Reviews

Gr 6-8 The sharp color photographs of a myriad of plant and animal specimens will entrance young naturalists; however, the small print of extended picture captions will detract from their appeal. This loosely organized, general introduction consists of 28 chapters (most are two pages long). In each, a paragraph of text provides an overview of a particular aspect of pond or river ecology. The remaining space is crammed with clear photographs of flora or fauna, accompanied by a caption of one or two sentences identifying them and describing their basic characteristics. Included are descriptions of seasonal pond life as well as short surveys of the kinds of fish, waterfowl, birds, reptiles, mammals, insects, mollusks, and plants that are commonly found in these environments. The majority of plants and animals depicted are common to Europe; most are also found in North America. Due to its excellent photographs, this title is more accessible than Samson's The Pond (Knopf, 1979; o.p.), a detailed examination of a particular pond's ecology. It also includes descriptions of a wider variety of plants and animals than Gorvett's Life in Ponds (American Heritage, 1970; o.p.). Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library