So They Build - Moles

The word 'mole' has so many meanings, but here we are talking about the animal.

Moles are small mammals that are found all over the world. They are often thought of as garden pests, mainly because of their intricate tunnel systems. And though they spend most of the time underground,  they are not blind. What they lack in sight, they make up for in their sense of touch. All moles have very sensitive snouts and long, clawed digits that they use to dig tunnels.

Males and females are solitary for most of the year, occupying exclusive territories. With the start of the breeding season males enlarge their territories, tunnelling over large areas in search of females. Within the tunnel system moles construct one or more spherical nest chambers, each lined with a ball of dry plant material. Nests are used for sleeping and for raising young.

I didn't think we had moles in Australia, but we do. We have marsupial moles. Unlike European moles they are small, blind and hairy – and rarely seen by humans.

We have very few books in the library that could be used to research moles, but they are very popular characters in stories and are usually depicted as being cute but cantankerous at times.

Look for:

  • Mole and Friends  series by Jonathan Emmett and Vanessa Cabban

• The series Mouse and Mole  by Joyce Dunbar and James Mayhew

 

• The Bear and Mole series by Will Hillenbrand

• Mouse and Mole series  by Wong Herbert Yee

• The Mole Sisters  by Roslyn Schwartz

• Secret Agent Mole by James Foley

And these stand alones:

So They Build - Meerkats

Meerkats are certainly charismatic. Their sentinel behaviour makes them different from other animals. Whenever we do a display of meerkat books, the books leave the library very quickly. The students that use our school library live near the zoo and visit it frequently. It has a meerkat enclosure that they are always keen to visit.

Meerkats live in groups called mobs. Living in a mob helps the meerkats to find food, protect themselves and look after their young. All meerkats in a mob help with the work. Individuals have different skills that can help a group.They are constantly on the lookout for animals that may attack their mob, such as eagles and hawks. When they spot an enemy, they may scurry into their underground burrows or attack! 

Meerkats are skilled builders, crafting intricate tunnel systems beneath the earth. This network of tunnels is an intricate feat of engineering. The tunnels are used as sleeping quarters, safe nurseries for their young and refuge from the extreme heat, the harsh desert elements and predators.

There are few animals that work together as well as meerkats. When it comes to getting things done, meerkats know that teamwork is the way to go. Families of these furry little critters often live together, forming communities of up to fifty members. They protect other group members by taking turns being a lookout and scanning the area for danger. Everyone in the mob participates in gathering food, keeping a look out for predators, and taking care of the babies. 

This week these books were on display, but then all were borrowed.

And some stories:

And the most popular, but always missing in action:

For the chapter book enthusiasts, look for these series

So They Build - Spiders

Spiders are the most amazing of the animal builders, I think. How do they make such delicate webs over such large spaces, time and time again. There is nothing more beautiful than walking into a garden first thing in the morning and spying a dew-laden spiderweb. And they do feel like silk! How do they do it? I need to read more about spiders, so while putting together a display I think I should dip into a few of the books.

I am going to start with this book because it is one of those nonfiction books that you can dip into. It has amazing double page spreads like this one.

• Up Close Spiders  by Cathy Riley

• Spiders Closeup  by Andrew Kelly

Then this one because it focusses on web building.

• Spinning Spiders  by Melvin Berger

• Jumper  by Jessica Lanan

This is new and award winning.

Next any of these:

 • Spiderwebs  by Nancy Furstinger   

• Spiders Spin Webs by Yvonne Winer

 • Scurry the Truth About Spiders by Annette Whipple

• Spiderwebs & Spider Silk  by Lynnae W. Allred

Now for some stories:

• Seaver the Weaver by Paul Czajak and The Brothers Hilt

• The Weaver  by Qian Shi

• The Very Busy Spider  by Eric Carle

• Aranea  by Jenny Wagner and Ron Brooks

• Sophie's Masterpiece by Eileen Spinelli and  Jane Dyer

• The Spider Weaver  by Margaret Musgrove and Julia Cairns

• Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss

• The Spider and the Fly  by Tony Diverlizzi

• The Spider by Elise Gravel