We Are the Keystones by Katy S. Duffield

We're on a roll this week with literature involving animals, so I figured we might as well toss in some nonfiction goodness, too. Today's read looks a the term 'keystones' and should present various animals and how they work in nature's system. I'll admit that I'm learning more and more about this term myself, since it seems to be popping up in the biology world more and more. So, I'll probably be learning something, too...or at least, seeing what falls into the definition of this term. That's the lovely thing about books; there's always something to learn!

So, let's open this one up and see what awaits inside.

WE ARE THE KEYSTONES

Animals That Hold Habitats Together 

by Katy S Duffield

Illustrated by Salyer

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book Nonfiction

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING SEPTEMBER 1st!!!

Meet keystone species—the hidden heroes of the natural world—and learn about the ecosystems they support in this marvelous nonfiction picture book from the author of Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals.

Keystone species are plants, animals, or other organisms that have a huge effect on the environments around them. From beavers to elephants, alligators to hummingbirds, keystones help themselves and other species survive. Whether it’s creating habitats for themselves and other animals, leaving behind leftovers that fertilize the soil, or clearing out harmful algae, keystones live up to their name in their essential contribution to the harmony of our natural world.

GOODREADS   /   PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

With an air of gentleness and a dash of curiosity, these pages present various animals to show how important they are to their ecosystems.

This book is all about Keystone animals. With a gentle poetic style, it begins as an adult and child wander into  the forest in the dim lighting of dawn, dressed for discovery. It offers a calm, quiet atmosphere as they find each animal, one by one. Each creature is presented with a six line verse and takes the animal's point of view as they describe some of their main activities. For example, the beaver is building dams. The animals aren't introduce by name, which gives the entire thing the feel of a riddle. Of course, it's obvious from the illustrations what it are. But this adds a dash of fun as listeners can name each one themselves. At the end of the six lines of rhyme, there is the repeating phrase 'We are the keystones', which adds a nice touch and makes the entire read feel founded. At the bottom, there is a several sentence paragraph of slightly smaller text, which explains how the animal contributes and supports their part of the ecosystem to qualify them as a keystone. At the end of the book, the history behind the term 'Keystone' is presented and a list of other Keystone species shown in the illustrations is given. 

These pages flow very nicely and offer a sense of wonder while introducing the idea of Keystones and giving readers more than a few familiar examples from the animal kingdom. It's a gentle and narrative way to bring the information across. But it's the illustrations which really steal the show as they offer each animal a chance to shine in their habitat. Animal enthusiasts will want to flip through these on their own and peer at the various details and surroundings. The text fits the age group nicely and is separated from the information blocks clearly, giving adult readers different possibilities on how they want to use the book. It also works nicely for those readers, who are fairly sure of their words, to pick up and discover on their own.

And here they are...

Katy S. Duffield is the author of more than twenty-five books for children, including the celebrated Crossings: Extraordinary Structures for Extraordinary Animals, which was an ALA/ALSC Notable Book, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, and the recipient of the Eureka! Excellence in Nonfiction Gold Award. She lives in Florida with her husband and her wild and crazy Australian Shepherd. For more information about Katy, please visit her website at KatyDuffield.com.

Hannah Salyer received her BFA in illustration and communication design, with a minor in environmental studies, from Pratt Institute. She resides in Brooklyn, New York, where she writes and illustrates picture books, including her own Packs: Strength in Numbers and Ancestory: The Mystery and Majesty of Ancient Cave Art, as well as This Wolf Was Different by Katie Slivensky. She also teaches art classes for young kids and illustration classes for undergrad students at Parsons School of Design. Visit her at HannahSalyer.com.