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The Nocturnals Explore Unique Adaptations of Nighttime Animals

Nonfiction Chapter Book Companion to The Mysterious Abductions

Published by Fabled Films Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

Explore Unique Nocturnal Animal Adaptations with Fun Facts from The Nocturnals!
This Middle Grade Nonfiction book is for Kids Ages 9–12 and has over 150 full-color animal photos.

It’s perfect for fans of National Geographic Kids and Magic Tree House Fact Tracker books.


This nonfiction book uses fun facts and a narrative from the adventurous Nocturnals characters—Dawn the fox, Tobin the pangolin, and Bismark the sugar glider—to learn about nighttime animals in their natural habitats.
  • Kids discover the special adaptations that help nocturnal animals succeed in the dark and investigate conservation efforts.
  • Teachers use the book in life science units as a stand alone or with the companion fiction.
  • Librarians use the nonfiction book in STEAM Book Clubs with the companion fiction.

Inside The Book You’ll Find:
  • Animals from around the world: red foxes, pangolins, sugar gliders, bats, owls, coyotes, wombats, snakes, woylies, bandicoots, crocodiles, kiwis, tuataras, aye-ayes, jerboas, and more!
  • Night Notes that explain unusual adaptations
  • Nocturnal Feature Icon Key
  • Animal Glossary with full-color photos
  • Word Glossary to build STEM vocabulary
  • At-Home Science Resources

Teach a Nonfiction Text Unit with Our Educator Guides in your Classroom or Library!
  • Next Generation Science & Common Core Language Arts Guide available on our website.
  • Can be used as a narrative read or browseable reference material.
  • Book is aligned to NGSS & CCSS ELA

Educational Leveling:
Lexile: 930L
Fountas & Pinnell: S

About The Author

Tracey Hecht is a writer and the creative director of Fabled Films Press. She created The Nocturnals, the critically acclaimed middle-grade and early reader series. The American Booksellers Association chose her first book, The Mysterious Abductions, as a Kids’ Indie Next List pick, and her nonfiction book Nighttime Animals: Awesome Features & Surprising Adaptations received the Children’s Book Council Teacher Favorites Award in 2023. In partnership with the New York Public Library, she created a Read Aloud Writing Program that has since been conducted in hundreds of schools, libraries, and bookstores. She attends Bank Street College, where she is studying to receive a dual master’s degree in childhood general education and special education. Tracey splits her time between New York City and Oquossoc, Maine.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Fabled Films Press (November 29, 2022)
  • Length: 128 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781944020750
  • Ages: 9 - 12

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Raves and Reviews

[The] narration is accompanied by endearing color photographs and fun animal profiles...recurring visual cues draw attention to facts and tidbits to promote further exploration...a welcoming introduction to nighttime animals that celebrates biodiversity.

– Foreword Reviews

A fictive squad of nighttime animals shines lights on some of their real cousins...likely to keep young naturalists reading well past sunset.

– Kirkus Reviews

An ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to family, elementary school, middle school, and community library Pets/Wildlife collections for young readers ages 9-12

– Midwest Book Review

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More books from this author: Tracey Hecht

More books in this series: The Nocturnals