The life of a hamster (Animal lives)

By Jan Feder

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0516089331
• ISBN13: 9780516089331
• Release Date: January 1982
• Publisher: Childrens Press International
• Length: 31 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.

Customer Reviews

CHARMING AND INFORMATIVE LITTLE BOOK

This 1986 book, The Life of a Hamster by Jan Feder and illustrated by Tilman Michalski, is a children's book for the hardcore hamster lover. The author starts the book with the story of Hoarder the hamster living in the wild. The story continues and a nice clip through the entire life cycle and life experiences of these charming little rodents. The text is simple, yet quite informative. It addresses feeding habit, mating, the rearing of young, housing (burrows), foraging habits, predators and general survival. The art work accompanying the text is quite good and correct in ever way. Mellow colors are use quite effectively and there is a certain calmness received by just viewing them. The text fits perfectly with the many painting, each enhancing the other. The second half of the book jacks it up a notch. Here the author gives us the natural history of the hamster, from its origins on the treeless plains of the steppes of Eastern Europe. The author covers their life cycle, anatomy, burrowing habits, hording habits, fighting, hygiene and then gives a very nice overview of the other members of this family of rodents and how they are related to the hamster. This was a very nice series of books which included the life of a dog, the life of a cat, the life of a rabbit and many others. It is a pity that they are no longer in print as they were effective teaching tools for the young, as well as being full of little tidbits of information that many adults may not be aware of. While this book is designated as suitable for baby through preschool, I beg to differ. While some preschoolers may appreciate it, I really feel this is more appropriate for first grade through possibly third grade. While the art work is certainly appropriate, the text is much to complicated, complex and detailed to be of much use for the younger child. Don Blankenship The Ozarks