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Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 1
How to Be a Nature Detective
Who left those tracks? Who lives in that hole? Study animal tracks and other clues to find out more about the world around us in this book.
46 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1958
4 people are currently reading
197 people want to read
About the author
Millicent E. Selsam
142 books18 followersMillicent Ellis Selsam was was a biologist and teacher who wrote natural science literature for children.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 10, 2019
This book has been through four different titles and this one is the worst of them. Now it's confused with Big Tracks, Little Tracks - a book from the original Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series. Despite the absence of the "detective" title, the text continually refers to being a nature detective.
The colorful illustrations are pretty, but distract from the informational text, which in many cases is largely unchanged from the 1966 edition I examined: How to Be a Nature Detective.
One spread that was eliminated was "Sometimes mothers are good detectives." So, feminist anti-gender-role crusaders, it seems what you've accomplished is getting women entirely erased - women who were actually being praised (in a book written by a woman, no less). Now we have nothing.
Another change was to go from the correct "That is why he does not leave claw marks." to the ungrammatical "So he does not leave claw marks."
Also removed was an informative page that said that tigers and panthers make tracks like a cat. Just gone.
The earlier book also made good use of different text blocks spaced out over the page. This book lumps everything together. It also often combines what had been on two pages into just one, making it seem cluttered and overly wordy. The earlier book had 46 pages and this has 32. Why force the reduction?
Four pages containing two more examples (turtles and sandpipers) are now gone. Lastly, the culmination where the earlier book shows five different tracks for identification with the answer revealed after a page turn, and then six more in a similar way is now crammed with nine on a single spread - but without any page turn!!! The answers are right there, so it's not much of a test. Idiocy.
What is added in the new book is a final page with two activities.
The colorful illustrations are pretty, but distract from the informational text, which in many cases is largely unchanged from the 1966 edition I examined: How to Be a Nature Detective.
One spread that was eliminated was "Sometimes mothers are good detectives." So, feminist anti-gender-role crusaders, it seems what you've accomplished is getting women entirely erased - women who were actually being praised (in a book written by a woman, no less). Now we have nothing.
Another change was to go from the correct "That is why he does not leave claw marks." to the ungrammatical "So he does not leave claw marks."
Also removed was an informative page that said that tigers and panthers make tracks like a cat. Just gone.
The earlier book also made good use of different text blocks spaced out over the page. This book lumps everything together. It also often combines what had been on two pages into just one, making it seem cluttered and overly wordy. The earlier book had 46 pages and this has 32. Why force the reduction?
Four pages containing two more examples (turtles and sandpipers) are now gone. Lastly, the culmination where the earlier book shows five different tracks for identification with the answer revealed after a page turn, and then six more in a similar way is now crammed with nine on a single spread - but without any page turn!!! The answers are right there, so it's not much of a test. Idiocy.
What is added in the new book is a final page with two activities.
April 6, 2024
Big Tracks, Little Tracks by Millicent Selsam, c. 1995, original publication 1958.
What a great little nature book! It's considered "Stage 1" Let's-read-and-find-out Science. Although it was originally titled "How to be a Nature Detective," the edition I read was republished in 1995 and entitled, "Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints."
This non-fiction science book is an easy-to-read and easy-to-follow guide to recognizing common animal tracks, what makes them, how to tell where they are coming from, and where they are going. Some of the tracks explored include cat and dog, rabbit and fox, deer, frogs, snakes, sea gulls and raccoons. There are also a couple of easy experiments for kids at the end of the book.
Recommended for ages 3-8 years.
What a great little nature book! It's considered "Stage 1" Let's-read-and-find-out Science. Although it was originally titled "How to be a Nature Detective," the edition I read was republished in 1995 and entitled, "Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints."
This non-fiction science book is an easy-to-read and easy-to-follow guide to recognizing common animal tracks, what makes them, how to tell where they are coming from, and where they are going. Some of the tracks explored include cat and dog, rabbit and fox, deer, frogs, snakes, sea gulls and raccoons. There are also a couple of easy experiments for kids at the end of the book.
Recommended for ages 3-8 years.
April 10, 2019
This version is much better than the later Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints. It is cleaner and clearer and contains more information. Some of Keats's illustrations are more in his Snowy Day style, but not as good.
August 4, 2016
Great book introducing children to tracking animal prints in different surroundings. It also shows them by observing nature you can tell who was there, where they went, and what they were doing...krb 8/4/16
August 9, 2022
Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints is written by Millicent E. Selsam and illustrated by Marlene Hill Donnelly. The genre of this book is nonfiction and picture book. The book is intended for children ages two through seven. This book is about being a nature detective and figuring out what each of the prints belongs to what animal. It shows you what different animal tracks look like and how to decipher them. I rated this book 5/5 stars because it teaches a great life lesson to children, something that can be used when out and about in nature. This book also teaches a little bit about science and gets children’s minds going and learning about wildlife observation. The book has great illustrations and characters, and the writing is engaging. The book appeals to young children that like animals and/or nature. I really like this book and would highly recommend it.
January 24, 2024
This book was a very engaging read-aloud. Kids love being a detective, then turning their page and discovering the deduction was correct.
Improvements that could be made: if the original title of this book was How to Be a Nature Detective, I do think that is a more engaging title. Lastly, the sea gull's footprints are so easily confused with a duck's. Maybe end with an animal with a more distinctive footprint to help children get their last guess right?
