Hey Diddle Diddle: A Food Chain Tale

Habitats

by Sherry Rogers (Illustrator), Pam Kapchinske

Sing along to this light-hearted romp while learning about different food chains within a single ecosystem. Which animals come out on top, and which animals end up as snacks? Hey Diddle Diddle teaches children about the food web, the circle of life, and the part that each living creature plays within an ecosystem. This book is so much fun, kids will have a hard time believing they’re actually learning. You’ll be singing Hey Diddle Diddle long after you close the book.

Genres: Picture Books, Science, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 10, 2011

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

On Amazon, Pam Kapchinske's Hey Diddle Diddle: A Food Chain Tale is described as being a light-hearted romp through an ecosystem (discovering food chains, which animals are predators, which animals are prey). And indeed, the poetic and song-like text is most definitely rhythmic, rollicking and engaging (as well as being quite informative) and would more than likely be a hit with many youngsters (with the intended age group), but personally I do tend to find the entire concept, the very idea of a happy-go-lucky "song" about the deadly serious relationship and interplay between predator and prey a bit troubling and potentially problematic, as food chains, food webs, the fact that some animals are the hunters and others the hunted are an important, an essential aspect of life on earth, but in my opinion, this salient fact is not in ANY way either light-hearted or inherently joyful.

But all that being said, I would still tend to recommend Hey Diddle Diddle: A Food Chain Tale for use with/by young children interested in ecology (even just for the simply excellent and engaging supplemental activities listed at the back, which are an appreciated added bonus and a real teaching and learning treasure trove). I would, however, especially if I were reading this book with or to slightly older children, also want to mention that the interaction between and among predators and prey in a given ecosystem is generally and basically a matter of life and death (and not some joyful, playful ditty about who/what is on top, and who/what ends up as a snack, as a meal).

Now with regard to Sherry Rogers' accompanying illustrations, they are lively, bright and wonderfully descriptive (providing a for the most part engaging and entertaining complement to Pam Kapchinske's text). Parents, caregivers, librarians etc. should note, though, that in particular the illustration of the snake is rather boldly in-your-face and could perhaps be frightening and/or creepy for sensitive children (as particularly its head seems almost larger than life, a beady-eyed serpent just waiting to pounce on, to devour its unsuspecting prey).

[ACS Book-finder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey Diddle Diddle, A Food Chain Tale is a whimsical story about the interconnectedness of eight different animals and the food chain that results within this ecosystem. The story is told using enchanting rhyming verses. Each animal within the food chain has its own little niche within the broader ecosystem. As each animal is introduced within the storyline, other facts as to its characteristics or classification is revealed making the story much more than just the study of a food chain.

The illustrator has also done a marvelous job picturing the animals in a charming way. Each animal is pictured within its natural habitat and accurately displays characteristics true of each animal.

Included after the story is a section entitled, “For Creative Minds”. It has several different kinds of matching games and activities. These games enlarge upon facts already learned in the story, such as the difference between herbivores and carnivores, and the predator and prey relationship. It also includes an activity that teaches animal characteristics and classification. Finally, the author includes a website that consists of more activities that the reader may enjoy while learning about basic biology facts.

I enjoyed the book immensely, and I think it would be a wonderful addition to any early elementary classroom or as an addition to a home collection to be read again and again! (reviewed by S.Fincannon, Science Teacher)

Author info: Pam Kapchinske (pronounced Cap-Chin-Ski) is a freelance writer and editor of educational materials. She creates K-12 web-based assessments for Scantron Corporation and has written science content for Discovery Education. Her children’s poetry has been published in Ladybug magazine. Pam holds a B.S. in Biology and taught science in the Peace Corps in Zimbabwe. She lives with her husband and two boys in San Diego. Hey Diddle Diddle is her debut picture book.

Illustrator info: Sherry Rogers spent twelve years as a corporate graphic designer and artist before "leaving it all behind" for the freelance world. In addition to illustrating The Penguin Lady for Sylvan Dell, Sherry has illustrated Ten For Me; Hey Diddle Diddle; Paws, Claws, Hands & Feet; Kersplatypus; Burro's Tortillas; and the award-winning Moose and Magpie; Newton and Me; Sort It Out!; and If You Were a Parrot for Sylvan Dell. Sherry lives in Northern California. Visit Sherry's website.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of Hey Diddle Diddle was provided by Sylvan Dell in exchange for our honest review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute introduction to food chains for young children. Includes some activities at the end that provide more factual information on food chains. My children and I enjoyed (but weren't enthralled) by this book.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know what a “food chain” is? No, it’s not a ring of fruits or vegetables that you put around your neck to munch on. This book doesn’t so much define a food chain as it simply illustrates different food chains within a single ecosystem, thus introducing children to the concept of the food web. A shiny green beetle is eaten by a slithering snake which in turn is eaten by a hawk. A frog is eaten by a bass. A plump leaf-eating caterpillar is eaten by a lizard. What animal do you think is at the top of this last food chain and eats the lizard?
Author Pam Kapchinske light-hearted romp through these food chains is so much fun that kids won’t know that they’re actually learning. Even though the fact that some animals eat other animals is part of the food web and must be understood, sensitive children will appreciate the fact that Sherry Rogers’s colorful illustrations don’t show any of the animals actually chomping down on their prey. The four pages of “For Creative Minds” educational section has information about the differences between herbivores and carnivores and between predators and prey, a true-false food chains quiz, questions about animal classification, and an animal adaptations matching activity. Parents and teachers can find more free resources at the publisher’s website. Youngsters will be singing “Hey Diddle Diddle” while finding out which creatures come out on top and which end up as snacks.

[Kendra Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey Diddle Diddle: A Food Chain Tale by Pam Kapchinske, is a sing along book that describes the different food chains in the ecosystem. This sing along book has rhyming words with alliteration.

This book uses great illustrations with the animals depicted in their natural surroundings. This book could inspire cross-curricular learning opportunities in my classroom.

This book would be a great to inspire a math lesson. During this lesson, my students will be given a chart of 5 animals listed in the book. In this chart, each animal will have the size of the animal size in feet/inches and meter/centimeters. From this chart, they will answer 5 questions pertain to the chart. On one of the questions will be “Which is the smallest animal?” After this assignment they will do a similar lesson expect pertaining to the weight of the animals.

[Rochelle Sondae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book helped to save the day today. The cranky toddler with barely 4 hours of sleep (thanks to a new toy last night that he HAD to play with until nearly 12:30 a.m.) became a docile listener by the end of the third spread. He started pointing out the items in each illustration and even sang along a little. I couldn't help but tap my foot to the rhythm of the tune. I was grateful that the illustrations didn't actually show the consumption of the food chain only the means of transport in a few cases. (The snake gets scooped up by the hawk.)

[Alexa White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my daughter's kindergarten class and they loved it! It was a great intro to ecosystems for little ones. They enjoyed an activity where they held up pictures of the animals and lined them up into food chains. I think they learned a lot! The author and illustrator artfully and honestly handled the topic of animals being predators and prey--it is nature and kids are okay with that. I recommend this book to homeschoolers and teachers because it is packed with age-appropriate info that introduces several life science topics. It would be easy to incorporate it into a fun lesson.

[AnnieM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all books put out by Syllvian Dell. I love the illustrations. I loved the writing in this one. I love that they have a section for further learning and enrichment.

This is great for a classroom, homeschool, or just entertainment. Get it today!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some great resources in it for helping teach the food chain including some extra pages in the back after the story. (Recieved as a first reads book)

[Melinda Garman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fun song book that teaches students about ecosystems and food chains. Would be appropriate for 1st through 3rd grade.