Learn more about our nonfiction companion books.

Great for Animal Adaptations Units & To Support Environmental Literacy

In The Mysterious Abductions, animals are disappearing without a trace, and it’s up to The Nocturnals to find them!
Together, the three unlikely friends—Dawn, the fox, Tobin the pangolin, and Bismark the sugar glider—gather clues as the reader learns about the animals themselves, some of their adaptations, and how by working together, they can solve these mysterious abductions!

Build Your Own Mini Habitat with The Nocturnals

The Nocturnals characters are just three of millions of animals living on this planet. They live in the same forest habitat; however, in real life, these animals live in forests in different parts of the world.

In a habitat–the environment in which a plant or animal lives and grows–animals need five things: food, water, shelter, air, and space.
Every creature likes to make a natural home, or habitat, that provides the resources they need to survive. There are many different habitats around the world, such as grasslands, deserts, wetlands, oceans, and rivers.
For many animals, their habitats are in danger of disappearing!

Activity:

Can you build an animal its very own mini habitat that meets all its needs? You can make one for the pangolin, sugar glider, or fox using the information in The Nocturnals nonfiction book, or you can choose your own nocturnal animal to research! 
It’s a good idea to plan ahead and list materials you could use for the mini habitat. You can use the list below to make your own worksheet or use our printable that is provided here. 

Materials:
• Container or Shoebox
• Glue
• Scissors
• Tape
• Supplies from nature, such as: Leaves, Twigs, Rocks, Moss
• Craft supplies, such as: Cotton, Construction Paper, Clay, Paint

After you’ve planned your mini habitat, build it with the materials you have collected from inside or outside your home.

When you’re done, show off your habitat to friends and family and share what type you decided to make, why you chose it, and what animal(s) you built your habitat for. Make sure to show them how you met the animals’ basic needs like food, water, and shelter.