Wild and Woolly Mammoths

Yes, this book speaks about how scientists found these mammoths in the ice and how they used tests to determine when and where they lived. They discussed how they used what was in their stomachs to determine that they ate.

Author: Aliki
Illustrator: Alliki
Year Published: 1977
ISBN: 0-06-026276-1

Summary

Woolly mammoths once roamed the cold northern part of the Earth. The Earth was once warm and swampy but then parts of the Earth grew cold, and the ice age began. While some animals died off because of the cold some, with thick skin, hair, and fat were able to survive. In the 1900's a woolly mammoth was discovered in the ice still preserved. From that scientists learned what they ate. There were other kinds of mammoths found as well and now scientist have discovered when and where they lived. Woolly mammoths lived at the same time that cave dwellers lived. These cave dwellers hunted the mammoths using spears, traps, and fire. The cave dwellers used every part of the mammoths as food, shelter, medicine, jewelry, pots, bedding, and many other uses. The hunting of these mammoths could be the reason they are now extinct but scientists are still unsure.

Evaluation

Appropriateness: Medium
Authority: Medium
Accuracy: High
Liteary Artistry: Medium
Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

Yes, this book is full of information and leaves room at the end of most pages to ask questions before answering some of them on the next page.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

Possibly, this book is full of valuable information, however, it is pretty cut and dry. There are a few areas where they present unanswered questions such as "Why are the mammoths gone today." So there is room for the reader to think for themselves.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

This book talks about the discovery of the frozen mammoths and how and what the scientists learned about mammoths from those discoveries. Also gives great illustrations on what other mammoths looked like. They talk about cave dwellers who hunted the mammoths and how they hunted them and what they did with the bodies.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

Yes, this book was originally written in 1977 but then revised in 1996 so most if not all the content is accurate.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

They do not talk about any misconceptions children may have about mammoths. The author only provides facts.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Yes, they illustrations provide extra information and are detailed enough to add to the book.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

My second grader would enjoy this book being read to them but could not read it independently. However a fourth or fifth grader would be able to read this and enjoy it.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

The people depicted in this book are darker skinned cave people. While many cave dwellers would have been out in the sun and may have been darker skinned these people were also living in the northern parts of the Earth. I am not sure if they would have looked differently.

Is the book free from gender bias?

In this book the caveman are depicted being the hunters while the woman are depicted sitting by the fires making food or with children. It is also hard to distinguish the men from the woman in many instances.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

There are a few connections. One page shows the cave dwellers art/literature on the walls and discussed how they used this as a way to story tell.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

Yes! The author shows the scientists as smart and discovering new, amazing things.

Science Topics

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