THE 

WILD WORLD
HANDBOOK
CREATURES
How Adventurers, Artists,
Scientists—and You—Can Protect 
Earth’s Animals

EDUCATORS’ GUIDE
Andrea Debbink
Illustrated by Asia Orlando

Common Core Connections

The Wild World Handbook: Creatures is an inspiring guide for the next generation of climate activists, conservationists, and animal
lovers. In addition to the real-life tales of adventure, breathtaking illustrations, practical tools, and DIY activities found in the book,
this educators’ guide contains activities aligned to the Common Core for grades 3 through 7. For more information on specific stan-
dards, visit the Common Core website at www.corestandards.org.
For more information, please visit www.quirkbooks.com.
Art by Asia Orlando. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the publisher, Quirk Books. All rights reserved.
 PRE-READING ACTIVITIES
Meet the Text Amazing Animal Tales
Previewing a text helps students understand the infor- There is a story about an individual animal and an amaz-
mational purpose of the book. The Wild World Handbook: ing thing it did in each section of The Wild World Hand-
Creatures is a nonfiction book. Key characteristics include book: Creatures. Have students choose their favorite critter,
a table of contents, title pages, headers and subheaders, il- research it, and write a narrative story that features the
lustrations and diagrams, lists, maps, a bibliography, and animal, some of its real-life characteristics, and a fictional
an index. Ask students to find an example of each nonfic- story about one that could only be described as “amazing.”
tion feature in The Wild World Handbook: Creatures, and
then compare and contrast the format with that of a fic- Animal Advocates
tion book. The Wild World Handbook: Creatures explains why it’s im-
portant for us to respect and care for animals. Ask stu-
Pre-Read Q&A dents to come up with a list of ways people may knowingly
There are eight sections in each chapter of The Wild World or unknowingly harm animals, and then brainstorm ways
Handbook: Creatures. Each one focuses on a different to raise awareness and help advocate for their protection.
topic. Read each chapter name aloud and take a poll on
which one students want to learn about the most. Then Creature Creations
browse each section of the winning chapter to become fa- Have students skim The Wild World Handbook: Creatures
miliar with them. Ask questions like: “What do the follow- to find an animal featured in the book that they would like
ing words and phrases mean: Biography, Natural Wonder, to learn more about. Then invite them to produce a cre-
Field Trip, Environmental Success, DIY, An Animal Tale, ative work that talks about the creature they choose, what
Stewardship?” “How does each chapter header give you a makes it incredible, and how we can keep it safe. Instruct
hint as to what it covers?” “Which one do you think will be them to use prior knowledge as well as outside research
the most informative?” “Why do you think the author set sources to come up with informative and engaging ways
up the book like this?” “What topic are you most excited to to share their findings with the class. Creative works can
learn more about ?” include posters, travel brochures, short films, podcasts,
TikToks, or any other medium students feel will best con-
vey their topics.

COMMON CORE CONNECTIONS

The Pre-Reading Activities address the following Common Core State Standards:
WRITING Grade 6 – W.6.7-9 Grade 4 – SL.4.4-6
Text Types and Purposes Grade 7 – W.7.7-9a Grade 5 – SL.5.4-5
Grade 3 – W.3.1-3d Grade 6 – SL.6.4-5
SPEAKING AND LISTENING
Grade 4 – W.4.1-3e Grade 7 – SL.7.4-5
Comprehension and Collaboration
Grade 5 – W.5-1-3e
Grade 3 – SL.3.1-3
Grade 6 – W.6.1-3.e
Grade 4 – SL.4.1-2
Grade 7 – W.7.1-1c, 2-2d, 3-3e
Grade 5 – SL.5.1-1d
Research to Build and Grade 6 – SL.6.1-2
Present Knowledge Grade 7 – SL.7.1
Grade 3 – W.3.7-8
Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
Grade 4 – W.4.7-9b
Grade 3 – SL.3.4-6
Grade 5 – W.5.7-9b

For more information, please visit www.quirkbooks.com.

