Awards

• Children's Book Committee at Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
• Junior Library Guild Selection

Overview

Ninja were skilled warriors in medieval Japan. And now you can find ninja in comics, movies, and TV shows. But what about in nature? Real animals aren't anything like ninja . . . are they? A stealthy lizard that can climb walls and hang upside down by its toes? Yes! A sea creature that defends itself with weapons that look a whole lot like throwing stars? Definitely! An insect that blends in so well with its enemies that they never even know it's there? Yes again! Encounter geckos, sea urchins, rove beetles, and many other living things that have more in common with ninja than you might expect. And hear from the scientists who are working to understand just how these animals are able to do what they do. Science meets martial arts in this fun and fast-paced look at some truly incredible animals.

Full Product Details

9781728477855

Table of Contents

Reviews

'To find these animal ninja . . . you must know where to look.' That sentence ends a two-page introduction that gives a simple history and definition of human practitioners of ninjutsu ('the art of the ninja') and invites readers to learn about animals that exhibit similar, extraordinary 'skills.' The pages that follow offer fascinating facts, appealing design, and eye-catching illustrations. Symbolic art that mimics universal directional signs is used to show nine different ninja skills of more than nine different animals. Bright ink over a dark background lists each skill in romanized Japanese, with a clear definition beneath it. Colorful, high-resolution photography captures such sights as the boiling-hot spray issuing from the bombardier beetle while equally colorful drawings are used to further illustrate the physical capabilities of geckos and collector urchins. (Readers might have an inkling about the fine hairs that allow geckos to stick to surfaces and perform remarkable releases, but who knew that the collector urchin, when threatened, sends out tiny triangular protuberances with their own sets of snapping jaws?!) The text, which is accessible without condescension, also includes information about methods for studying and documenting the animals' amazing characteristics and the names of scientists and institutions associated with the studies. More than once, the text encourages emerging scientists by noting that this research is current and ongoing--and that the more scientists learn, the more there is to learn. Arigatou gozaimasu for entertaining enlightenment! --starred, Kirkus Reviews -- (7/9/2019 12:00:00 AM)

'To find these animal ninja . . . you must know where to look.' That sentence ends a two-page introduction that gives a simple history and definition of human practitioners of ninjutsu ('the art of the ninja') and invites readers to learn about animals that exhibit similar, extraordinary 'skills.' The pages that follow offer fascinating facts, appealing design, and eye-catching illustrations. Symbolic art that mimics universal directional signs is used to show nine different ninja skills of more than nine different animals. Bright ink over a dark background lists each skill in romanized Japanese, with a clear definition beneath it. Colorful, high-resolution photography captures such sights as the boiling-hot spray issuing from the bombardier beetle while equally colorful drawings are used to further illustrate the physical capabilities of geckos and collector urchins. (Readers might have an inkling about the fine hairs that allow geckos to stick to surfaces and perform remarkable releases, but who knew that the collector urchin, when threatened, sends out tiny triangular protuberances with their own sets of snapping jaws?!) The text, which is accessible without condescension, also includes information about methods for studying and documenting the animals' amazing characteristics and the names of scientists and institutions associated with the studies. More than once, the text encourages emerging scientists by noting that this research is current and ongoing--and that the more scientists learn, the more there is to learn. Arigatou gozaimasu for entertaining enlightenment!--starred, Kirkus Reviews -- Journal (7/9/2019 12:00:00 AM)

Author Information

Rebecca L. Johnson writes award-winning nonfiction for children and young adults about scientific discoveries and the scientists who make them. She hopes her books will inspire new generations of scientists by introducing readers to some of the remarkable species with whom we share the planet. Learn more at www.rebeccajohnsonbooks.com.

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