Wild Summer Week Seven: Bison
A bison interview and some bison-approved summer story time ideas
Welcome to Week Seven of our Summer Challenge, a free reading challenge all about pairing books with summer fun! If you’re new here, please jump right in! We are sharing book recommendations, discussion starters, activity ideas, and more now through August 11. Plus, we’re doing a giveaway at the end of the summer. Sign up today to be eligible to win!
This week’s guest is one that doesn’t live very far from me. He lives in Yellowstone National Park, along with many other places around North America. He looks big and cuddly, but he isn’t. He’s often called a fluffy cow by tourists, but that’s not his real name. Please welcome the one, the only…BISON!!
Bison: Actually, my name is Bison Bison. My scientific name anyway. But I suppose for a fun nickname, you can call me Bison.
Me: Thanks. Bison, what is one thing you wish you people knew about you?
Bison: I’m not a buffalo.
Me: Well, you look sort of like one. What makes you different?
Bison: We are very different in 4 ways: HOME, HUMP, HORNS, and HAIR.
HOME: Bison live in North America and parts of Europe. Buffalo live in Asia and Africa. Click here for a map of where I live.
HUMP: Bison have a hump on our shoulders. Check out this picture with birds on my back. I’m rather quite dapper, don’t you think? But my hump also helps me plow away snow in the winter to get to my food. Buffaloes are humpless.
HORNS: We bison have shorter and sharper horns. Our friends over at National Geographic for Kids tell me my horns are two feet and a buffalo’s grow up to 6 feet.
We bison grow lovely beards—even the girls. Buffalo are beardless.
Me: Well, that’s quite the list! Hopefully you’re not offended when people call you a buffalo.
Bison: I used to get angry, but I’ve come to understand how easy it is for humans to mix us up. Plus, buffalo are pretty cool. We’re both herbivores, we are both great swimmers, and we have similar colored hair, although mine is thicker. And—I’m pretty quiet about this—I am the national mammal for the USA.
Me: Wow! Anything else you want to share?
Bison: No, I’m going to head on out of here at my max speed of 35 miles an hour. I’m quick on my feet. But it was nice to be here, sort of. Honestly, I’m not friendly with people, so take my picture from a distance. Bye now.
Me: Bye, Bye, Bison!!
Well, that’s all from Bison, but there’s much more for us this week! Check out these books about bison and buffalo…
READ: Books about bison and buffalo
Picture books
Buffalo Fluffalo by By Jess Kalb, Illustrated by Erin Kraan. Using made up rhyming words adds a hilarious component to this no-nonsense big buffalo who just wants to be left alone. Yet when he gets wet, his wet hair reveals that he’s not quite as tough-alo as everyone thought…and everyone likes him just the way he is.
Bryson the Brave Bison by Nate Davenport and Luke Freshwater, illustrated by Richard Cowdrey. Thunderstorms can be very scary and normally bison are afraid. Bryson shows his friends how to have courage and face the storm head on.
Bubble Gum Bison Needs a Bath by Scott Rothman and illustrated by Pete Oswald. Bubble Gum Bison needs a bath but refuses. When she is finally ready to take a bath, the town’s water supply is broken. She comes up with the clever idea of using bubble gum to solve the problem.
Ride On, Will Cody! A Legend of the Pony Express by Caroline Starr Rose, illustrated by Joe Lillington. This is a great book for anyone interested in American History or folk legends like Buffalo Bill! Though this isn’t about buffalo (bison), they do make an appearance in this fun-to-read lyrical story.
The Bison and the Butterfly by Alice Hemming, illustrated by Nancy Leschnikoff. Starring a European bison, this educational fiction book is a story about a bison who is searching for a friend to join her in trampling through the woods. It’s a charming story that teaches a lot about why bison are an important keystone species.
Board Books
Gotta Go, Buffalo! By Kevin & Hailey Myers, illustrated by Hailey Myers. This board book is a look at ways to say goodbye, with rhyming phrases & lift-a-flaps, this one is fun for animal lovers!
Bison Babies by Donald M. Jones. This board book of bison babies is perfect for the youngest readers. Real photos are accompanied by rhymes with facts, specifically geared for young readers.
Strictly Nonfiction Books
American Bison by Anita Yasuda (ABDO publisher). Learn about the bison’s past and present in this Back from Near Extinction book!
Where the Buffalo Roam: Bison in America (Smithsonian) by Kate Waters. This is a Penguin Young Reader Level 4.
Ranger Rick I Wish I Was a Bison by Jennifer Bové. This is a level one I-Can-Read book. It has simple text and fascinating facts about the bison.
Bison or Buffalo? by Mari Schuh. This “Blastoff! Readers” book for emergent readers is a simple, easy-to-read book about the differences between bison and buffalo.
Note: Some links will take you to the Read, Discuss, Do bookshop.org storefront. Purchasing a book from the storefront will support independent bookstores and help maintain Read, Discuss, Do at no additional cost to you.
DISCUSS:
Have you ever seen a buffalo or bison? If so, where?
What sticks out to you about a bison? Home, hump, horns, or hair?
One of the books has a bison named Bryson. Do you think that’s a good name for a bison? What would you name a bison?
How much do you think a bison weighs? (Hint: It’s a lot! Answer: Males are 2,000 pounds and females are 1,100 pounds according to the National Park Service!)
DO: Try one of these bison approved activities
Put a pillow on your back, drape a blanket over it, and crawl on the ground like a bison.
Swim like a bison! Swim across the length of a pool just like bison swim across the river. Check out this video of bison swimming in Yellowstone National Park!
Buffalo tag: one person is the buffalo, and they try to tag the other people.
Buffalo Charades: act out different buffalo behaviors, like grazing, charging, running, sleeping—let your friends guess what you are doing!
Coffee Ground Bison: Create an outline of a bison on thick paper. Cover it with glue and sprinkle coffee grounds over the drawing to create a textured bison look. Complete a background with ripped paper collage. Check out the full tutorial from Barley and Birch.
Check out this video of baby bison in Yellowstone Park from USA Today.
Play some bison or buffalo tunes.
Yes I Can! - Super Simple Songs (not about buffalo, but a buffalo—actually a bison—is mentioned in it)
Home on the Range - this classic folk song is the state song of Kansas.
Download and print this week’s coloring page:
 | A guest post by
|