Art by Asia Orlando. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the publisher, Quirk Books. All rights reserved.
 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. List five animals featured in The Wild

World Handbook: Creatures. Then, give
for the environment help the animal pop-
ulation?

7.
each one a short description, and name
Compare and contrast at least two differ-
one place they can be found.
ent animal species featured in The Wild

2. What are some ways that you can think and World Handbook: Creatures.

8.
act like a conservationist? What are some
Name at least three animals from the fol-
ways you can teach others to be mindful of
lowing groups: insects, birds, reptiles and
the needs and safety of animals?
amphibians, land animals, ocean crea-

3. Why do you think it’s important for hu-

mans to be aware of the dangers we can
tures, freshwater life, and city wildlife. De-
scribe each animal and list two fun facts
cause animals and the ways we can help about it.

9.
keep them safe?
If you could have dinner with two of the

4. Which Animal Tale from The Wild World

Handbook: Creatures do you find the most
people whose biographies you read in
The Wild World Handbook: Creatures, who
interesting? Why? Retell the story from would you choose? Why? What are three
the point of view of the animal. questions you would ask them?

5. Name at least three natural wonders

written about in The Wild World Hand-
10. After you have finished at least one ac-
tivity from The Wild World Handbook:
book: Creatures. Which one is the most Creatures, share your thoughts on how it
impressive to you? Why? turned out. Talk about any materials in-

6.
volved, how you completed it, what you
What does The Wild World Handbook:
learned along the way, and what (if any-
Creatures teach you about environmental
thing) you could have done differently.
stewardship? How can being a steward

COMMON CORE CONNECTIONS

The Discussion Questions address the following Common Core State
Standards for Reading Informational Texts.
Key Ideas and Details Grade 7 – RI.7.6
Grade 3 – RI.3.1-3
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
Grade 4 – RI.4.1-3
Grade 3 – RI.3.7
Grade 5 – RI.5.1-3
Grade 4 – RI.4.7
Grade 6 – RI.6.1-3
Grade 5 – RI.5.7, 9
Grade 7 – RI.7.1-3
Range of Reading Level
Craft and Structure
of Text Complexity
Grade 3 – RI.3.4-6
Grade 3 – RI.3.10
Grade 4 – RI.4.4-6
Grade 4 – RI.4.10
Grade 5 – RI.5.4-6
Grade 5 – RI.5.10
Grade 6 – RI.6.4-6

For more information, please visit www.quirkbooks.com.

Art by Asia Orlando. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the publisher, Quirk Books. All rights reserved.
 EXTENSION ACTIVITIES
Beautiful Words for City vs. Suburbs
a Beautiful World There are many differences between animals that live
The biographies in The Wild World Handbook: Creatures in suburban and urban habitats. As a class, brainstorm
begin with a quote from their subject. Read the quotes all these differences and talk about how animals’ differenc-
together as a class. Then have your students each choose es help them adapt to their surroundings. Then have stu-
one to study further. Ask them to write the quote on a dents write compare-and-contrast essays about animals
piece of paper and decorate it with images, words, and from two vastly different habitats.
phrases that relate to it. Then, have them write a para-
graph about the quote’s meaning and how it relates to The Class Menagerie
helping animals. Finally, have students share their work Explain to your class that a menagerie is a collection of
with the class. animals on display. Then, drawing inspiration from The
Wild World Handbook: Creatures, have your class create
Animal Action their own menagerie: Invite students to choose an an-
The Wild World Handbook: Creatures teaches budding en- imal, research it, and come up with a way to make one
vironmentalists about animal life and gives them a bet- of their own. They can use a medium like origami, clay,
ter understanding of animal habitats. It also shows how discarded items, or materials from nature. Display your
our actions directly and indirectly affect these amazing class menagerie for the whole school.
creatures. Ask your students to teach those closest to
them how to help protect our animal friends and their Fascinating Facts
environments by making an advertisement. Have them There are interesting animal facts found on nearly every
choose an animal featured in the book and research it. page of The Wild World Handbook: Creatures. Ask students
Then, invite them to list their animal’s unique charac- to find at least ten animal facts in this book and write each
teristics, special things about its habitat, why it’s endan- one on an index card or Post-it. Then have students take
gered, and how people can help it. Invite students to film turns reading their facts aloud. Encourage students to de-
their findings (as a traditional video, Instagram or Face- bate on which animals are the most fascinating and vote on
book Story, Snapchat, or TikTok) and share them with the top three.
the class.

