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Superpower Field Guide
Moles: A Funny and Illustrated Field Guide About the Common Mole for Kids (Ages 8-12)
Meet Rosalie, a common mole.The first thing you need to know about Rosalie is that she is shaped like a potato. Not a new potato, all cute and round, but a plain old lumpy potato. She may be small. She may be spongy. But never underestimate a mole.
I know what you’re thinking: moles are just squinty-eyed beasts that wreck your lawn.
You’re right! Those squinty eyes and mounds of dirt are proof that moles have superpowers. There is absolutely nothing common about the common mole.
I know what you’re thinking: moles are just squinty-eyed beasts that wreck your lawn.
You’re right! Those squinty eyes and mounds of dirt are proof that moles have superpowers. There is absolutely nothing common about the common mole.
96 pages, Hardcover
Published June 18, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 22, 2020
ASTONISHING ARCHITECT OF DIRT
INDEFATIGABLE PAWS OF POWER
DOUBLE-THUMB-DIGGING DOMINANCE
EARLY WHISKER WARNING SYSTEM
These are some of the mole's superpowers highlighted in this brilliant book by Poliquin. I will FOREVER BE A FAN of the MOLE. I purchased this book after reading Poliquin's Beavers (another in the series). Oh my goodness! The favor Poliquin and Frith have done for teachers--just read a bit out loud and students will want to grab off the library shelf AND THIS IS PART OF A SERIES!!!!!
So many fascinating facts woven together to reveal the why of big ideas like "astonishing architect of dirt." Seriously. Did you know the mole builds a fortress of tunnels? Or a "secretly superb subterranean system of superhighways"? The molehills you see in your yard are part of the "dump tunnel" where the tiny mole (about the size and shape of a "russet potato" and weighing only a few ounces or less) has pushed dirt out of the way to make tunnels. They have these amazing feet (with extra thumbs) that move dirt in a motion similar to a "breaststroke" used when swimming. They can eat faster than you can blink. They have whiskers all over their body that can sense worms nearby. They keep captured worms in a worm pantry but they bite off each worm's head first so it won't be able to escape (since it takes a month or so to grow a new head and move again). SO MANY FASCINATING DETAILS. I could go on and on.
These facts could easily be in any book you pick up about moles, but it's Poliquin's writing that sucks you in and makes you want to read more.
"More whiskers mean more information, and Rosalie [a common European mole who is the star of the book] is covered in them. She has whiskers on her chin, under her chin, and on her muzzle. She has tufts of whiskers on the sides of her face. She has whiskers on her forepaws. She even has whiskers on her tail! Now that's what I call a 360-degree EARLY WHISKER WARNING SYSTEM!
Impressive, right? But wait till you hear what Rosalie's snout can do!" - p. 51
Poliquin's knack for kid-friendly comparisons is striking. Up front, she compares the mole to the shape and size of a russet potato and Frith includes a visual of both plus a ruler. Then throughout the book, Poliquin includes comparison after comparison to help students visualize not only physical features (innervated sinus hair follicles are like tiny bags of jello), but also to more difficult concepts like how fast a mole eats (really, really fast and faster than you can sneak a chocolate from the box your mother left out) and what a moletopia is versus a kid's idea of utopia. Frith rises up to the challenge with kid-friendly sketches that support Poliquin's text.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Read aloud a part or all. Encourage small groups to read and talk about. Place in the hands of reluctant readers. So much potential.
See my review of The Superpower Field Guide: Beavers - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
INDEFATIGABLE PAWS OF POWER
DOUBLE-THUMB-DIGGING DOMINANCE
EARLY WHISKER WARNING SYSTEM
These are some of the mole's superpowers highlighted in this brilliant book by Poliquin. I will FOREVER BE A FAN of the MOLE. I purchased this book after reading Poliquin's Beavers (another in the series). Oh my goodness! The favor Poliquin and Frith have done for teachers--just read a bit out loud and students will want to grab off the library shelf AND THIS IS PART OF A SERIES!!!!!
So many fascinating facts woven together to reveal the why of big ideas like "astonishing architect of dirt." Seriously. Did you know the mole builds a fortress of tunnels? Or a "secretly superb subterranean system of superhighways"? The molehills you see in your yard are part of the "dump tunnel" where the tiny mole (about the size and shape of a "russet potato" and weighing only a few ounces or less) has pushed dirt out of the way to make tunnels. They have these amazing feet (with extra thumbs) that move dirt in a motion similar to a "breaststroke" used when swimming. They can eat faster than you can blink. They have whiskers all over their body that can sense worms nearby. They keep captured worms in a worm pantry but they bite off each worm's head first so it won't be able to escape (since it takes a month or so to grow a new head and move again). SO MANY FASCINATING DETAILS. I could go on and on.
