Reviews

K-Gr 1-These brief texts attempt to address complex topics for early readers. With a single declarative sentence on most pages, the books show how animals, people, and plants make use of various aspects of the environment-water, land, rocks, etc. Unfortunately, the word "environment" is only defined in the glossary. Each page includes a well-chosen and composed photograph. The last two to four pages of each book present a current issue using more extensive paragraphs and smaller type. In the first book, Wisconsin's growing wolf population is addressed and an assortment of animal facts is listed. The second title describes ways people both help and hurt the environment. In the third, the problems caused by shrinking forests are discussed. Reducing such broad topics to less than 24 pages requires tough choices, and the resultant presentations are adequate but not engaging. The small size of these books limits them to single or small group use but the complexity of the topics begs for adult guidance.-Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.