The Extraordinary Emu

Book excerpt: The emu is Australia’s biggest native bird. It is the second biggest bird in the world. The biggest is the ostrich. The emu belongs to the family known as ratites. Ratites are birds that don’t fly and have small wings and flat breastbones. Even though emus can’t fly they can run very fast. They run up to 31 miles per hour (50 kilometres per hour). Emus can grow up to six and a half feet (about two metres). That is taller than a full grown man. They can weigh up to 140 pounds (about 64 kilograms). The female emu is larger than the male. Find out more about this amazing animal and learn the answers to these questions: What is the purpose of the claw on the end of the emu’s wing? What color is the back of an emu’s head? How long can an emu go without eating or taking a drink. What is emu oil used for? What happens to a male emu when he sits on the unhatched eggs? Learn what an emu looks like, where it lives, what it eats, what eats it, how babies are born, and other fun facts. Ages 7 - 10 Reading Level 4.2 All measurements in American and metric. LearningIsland.com believes in the value of children practicing reading for 15 minutes every day. Our 15-Minute Books give children lots of fun, exciting choices to read, from classic stories, to mysteries, to books of knowledge. Many books are appropriate for hi-lo readers. Open the world of reading to a child by having them read for 15 minutes a day.