From the editors of "TIME for Kids" magazine come these Level 3 readers that take youngsters into the worlds of amazing animals. With stunning, full-color photographs and informative graphics, these two titles introduce readers to sharks and spiders.

Reviews

Gr 2-3-A visually appealing format is the highlight of these easy readers. Each book consists of several chapters in which short paragraphs of large-print text are overlaid on color-photo spreads. Simply written sentences describe outstanding physical and behavioral characteristics shared by the animals, one or two distinctive characteristics of more than a dozen particular species, diet, birth of young, etc. Each title also profiles a scientist in the field; Sharks! includes a brief entry on a photographer as well. The photos are excellent; most are sharply defined, well-composed close-ups of representative species in their natural habitats. Smaller photos of additional species are superimposed on some of the spreads; all animals are identified in captions by common names. Each title also includes a simple diagram with labels attached to major body parts and captions describing their functions. Color is an important element throughout. Headings appear in contrasting colors, the text often is in white print to show up against the dark backgrounds of many of the photos, and a colorful double border runs across the top of each spread. Miscellaneous facts are offered in sidebars (e.g., one in Sharks offers safety tips for swimmers) and on the last few pages, along with a short, illustrated glossary. Both titles are aimed at a slightly younger audience than Laurence Pringle's more detailed Sharks!: Strange and Wonderful (2001) and Sandra Markle's excellent introduction to spider physiology, Spiders: Biggest! Littlest! (2004, both Boyds Mills) and will appeal to reluctant readers.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.