Sea Lions in the Parking Lot: Animals On The Move In A Time Of Pandemic

Product Description

What would happen if people all around the world stayed inside, away from animals’ habitats? Twelve fascinating real-life stories of creatures around the globe who reclaimed their habitat during the COVID-19 quarantine show animal lovers and aspiring citizen scientists how to help wildlife by fighting habitat loss. A Junior Library Guild selection. With the skies, roads, and waterways clear and quiet during the COVID-19 pandemic, the natural world seemed to return to an earlier, wilder state. Animals crossed boundaries that people had set over centuries, reclaiming ancient habitats. From sea lions who clambered into a parking lot in Argentina to deer who wandered in a Japanese subway to lions lounging in the middle of South African roads to kangaroos who bounced through a shopping district in Australia, this thoroughly researched, stunningly illustrated book tells the stories of these newly footloose creatures — and describes what the COVID-19 “pause” taught scientists about how ecosystems and wildlife can rebound if the right environmental conditions are achieved.

Review

A Junior Library Guild selection

“In years to come, these will surely be some of the few joyous tales told about the pandemic . . . This moment in time is gloriously brought to life on the page with brief descriptions and stunning, double-page illustrations of animals — playing, exploring and napping in peace — that will resonate with young readers….[Sea Lions in the Parking Lot] stands as an important reminder that things were different for a while, and guides readers toward deeper environmental thinking, about species and habitats and the interdependence of it all.”
— Helen Scales, New York Times
“Captivating…. A must-have for all science and social studies collections at all grade levels.”
—School Library Connections, highly recommended

“A fascinating picture book that shows us what happens if people all around the world stayed inside, away from animals’ habitats…..an eye-opening book and makes you wonder how humans can continue to stay away from animals’ natural habitats.”
—Charnaie Gordon, @hereweeread

“Thought provoking. Boasting beautiful illustrations, “Sea Lions in the Parking Lot: Animals on the Move in a Time of Pandemic” is a remarkable look at habitat loss and how wildlife can rebound if humans are more thoughtful of environmental issues.”
— Kendal Rautzhan, Books To Borrow, Books To Buy, syndicated column

“
Sea Lions in the Parking Lot is an amazingly timely and stunning account of how animals were impacted by the Pandemic. As educators we strive to encourage our students to become Global Citizens and this book points them in the right direction!  If you are a teacher who covers Climate Change, Human Impact , Biomes, or Animal Habitats, this book is a great resource to enhance your unit!”
—Sasha Swift, Science Teacher, Arts & Letters 305 United, Brooklyn, NY

“Timely, fascinating and informative!
Sea Lions in the Parking Lot will make children laugh, wonder, and most importantly, see the interconnectedness between human life and wildlife. The short vignettes and beautiful illustrations make this book accessible to children of all ages. It lends itself perfectly to facilitating lively elementary classroom discussions about the pandemic, animal habitats and conservationism.”
—Rebecca McMurdie, Principal, KIPP Washington Heights Elementary School, New York, NY

“If you’re looking for a book with wide appeal and broad curricular connections, look no further than Sea Lions in the Parking Lot! I teach grades K-5 and I try to incorporate the Global Goals into as many lessons as I can. I see this book fitting into several of those categories—Life on Land, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Climate Action, to name a few—making for a strong way to tie in a global focus and STEM themes.”
—Laura Luker, MLS, Library Teacher, Massachusetts School Library Association President

“In this series of delightful vignettes in w