Books in Blastoff Readers, Backyard Wildlife, Level 1 series

An owl has large eyes that work like a pair of binoculars. This, combined with excellent night vision and a rotating head, makes this raptor a skilled hunter. Beginning readers will have a hoot as they read about the unusual features of this bird of prey!

Did you know that a group of lions is called a pride? Have you heard that lions work together to stalk their prey? This book for young readers offers this information as it presents lions on the prowl. It teaches children about the physical and behavioral characteristics of these big cats.

Visit the racetrack in this book to see fast cars compete against each other. Race cars have powerful engines and fearless drivers. Zoom through this book and discover different types of race cars and how they work!

Have you ever heard coyotes howl or yip? These members of the dog family can sure make noise! Children will discover what coyotes are, where they live, and how they both hunt and scavenge for food.

These huge trucks move, carry, and dump big loads of earth. There are different kinds of earth movers and each has a specific task. Kids will get a first look at the types of earth movers and how they do their jobs.

Using their beaks, woodpeckers peck holes in trees to get at the insects inside. They also hammer to attract mates and declare their territory. This book will interest children as it presents the behaviors and physical features of these noisy birds.

Wolves are territorial animals. They mark the areas where they live and hunt with their scent. Most of these wild, howling dogs stay in groups called packs. Information about the dynamics within a wolf pack will interest young readers.

It seems the most overlooked creatures tend to have tricks up their sleeves or in this case, tails. Threaten a salamander and it might steal away, leaving one extremity behind. Kids will delight in this means of survival, and learn how this amphibian behaves in the wild.

Small and quick, chipmunks make their homes in burrows, trees, nests, and logs. In some countries, they are sold as pets! Eager readers will find out the physical characteristics of chipmunks and what makes up their diverse diet.

When a predator is near, an opossum will likely do one of two things. It will try to scare the predator away by showing its sharp teeth, or it will lie very still and pretend it's dead! In this book, beginning readers will discover how these marsupials escape predators and carry their young babies in pouches.

The way a gorilla moves is called knuckle-walking. This is because the animal puts pressure on its knuckles when it moves. Beginning readers will learn how gorillas walk, why they beat their chests, and more in this informative title.

After birth, it takes a kitten between seven and ten days to open its eyes. Soon after this, kittens develop quickly into very playful animals. Eager readers will see what kittens eat and how they play.