• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7

There are coyotes in the crosswalk and frogs in the swimming pool, raccoons on the fire escape and garter snakes in the garage. With all its many buildings, streets and parks, the city may be home to people, but it is also home to wildlife.

Peregrine falcons raise their young on a Calgary high rise, red squirrels scold skaters from Ottawa snow banks, and in Montreal furry families of skunks move into vacant lots next door! All sorts of unique and wily wildlife have made themselves at home in the cracks and crannies of Canadian cities.

Kids don't have to go to the zoo to see animals that used to roam free — they just have to recognize untamed city critters for what they are!

Diane Swanson introduces kids to ten furred, feathered, or scaly urban residents, exploring their successful adaptation to the concrete jungle: how they move about, find food, communicate with each other, and make a home for themselves and their young. Douglas Penhale's lively illustrations provide visual detail and delight for budding naturalists in the urban ecosystem.

Diane Swanson has been researching and writing nature books for children for over 25 years. Her work has been recognized with many awards, including the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children. Her titles have been regularly selected for the “our choice” list by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre. A frequent guest speaker at conferences on nature for kids, she lives in Victoria, B.C.

Diane Swanson's profile page

Douglas Penhale's profile page