COMMON CORE CONNECTIONS

The Extension Activities address the following Common Core State Standards:
WRITING Grade 7 – W.7.4-6 Grade 4 – SL.4.1-2
Text Types and Purposes Grade 5 – SL.5.1-1d
Research to Build and
Grade 3 – W.3.1-3d Grade 6 – SL.6.1-2
Present Knowledge
Grade 4 – W.4.1-3e Grade 7 – SL.7.1
Grade 3 – W.3.7-8
Grade 5 – W.5-1-3e
Grade 4 – W.4.7-9b Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas
Grade 6 – W.6.1-3.e
Grade 5 – W.5.7-9b Grade 3 – SL.3.4-6
Grade 7 – W.7.1-1c, 2-2d, 3-3e
Grade 6 – W.6.7-9 Grade 4 – SL.4.4-6
Production and Distribution of Writing Grade 7 – W.7.7-9a Grade 5 – SL.5.4-5
Grade 3 – W.3.4-6 Grade 6 – SL.6.4-5
SPEAKING AND LISTENING
Grade 4 – W.4.4-6 Grade 7 – SL.7.4-5
Comprehension and Collaboration
Grade 5 – W.5.4-6
Grade 3 – SL.3.1-3
Grade 6 – W.6.4-5

For more information, please visit www.quirkbooks.com.

Art by Asia Orlando. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the publisher, Quirk Books. All rights reserved.
 NAME THAT CREATURE
U se the information you learned in The Wild World Handbook: Creatures to
help you figure out each animal described below.

1.  The biggest frog in North America, 6.  This native moth species in Scotland almost
which can weigh up to two pounds, is a became extinct thanks to sheep overgrazing
________________. their homes, but when the sheep were
fenced out, the population boomed. They are
2.  Once mistaken for a mermaid or a sea
_______________.
monster, a large, gentle, and slow-
moving mammal that can live in
both saltwater and freshwater is a 7.  This freshwater mammal builds a large
____________________. lodge with mud, logs, and branches that
it lives in to survive cold winters. It’s a
________________.
3.  People often think these
carnivores are just
dangerous, dirty 8.  The largest mammal on land,
scavengers, but they are mistaken! These which can be up to 13 feet tall

smart hunters and protective parents that live and weigh up to 7 tons, is an

in female-led clans of up to 100 members ______________.

and often play with their offspring are

_______________. 9.  North America’s largest reptile,
once almost extinct but

4.  These keepers of the kelp forest used to be now off the endangered

hunted for their fur, but thanks to help from species list, will live

conservationists and environmental agencies, anywhere there is water and

these marine animals were identified as a food. It’s an apex predator that

keystone species and thriving on the coast of often comes in close contact with humans, an

North America. They are ______________. _________________.

5.  America’s only marsupial 10.  This brilliant green bird found in Central
looks similar to a rat and is America has tail feathers that are longer than

often mistaken for a rodent, its body. It’s a _____________.

but it’s not. It’s an

________________.

7. beaver; 8. African elephant; 9. American alligator; 10. resplendent quetzal

1. bullfrog; 2. manatee; 3. hyenas; 4. sea otters; 5. opossum; 6. New Forest burnet;

For more information, please visit www.quirkbooks.com.

Art by Asia Orlando. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the publisher, Quirk Books. All rights reserved.
 WILD AND WONDERFUL VOCABULARY

T he Wild World Handbook: Creatures is full of magnificent and amazing

vocabulary. Look at these sentences from the book. Use what you’ve learned
from the book and the other words in the sentences to help you understand the
meaning of the underlined words. Then write the meanings of all the underlined
words.

