Melissa Stewart - Fantastic Feet Up Close

FANCY FEET

Did you know that one sea star has hundreds of feet? Or that a bluefooted booby dances on its blue feet? Learn all about how animals use their feet to run, dig, and stay safe.

"Readers of all agesbut especially early readerswill find these fact-filled books fascinating!"

"From the end of the nose to the tip of the tail and many stops in between, this series introduces young readers to a variety of interesting details among a diversity of organisms."

About the Author

Trained as both a scientist and journalist, Melissa Stewart is the award-winning author of more than 100 books for young readers. While gathering information for her books, Melissa has explored tropical forests in Costa Rica, gone on safari in Kenya and Tanzania, and swum with sea lions in the Galpagos Islands.

hooves (HOOVZ)The hard, thick feet of horses and some other animals.

parachute (PAER uh shoot)A large cloth that helps a person or a package float down slowly from the sky.

stride (STRIHD)A long step.

strut (STRUHT)To walk in a way that shows other people you think you are important.

Animals use their feet in all kinds of ways. This frog has huge feet. They act like a parachute as the frog falls from a tree in the forest. They also help the frog land with a gentle plop. What a great trick!

What has feet as big as a dinner plate but only two toes? A camel does. As it walks, its toes spread wide. That way the camel does not sink into the sand.

A sea star has hundreds of tiny feet. They are on the bottom of each arm. The feet hold on tight to rocks. They also help the sea star move from place to place.

How does this bird attract a mate? He dances. He spreads his wings wide and whistles. Then he struts, slides, shuffles, and stomps his bright blue feet. What a show!

Webbed feet are good for swimming too. They help the bird paddle through the water.

A gecko has many enemies. But it can stay safe by darting up and down trees. It can zip across branches, too. It can even walk on ceilings. How can a gecko do all that? Its feet have millions of hairs. They can grab onto all kinds of surfaces. They can even hold onto glass.

A horses feet are called hooves. They look like the horses big, thick toenails. A horse runs on its tiptoes, so it can stretch farther than other animals with each stride. Thats one reason why a horse is so fast.

An aardvark (AHRD vahrk) is the fastest digger on Earth. Its feet have long claws. Each claw is shaped like a shovel. An aardvarks feet are perfect for digging up ants and termites to eat.

You are an animal, too. You have two feet. They take you anywhere you want to go.

You take about eight thousand steps every day. In your life, youll walk far enough to circle Earth four and a half times!