Big Cats

by Seymour Simon

The grace and power of big cats—lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs, pumas, and snow leopards—are captured in full-color photographs and a text that explores how they hunt, care for their young, and rest in their varied natural habitats. ‘The combination of action shots and the author’s practiced, informal style will win the attention of young readers, with whom Simon charges the future of big cats.’ —C.
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children 1991 (NSTA/CBC)
1994 Garden State (NJ) Children's Nonfiction Award

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Science, Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science:] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association).

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York, where he lives with his wife Liz Nealon.

You can follow Seymour on Facebook and on Twitter, as well as on his website, which offers free, downloadable Teacher Guides to his books for educators, parents and homeschoolers, as well as the popular Seymour Science Daily Blo

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nonfiction
3rd-5th grade
I really like how the author described the big cats as one at the beginning to show their similarities, then branched off into facts about each of the different cats. Reading about these magnificent, beautiful creatures is really interesting, and I personally enjoyed reading about them. The book describes their size and I can’t even imagine what they would look like up close, in person.

[Micha O'Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm. This book has stunning pictures of big cats from all over the world. But it’s the narrative of each species that accompanies the shutterstock images that bother me. Not conducive to any sort of research, with key points getting lost in the text. A nice coffee table book, though not a great library selection.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brief overview of seven big cats: tiger, lion, leopard, jaguar, puma, snow leopard, and cheetah. The first few pages discuss attributes of big cats that are common to all of them. Then he devotes a page of so to each specific cat. Illustrated with excellent, large photos. The book concludes with a glossary, index, and list of websites.

[Emily Dougherty · Rating 3 out of 5]

o Grades 3-5
o Informational
o This is a good easy to understand information filled bot. it is great for sparking curiosity in large cats.

[J.R. Damon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book as a child!

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've read several nonfiction books by Seymour Simon. His books are very informative and usually have a lot of interesting color photographs. I like that the books are educational, but not overwhelming with details or boring.

This book offers a fairly comprehensive look at different breeds of big cats. The narrative isn't too long and we were able to finish it in one reading. It reminded us somewhat of the book Saving the Ghost of the Mountain: An Expedition Among Snow Leopards in Mongolia by Sy Montgomery and Nic Bishop.

The photographs are terrific and we loved looking at the beautiful creatures, especially since our own 'big cat' came to sit with us and purr while we read the book. We really enjoyed reading this book together.

new word: dhole

[Nicole Voerg · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. No award
2. 1st-2nd grade
3. This book is about all different types of cats in the world. There is not an overwhelming amount of detail, but enough about each breed to teach a class. The photographs take up entire pages, and are real photographs which makes the book seem more real.
4. As a child I hated reading children book such as this one, but a from a teacher student candidates perceptive this is a great book. It is easy to read in one sitting with a class. The details are not crazy, and the picture throughout grab your attention.
5. This books can be used just for pleasure or to teach or introduce the topic of animals into the classroom. You can base projects off this book assigning groups to do more research on a certain kind of cat and bringing it all back together to create a class book about it.

[Israel Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a really good book has good information about wild cats and has pretty good pictures. I read about a tiger and they are pretty interesting I would like y'all to read about tigers. They're one of the largest cat and live in Asia. Many people call them man eater's, but they don't attack human for fun or food they only attack when feel threaten. I recommend you to read more about them, they are a really interesting animals. :)

[Karltario]

I loved this book becasue I lve animals. It was an informative text for children. I like the detailed, realistic pictures in the book. If the author could improve on anything, I would have it be the pictures. Although, plenty and realistic, they they do not capture any of the actions that the animals are depicted performing in the book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and full of great pictures of big cats.

I learn several things that I didn't know, such as the reason they are called big cats - just a hint, it isn't their size.

The fastest cats, largest cats and rarest cats are spotlighted.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this book is very interesting how it tells u facts about the BIG CATS.

[Summer Rhiann Theis · Rating 4 out of 5]

im studying cats!!!! so im reading this! and it has cute pics in it

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Making Meaning 5th Grade Resource Kit

Informative, great pictures, kids will like it

[Kelly Morgan]

This book is a informative book for all ages, but mainly for 2nd grade and up. It gives student facts about cats. If a student is doing research about cats, it would be a great resource to have.

[Taylor Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is great for students who like learning about animals. Fifth graders should have no problems reading this book.

[Sarah Davis]

Informational
A book that tells about the various kinds of big cats and their habits. Could be a good book to use in a lesson about habitats.

[Malia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the photos in this book. The bios are pretty good. Its been updated.