Improvements that could be made: if the original title of this book was How to Be a Nature Detective, I do think that is a more engaging title. Lastly, the sea gull's footprints are so easily confused with a duck's. Maybe end with an animal with a more distinctive footprint to help children get their last guess right?
February 10, 2020
This was one of my son's most favorite books when he was younger, so we've read it countless times. The illustrations are very lifelike. This book really got my kids excited about looking for tracks and "clues" when we go outdoors.
July 3, 2017
I enjoyed this book because I like detectives. I also enjoyed this book because I liked the part when I saw all the animal tracks.
June 28, 2019
462 - 2019
November 19, 2019
This is a fun, informative book to read with the kids. Good insights about interpreting animal tracks.
February 19, 2021
Long. Weird selection of animals.
August 15, 2023
Informative children's book about nature ans animal tracks.
January 24, 2025
I learned a few things from this kindergarten book!
April 28, 2022
Loved this! Very informative! *no evolution
January 7, 2012
Animal tracks are distinct from one another -- some have claws showing in the print and some don't; some animals walk in their own tracks and some don't, and so forth. But it is not common to find animal tracks in the wild that have not been walked over multiple times, often by multiple animals, unless you are walking in new-fallen snow. The tracks in this book are well-described and well-drawn, but might frustrate some young scientists who have difficulty finding clear examples of animal tracks.
Although listed for Preschool-Kdgn, the interest level might be closer to 3rd-4th grade, when children might be allowed to wander around looking for animal tracks. Urban children with little opportunity to observe animal tracks in the wild might have less interest.
Although listed for Preschool-Kdgn, the interest level might be closer to 3rd-4th grade, when children might be allowed to wander around looking for animal tracks. Urban children with little opportunity to observe animal tracks in the wild might have less interest.
December 12, 2015
I wish this book had a little more style, but it's great for what it aims to do. There is minimal information, but it presents it clearly and easily, and the format made it great for group time as it became a guessing game. I only wish there were more information! I did an animal tracking unit with my preschool and kindergarten kiddos, and they had a ton of fun with it. They adored the idea of being "nature detectives," and I definitely credit this book with being a great introduction to the subject.
July 23, 2016
I love it. I'm so glad I found this older copy of How to Be a Nature Detective! It was not originally printed as a part of the Let's-Read-And-Find-Out series, and the original illustrations and layout of the book are far more charming.
Animal tracking is such a fun thing to learn about and can help improve a kid's spatial intelligence. It's presented in such an accessible way in this book.
(My used copy is stamped: Tygh School Community PO Box 111 Tygh Valley, OH 97063.)
Animal tracking is such a fun thing to learn about and can help improve a kid's spatial intelligence. It's presented in such an accessible way in this book.
(My used copy is stamped: Tygh School Community PO Box 111 Tygh Valley, OH 97063.)
June 16, 2015
An EXCELLENT book for learning to track basic forest animals such as a cat, dog, deer, rabbit, fox, frog, snake and seagull. Using all their detective skills, children to look for clues and habitats of the various animals.
Simple illustrations and effective writing are a winning combination in this animal tracking resource. We learned so much here, even though we spend a lot of time outdoors looking for animal tracks.
Wonderful treasure of a book.
Simple illustrations and effective writing are a winning combination in this animal tracking resource. We learned so much here, even though we spend a lot of time outdoors looking for animal tracks.
Wonderful treasure of a book.
January 7, 2019
Excellent kids' book! Would recommend this to parents who want to introduce their younger kids to nature facts or kids who are interested in science. I even learned a few things!
Age: Early reader (Daycare/Pre-K to 2nd Grade)
5 out of 5 stars for:
- Illustrations (watercolor/pen) and typography
- Informative/teaches kids new facts
- Easy to understand
- Interactive/helps think critically
- Good use of language/new vocabulary
Age: Early reader (Daycare/Pre-K to 2nd Grade)
5 out of 5 stars for:
- Illustrations (watercolor/pen) and typography
- Informative/teaches kids new facts
- Easy to understand
- Interactive/helps think critically
- Good use of language/new vocabulary
March 8, 2013
Big Tracks, Little Tracks: Following Animal Prints, Millicent Ellis Selsam
Grade Level: 2-5
Topic: Animal prints
Description: This book lets students take a walk through the woods and study the different prints that animals make with their feet on the ground. It gives students clues and they guess which animal made each set of prints.
Grade Level: 2-5
Topic: Animal prints
Description: This book lets students take a walk through the woods and study the different prints that animals make with their feet on the ground. It gives students clues and they guess which animal made each set of prints.
November 18, 2009
I love that this book isn't just about looking at animal prints, but that it includes all sorts of other scientific questions that you can ask about animal behavior. What a great way to get kids to explore what's around them. It's really the whole little scientist thing.
July 28, 2012
What a great book for little outdoor detectives like I have! My oldest loved listening to this story and trying to figure out what animal had been through the illustrations by just looking at the tracks. I highly recommend this book.
July 22, 2010
Even I learned something about animal tracks, and it left Teagan excited to look for tracks.
May 9, 2020
Read at Circle Time at the Tenley library on 8/14/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...
July 22, 2013
We learned a lot from this one too!
January 21, 2014
I liked the angle of being a nature detective. The kids enjoyed looking for clues, answering the questions, and matching the tracks. This was another good book in this science series.
April 20, 2018
as I read this book i realized that this book was about being a detective and looking at the different tracking prints of different animals. and for kids that like nature and are fascinated by that stuff would be interested in reading this book
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews