Reviews

Gr 4-7-In each of these glossy introductions, a crisp text describes the major physical characteristics shared by all of the featured animals, behavior, distinctive characteristics of several large groups and more than two dozen species, habitats, defense mechanisms, diets, and life cycles. Each book also mentions hibernation, migration, pollination, threats to the animals' survival, and efforts to preserve them. Butterflies explains how the insects actually mate, a detail most introductions omit. Oddly enough, it does not use the term "metamorphosis," although the process is thoroughly described. Bats has a detailed explanation of echolocation. A sharp color photograph of one or more of the featured animals in natural settings illustrates the text on most pages; about a third are almost full page, except for margins, and some spill over onto the next page. A few adequate color drawings, one of which is an anatomical diagram, appear as well. Captions in small print offer additional facts, as do sidebars. Terms are defined as they appear in the text, along with a pronunciation guide in parentheses. Both titles have more detailed information on physiology and behavior and life cycles than most general introductions to these animals aimed at about the same age level, such as Laurence Pringle's Bats! (Boyds Mills, 2000) and Jen Green's Butterflies (Benchmark, 1999). Note: These profusely illustrated titles will appeal to browsers as well as report writers.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.