• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

A deep dive into the minds of animals and how they think.

Wouldn't it be amazing to see inside the mind of a lion, a gorilla, an octopus or even a bee? In Animal Minds: What Are They Thinking?, author Dana L. Church looks at how scientists are doing just that. Their research shows that a wide variety of species have unique personalities, impressive memories, counting abilities, and incredible problem-solving skills.

Meet the scientists who study the minds of animals, discover the similarities and differences between the minds of different species and learn how they compare to our own. From dolphins to dung beetles, tigers to turkey vultures, Animal Minds shows that we are only beginning to scratch the surface when it comes to revealing the amazing inner worlds of the thousands of different creatures with whom we share this planet.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Dana Church is the author of The Beekeepers: How Humans Changed the World of Bumble Bees. She received her PhD at the University of Ottawa in Canada, where she studied bumble bees (and never got stung!). She lives in southern Ontario with her husband, two children, and their big, black, friendly dog. The Monarch Effect: Surviving Poison, Predators, and People is her second book. You can find out more about Dana and her writing at danachurchwriter.com.

Dana L. Church's profile page

• Commended, CCBC Best Books for Kids & Teens

“The book includes questions and answers with women scientists in the field, sidebars, and eye-catching full-page color photos. A good starting book on animal cognition for any young animal lover who has wondered if animals are more like humans than we think.”

Booklist

“Full-colour photos and illustrations are well-chosen and positioned to enhance understanding…Young readers…will find Animal Minds: What Are They Thinking? intriguing. It might help fill [a] knowledge gap and offer inspiration for further investigation. Highly recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“The information is shared in conversational text that encourages readers to think, understand and find answers to their questions. As with most of the terrific nonfiction published by Orca, there are carefully captioned and appealing photographs, charts, idea boxes, study results, and Smart Thinking text boxes…An excellent addition to the [Orca Wild] series.”

Sal's Fiction Addiction

“Prepare to be amazed…Church weaves these stories together to paint a compelling picture of animal intelligence, sparking a newfound appreciation for the creatures that share our planet. This book is perfect for anyone curious about the animal kingdom.”

Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (CLCD)