Everyday pet or wild creature? When we think of hamsters, we imagine them domesticated, in cages, running around on exercise wheels. But did you know that they, along with some very close relatives, also live in the wild? From gerbils in Africa to guinea pigs in South America, these popular creatures are found all over the world. This newest volume in Lark’s superb science series—which includes the award-winning Is My Dog a Wolf?—lets kids take an up-close look at where these rodents live, what they eat, what their families are like, how they travel and communicate, and other fascinating behaviors. (Not only will children learn more about these animals in nature, they’ll get a better understanding of their tame cousins at the same time.) Most of the spreads are self-contained, so kids can either read from start to finish, or flip through and find out all about something specific. Sidebars, lots of engaging captions, bold headers, blurbs, and plenty of big, entertaining pictures of animals in action communicate concepts quickly and capture the attention.