses of rodents; as a source of food; as a source of clothing; as a pest)
GEOGRAPHY (habitat, ecosystems, geology)
HISTORY (rats and other rodents throughout history; as a source of disease; as a cultural phenomenon)
Guided Reading Level: Q
Grade Level: 4 Interest Level: 3–5
Instructional Standards
Reading Informational Text: RI.3-5.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Reading Foundation Skills: RF.3-5.3,4,4a,4c
Writing: W.3.1,2,3,7,8,10/W.4-5.1,2,3,7,8,9,9b,10
Speaking and Listening: SL.3-5.1,2,3,4,5
Language: L.3-5.1,2,3,4,4a,6 NGSS3-LS2
Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics3-LS3
Heredity: Inheritance and Variation of Traits3-LS4
Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity 4-LS1 from Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes
Roxie Munro is the author/illustrator of more than 40 nonfiction and concept books, many using “gamification” to engage and educate students. She does school visits, workshops, and lectures at educational, library and publishing conferences.