April 1, 2015
Gr 1-4-This varied collection of animals combines appealing design with clear information. Four or five succinct chapters cover range, habitat, and appearance (size, diet, enemies, and young). Many topics (identification, diet, predators, young) are reinforced through charts. A map shows the animal's range, alongside a chart showing its conservation status. A graph compares the average animal's size to that of an average human. The text contrasts nicely with the faintly patterned background, which is overlaid with brightly bordered photographs and colorful charts and graphs. Photos are dynamic, including a hugely exaggerated wide-angle shot in Black Bears. Other than some contradictory information between Black Bears and White-Tailed Deer (White-Tailed Deer leads readers to believe that bears are a major predator of deer, while Black Bears doesn't list deer as a food source) and the mistakenly identified eastern Greenland in Gray Wolves, these books are well edited. VERDICT Attractive additions.
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