1.  Freshwater fish can’t migrate like birds or 4.  With complex brains and the ability to
hibernate like mammals, so what do they do maintain a constant body temperature,
when water freezes? mammals are some of the most adaptable
�������������������������������������� animals on earth.
�������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������
�������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������
�������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������

2.  Wildlife rehabilitation centers care for

orphaned and injured wildlife until they can be 5.  The urban pigeon is the distant descendant
released back into the wild. of the rock dove, a wild bird that first lived in the
�������������������������������������� Mediterranean region.
�������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������
�������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������
�������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������

3.  The ornithologist John Gould’s illustrated

books were some of the most beautiful in the
world.
��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������

For more information, please visit www.quirkbooks.com.

Art by Asia Orlando. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the publisher, Quirk Books. All rights reserved.
 8.  A cold reptile is a slow reptile—and
vulnerable to predators.
��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������

9.  Today weta are protected by the

government, and there’s a wildlife sanctuary
dedicated to helping the weta’s population
recover.
��������������������������������������

6.  It was colorless, tasteless, and odorless, ��������������������������������������

and at first it appeared to nearly eliminate ��������������������������������������

diseases like malaria. ��������������������������������������

��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������
�������������������������������������� 10.  The sediment has rebuilt riverbanks
�������������������������������������� and created seventy acres of beaches and
estuaries for Dungeness crabs, clams, and
other animals.

7.  You can help scientists worldwide by joining ��������������������������������������

citizen science projects that study freshwater ��������������������������������������

wildlife and habitats. ��������������������������������������

�������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������

��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������
��������������������������������������

For more information, please visit www.quirkbooks.com.

Art by Asia Orlando. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the publisher, Quirk Books. All rights reserved.
 A TOTALLY WILD BOOKMARK

U se the template below to create your very own Wild World Handbook:
Creatures bookmark. All you have to do is color the image, add drawings or
pictures of your favorite animals, glue it to a piece of cardboard, and cut it out.
On the back of your bookmark, write some ways people can be helpful animal
activists. Use your bookmark to keep your place while reading, or slip it into a
library book for someone to find!

THE 

WILD WORLD
HANDBOOK
CREATURES

w
For more information, please visit www.quirkbooks.com.
Art by Asia Orlando. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the publisher, Quirk Books. All rights reserved.
 ABOUT THE BOOK
The Wild World Handbook: Creatures:
How Adventurers, Artists, Scientists—
and You—Can Protect Earth’s Animals
Written by Andrea Debbink
Illustrations by Asia Orlando
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-68369-268-3
e-ISBN: 978-1-68369-269-0

P
acked with real-life tales of adventure, breathtaking illustrations, and practical
tools, this handbook is an inspiring guide for the next generation of climate activists,
conservationists, and nature lovers. We share this beautiful planet we call home with
countless living creatures, from monarch butterflies and falcons to koalas and dolphins.
And just like us, animals everywhere are faced with the growing threat of climate change.
Featuring seven categories of animals, this handbook offers a roadmap for change
and an invitation to explore the outdoors with fascinating facts, hope-filled stories,
and hands-on STEAM activities. Each section includes biographies of adventurers,
scientists, and artists from all over the world who used their passion and skills to become
bold allies for nature. As the second of two illustrated middle grade guides, The Wild
World Handbook: Creatures seeks to empower young readers to appreciate and protect
Earth and its inhabitants.

ANDREA DEBBINK is the author of several books for kids and a former editor at American
Girl magazine. Her favorite way to explore our wild world is hiking a trail or kayaking a
river. She lives and writes in Madison, Wisconsin, and you can learn more about her at
AndreaDebbink.com.

ASIA ORLANDO is an illustrator and digital artist based in Amsterdam. She is the
founder of #OurPlanetWeek, an illustration movement aimed at
promoting environmental awareness.

For more information, please visit www.quirkbooks.com.

Art by Asia Orlando. Permission to reproduce and distribute this page has been granted by the publisher, Quirk Books. All rights reserved.