These facts could easily be in any book you pick up about moles, but it's Poliquin's writing that sucks you in and makes you want to read more.
"More whiskers mean more information, and Rosalie [a common European mole who is the star of the book] is covered in them. She has whiskers on her chin, under her chin, and on her muzzle. She has tufts of whiskers on the sides of her face. She has whiskers on her forepaws. She even has whiskers on her tail! Now that's what I call a 360-degree EARLY WHISKER WARNING SYSTEM!
Impressive, right? But wait till you hear what Rosalie's snout can do!" - p. 51
Poliquin's knack for kid-friendly comparisons is striking. Up front, she compares the mole to the shape and size of a russet potato and Frith includes a visual of both plus a ruler. Then throughout the book, Poliquin includes comparison after comparison to help students visualize not only physical features (innervated sinus hair follicles are like tiny bags of jello), but also to more difficult concepts like how fast a mole eats (really, really fast and faster than you can sneak a chocolate from the box your mother left out) and what a moletopia is versus a kid's idea of utopia. Frith rises up to the challenge with kid-friendly sketches that support Poliquin's text.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Read aloud a part or all. Encourage small groups to read and talk about. Place in the hands of reluctant readers. So much potential.
See my review of The Superpower Field Guide: Beavers - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
February 9, 2023
SUPER cute art and I learned a ton about moles!
April 15, 2020
This humorous field guide to moles will have middle-schoolers riveted and rolling in the aisles. The graphic style and fictional main character do not detract from the scientific nature of the information being presented. The structure is moderately well-organized and the text is lively. I couldn't believe the author could squeeze so many facts about moles into one book. While I did find the over-the-top comic book-based voice a little grating by the end, young readers will probably not read the whole book in one sitting. The book certainly gives the reader food for thought and helps them ignite the sense of wonder that sees all of nature with new eyes. Factual enough to serve as a jumping-off point for research as well.
January 29, 2020
An entertaining and educational book about moles...entertaining enough to maybe make the mole your favorite animal! I learned tons of facts that I normally would plow through without thinking about, but Poliquin's fun style with plenty of comparisons make you stop and realize how amazing this animal actually is! Kids will laugh and laugh at the jokes and examples. Bonus: a 60s/retro style of illustrations.
December 8, 2019
Cover captions like "Featuring Rosalie the Bionic Burrower!", "96 Pages of Gobsmacking Facts", "Mole Illustrations Galore", and "ARMS OF HERCULUES! SUPRSONIC SNOUT FINGERS! BOOD OF THE GODS! AND MORE!" seemed so over the tops that they nearly turned me off before starting. That was not the case with the kids who picked it up.
Within minutes of opening the book I realized that author Rachel Poliquin had dug deep. (<<< See what I did there?)
And it shows.
Illustrator Nicholas John Firth brings comparable hyperbole and retro style to his illustrations with limited color tones and unlimited fun while adhering closely to the scientific facts about amazing moles.
I'll admit that moles were low on the appeal-meter for me, even though I'm an animal-lover. I tolerate deer nibbling my foliage, squirrels and chipmunks uprooting my bulbs for tasty snacks, and rabbits raiding my veggies and can't suppress my smiles.
However, moles undermining my garden hovered in the irritation-zone, not far from cabbage worms and slugs.
This book won me over, though, and I've read it several times. My admiration for moles now is immeasurable! Those over exclamations are more than merited.
The author manages to make clever comparisons from from page one- inviting readers to see a typical garden mole as potato sized-and-shaped critter. She backs up her raves about this squinty-eyed, super-powered wonder with astonishing facts.
Naming her model mole Rosalie, the author provides all the science detail you could imagine (and more!) while layering in humor and stacking up page after page of impressive accomplishments and adaptations for this little powerhouse.
The writing itself is a perfect blend of lighthearted explanations and informed admiration for moles. After reading this field guide, it's easy to describe Rosalie and her relatives as charming. Back matter includes suggested further reading (both fiction and nonfiction) and a helpful glossary.
Within minutes of opening the book I realized that author Rachel Poliquin had dug deep. (<<< See what I did there?)
And it shows.
Illustrator Nicholas John Firth brings comparable hyperbole and retro style to his illustrations with limited color tones and unlimited fun while adhering closely to the scientific facts about amazing moles.
I'll admit that moles were low on the appeal-meter for me, even though I'm an animal-lover. I tolerate deer nibbling my foliage, squirrels and chipmunks uprooting my bulbs for tasty snacks, and rabbits raiding my veggies and can't suppress my smiles.
However, moles undermining my garden hovered in the irritation-zone, not far from cabbage worms and slugs.
