Wild in the City (Hardcover, Turtleback School & Library ed.)

Jenny and her mother don't know there are wild animals in their own backyard! In Wild In The City, author/illustrator Jan Thornhill creates a safari in Jenny's urban neighborhood, featuring the wild creatures that live "right beneath her nose." One by one, the creatures are introduced, beginning with a family of raccoons at dusk. Continuing throughout the night, the secret lives of nocturnal animals, such as bats and skunks, emerge. During the day the busy lives of squirrels, robins, kestrels and others are described.

Documenting a whole day, the book comes around full circle. While Jenny and her mother witness the wildlife around their home, they come to a new awareness of how human and animal lives interact in even the most common environments. Jan Thornhill adds intrigue to the book by including a puzzle composed of 13 hidden letters, one in each illustration. The concealed letters eventually reveal the name of Jenny's black and white cat, who can also be found somewhere in each picture. As an informative bonus, Nature Notes at the end of the story provide more intriguing details about our animal neighbors, as well as hints about how to find the clues to their presence in your own neighborhood.