This book, written for grades 3 to 5 as part of the TRUE BOOK series for young readers, describes how five different mammals have adapted to living in the temperate forest. Divided into short chapters, the book begins with an introduction that discusses the seasonal changes that occur in temperate zones and some general adaptations common to mammals. A world map indicates where each mammal is found. Subsequent chapters describe adaptations specific to beavers, echidnas, and raccoons as well as koalas and wild boars. The chapter on echidnas, for example, explains that these unusual mammals do not give birth to live young.
Readers learn that echidna babies hatch from eggs that develop in a pouch on the mother's belly.
Young echidnas leave the pouch when their spines appear, and adult echidnas eat termites and ants. The book is illustrated with large, color photographs that depict a wild boar mother and her young, a koala eating eucalyptus, and a close up view of a beaver's paddle shaped tail. A glossary and resource list of books, organizations, and Internet sites are included. ENC does NOT distribute this resource.