Black Out!: Animals That Live in the Dark

by Ginjer L. Clarke, Pete Mueller (Illustrator)

Did you know that the luna moth only flutters around at night--or that is has a wingspan as wide as a bowl of soup? This reader is packed with interesting facts about all the creepy animals that we never get to see during the daytime, like the barn owl, the blind cave fish, and the vampire squid.

Genres: Animals, Nonfiction, Childrens, Science

48 pages, Paperback

First published July 3, 2008

About the author

Ginjer L. Clarke writes fun, fact-filled nonfiction beginning readers about weird, wonderful animals. Her love for strange creatures started early, as the first story she remembers writing in the third grade was “The Strange Animal” about a small, pink-spotted imaginary creature called a Woofa. She loves that her job entails visiting zoos and aquariums, reading lots of books, and even watching TV for research. And she can work at home in her pajamas, which is a lifelong dream!

Ginjer’s books, most of which are part of Grosset & Dunlap’s All Aboard Science Reader series, have sold a combined total of more than 2 million copies worldwide. Her books Freak Out! and Gross Out! were on Publisher’s Weekly’s 2006 and 2007 lists of top 100 best-selling children’s books. Her books have been favorably reviewed in Booklist, Horn Book, School Library Journal, Children’s Literature, and regional newspapers and magazines, and are featured in Scholastic and Bedford Falls Book Fairs. Her book Platypus! (Random House Step into Reading) was awarded the Maryland Library Association’s 2005 Blue Crab Young Reader Award for Nonfiction and was selected by the National Science Teachers Association as recommended classroom reading.

Ginjer is an experienced and lively school, library, and conference presenter, who has appeared at more than 100 elementary schools, regional reading and writing conferences, statewide book festivals, many bookstores and libraries, and even a zoo. She is a graduate of James Madison University and lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband, young son, and several silly-looking pets.

Reviews

[Malcolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Grandma sent me this book. It is so spooky and cool. My favorite animal in it is the tripod fish!

[Pamela Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating tidbits about various animals that live in the dark, from nighttime hunters to deep sea dwellers to sunless caves. Perfect introductory title that spurs lots of questions from students.

[Mellanie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cool.

[Matthew Mealer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I personally enjoyed reading this so I know my students will. Black Out is a book about animals that are nocturnal or live in complete darkness. I was taken away by some of the animals I had never heard of before! Especially the Honeypot Ants! Great self read for second and third grade. Boys will love it!

[Sherry Thornberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about nocturnal animals from fish to mammals. Its kind of spooky but very informative and has a lot of vocabulary explained in laymens terms. I think the pictures add to the spookyness of the book. They are well done. I like this book. It contained information about animals I didnt even know existed. But some were unnerving.

[Kelly Whelchel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Science Grade 5 Non-fiction

Use this book to talk about where different animals live. Use this book in a book report for the students. Have each child master a special animal and report to the class about that animal.

[Jessica P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning Chapter Book format. young children would enjoy hearing this read aloud and older children can use it for basic information on any of the various animals. AR: 3.5, 0.5pts

[Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book taught me that honey ant's queen does not move. They collect drinks from flowers too, like bees. At the end is an owl face and the book says Hoo! Hoo!

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked learning about all of the different animals. My favorite were the Oarfish and the Tripod fish. The Tripod fish was pretty. I also liked the prairie dogs, especially when they smooched!

[Earl · Rating 3 out of 5]

So many interesting facts! Basically, each two-page spread focuses on one nocturnal creature. I'm sure kids will be intrigued to read more about some of the animals they encounter!