This book won me over, though, and I've read it several times. My admiration for moles now is immeasurable! Those over exclamations are more than merited.
The author manages to make clever comparisons from from page one- inviting readers to see a typical garden mole as potato sized-and-shaped critter. She backs up her raves about this squinty-eyed, super-powered wonder with astonishing facts.
Naming her model mole Rosalie, the author provides all the science detail you could imagine (and more!) while layering in humor and stacking up page after page of impressive accomplishments and adaptations for this little powerhouse.
The writing itself is a perfect blend of lighthearted explanations and informed admiration for moles. After reading this field guide, it's easy to describe Rosalie and her relatives as charming. Back matter includes suggested further reading (both fiction and nonfiction) and a helpful glossary.
January 12, 2020
Learn all about moles, their unique attributes, habits, and amazing abilities.
This was written in a super-engaging style. Rachel Poliquin has an amazing nonfiction voice for middle grade readers. She relates the facts about moles in such a way that the pages fly by and you can't wait to find out more. She also doesn't hold back on using some great vocabulary (while also making sure readers understand those big words she throws in). The illustrations are cute, prevalent, and help further understanding by showing what the author is talking about. I never knew I wanted to learn more about moles until I started reading this book. Looking forward to Poliquin's next Superpower Field Guide. Highly recommended for even the most reluctant of nonfiction readers. Also would make a great nonfiction read aloud (just make sure you can share the illustrations somehow too).
This was written in a super-engaging style. Rachel Poliquin has an amazing nonfiction voice for middle grade readers. She relates the facts about moles in such a way that the pages fly by and you can't wait to find out more. She also doesn't hold back on using some great vocabulary (while also making sure readers understand those big words she throws in). The illustrations are cute, prevalent, and help further understanding by showing what the author is talking about. I never knew I wanted to learn more about moles until I started reading this book. Looking forward to Poliquin's next Superpower Field Guide. Highly recommended for even the most reluctant of nonfiction readers. Also would make a great nonfiction read aloud (just make sure you can share the illustrations somehow too).
September 17, 2020
Cheery book about moles and what they can do. It's a friendly style, with the text centered around Rosalee, who is representing moleking in general (and the European ones in particular). I liked learning details of mole characteristics but the style seemed condescending to me. Of course, it's not aimed at me; I would definitely hand this to kids who were into animals and had a leaning towards science.
February 4, 2019
I received an ARC of this book and it is fantastic! I’m in love with Rosalie and love her cousin Victor. Moles is Funny, charming and full of fast facts students will gobble up. I can already think of the class that this book will be perfect for in the fall!!
August 1, 2019
I loved Beavers, and this one had all the same amazing elements. The only thing I didn't care for was the repeated demeaning comments about how moles are dumpy and weird.
Read
September 20, 2019Picture P768m 2019
October 26, 2019
This book was quite good, but I didn't like it as much as the Beavers book. Maybe I just think Beavers arw more interesting.
January 9, 2020
These books are great! My boys love them. Nature is amazing...ask me about worm pantries 😱
February 11, 2020
Fun and engagingly informative.
March 7, 2020
I love this series. I can't wait to read the next book!
December 7, 2021
fantastic series!!
March 29, 2023
Wow! The things that I learned! Great job Rachel and Nicholas!
March 5, 2024
It made me laugh, and I learned a lot about these small but mighty creatures. It was so fun and honestly would be great for anyone.
July 11, 2025
Very fun and informative, ala Mary Roach for kids.
January 14, 2026
The perfect blend of facts, story, humor, creativity... everything.
May 3, 2026
Packed with information that's easy to understand.
January 4, 2020
Short engaging book about moles. Who knew they were so interesting? A breezy conversational style will keep young readers motivated through the more scientific parts.
July 7, 2019
After reading this field guide, Moles have earned a permanent place on my list of favorite inscrutable animals--right up there with sharks, bats and tarantulas.
This book is SO FUN. The way the mole's adaptations are rolled out as superpowers - complete with detailed (and hilarious) diagrams and comparisons - it's super accessible, funny, interesting.
This is my favorite bit of children's nonfiction that I've read this year. I'll be getting all the Superpower Field Guides for my class.
This book is SO FUN. The way the mole's adaptations are rolled out as superpowers - complete with detailed (and hilarious) diagrams and comparisons - it's super accessible, funny, interesting.
This is my favorite bit of children's nonfiction that I've read this year. I'll be getting all the Superpower Field Guides for my class.
April 29, 2023
Rachel Poliquin did it again: after Beavers, Moles was another exciting read. Who'd have thought that moles would be exciting creatures? But they are, we enjoyed this book together, and cannot wait for Ostriches to come out and make its way to our home!
Do continue!
Do continue!
July 30, 2019
4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews