“I am blown away by this book! This is one of the most engaging nonfiction books I have ever read. It correlates so well with our science curriculum and the Common Core State Standards. The Activity Guide and Hands-On Demonstrations are so teacher friendly. I cannot say enough positive things about this material!”
—Sonya Smith, Science Coordinator, ATOMS2XP (Advancing Teachers of Middle School Science) and IMPACT2 (In-depth Mathematical Practices and Content Teacher Training), Miss. State, MS

"The journey that a mammal takes is considerably different for various mammals as the reader will find out by reading this engaging book. This very informative book contains a table of contents, which lists platypuses, African elephants, koalas, golden lion tamarin monkeys, Pacific gray whales, giraffes, least shrews, hooded seals, Mexican free-tailed bats, lions, polar bears, hippopotamuses, orangutans and finally humans. There is a glossary with keywords, and finally an index. This would be an excellent reference book for the elementary classroom. I highly recommend this book!"
-Lori Cirucci, NSTA Recommends

“Children are curious about the natural world around them. We are always looking for good materials to help teachers respond to their students' questions and were delighted to find If My Mom Were A Platypus. The book uses the simple concept of comparing offspring to expose students to life cycles, environments, animal behavior—the wonderful variety of life on Earth. Not only is the book as engaging visually as it is verbally, but the Activity Guide gives teachers the tools they need to present, explain and expand upon the book's content. If My Mom Were A Platypus is a real asset for teachers delving into the world of mammals.”
—Dr. Inés L. Cifuentes, Director, Carnegie Academy for Science Education, Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC

“If My Mom Were A Platypus is enjoyable, accurate and informative. It will be useful, indeed, in primary and middle school curricula. I know how difficult—but essential— it is to have all of the facts right, yet still be interesting and readable. This book manages both very well. I hope that it ends up in many, many schools!”
—Don E. Wilson, Ph.D., Editor, Animal: The Definitive Visual Guide to the World's Wildlife

“If My Mom Were A Platypus fits perfectly into our 5th grade Animals curriculum. The students greeted the book like eager beavers – devouring each chapter and delving right into the next one. In class after class, they read beyond the required reading, propelled by excitement over what they were learning. The Activity Guide is chock-full of ways to explore the text, but the book is so full of fascinating facts, I was hardly wanting for ideas. What the kids really loved was writing up quiz questions they learned from the book, then testing each other on their newfound knowledge. This book is a natural for elementary and middle school science classes!”
—Catherine Taylor, 5th Gr. Science Teacher, Stuart Hobson Museum Magnet MS, Washington, DC

“This book is an amazing achievement! Zoologists will get lost in the accuracy and detail of the descriptions of birth and feeding. Children will be captivated by the beautiful pictures and stories of mammal mother and baby pairs. I was surprised by how many new facts I learned. And what could be more entertaining yet educationally valuable for a child to see than that mammals—whether human, bear, bat, giraffe, seal, or shrew—all have important things in common. The only problem with it is that big adult kids might butt out smaller kids in their effort