Owings, Lisa. Deathstalker Scorpion.

Owings, Lisa.  Deathstalker Scorpion      Scholastic Press  2013  24p  $17.26  ISBN 978-0-531-21871-6  elem  series: Nature's Deadliest  VG 

Geared toward elementary students, this beautifully illustrated title will captivate students who love scorpions.  Written in easy-to-read language, this book will appeal to students who want to learn about this amazing arachnid.  Students will be fascinated by reading the real-life survival story of Staff Sergeant Monique Munro-Harris, who was stung by one of these deadly scorpions in Iraq.  The book is filled with fascinating facts about this deadly scorpion, including physical characteristics, diet, how they live and thrive, and information on their venom. 

The book includes beautiful color photographs, interesting fact boxes, a glossary of terms, a list of recommended books and web sites, and an index.  Short, well organized chapters will do well for reluctant readers.    Eighteen titles have been published in this series, focusing on the most deadliest animals.

Scorpions                                                                                           --Charleen Forba-Mayer

Owings, Lisa. The Cape Buffalo.

Owings, Lisa.     The Cape Buffalo.       Scholastic/ Childrens Press   24p $16.95  978-0-531-20880-9       elem  Series: Nature's Deadliest (Scholastic/Childrens) VG

This book offers interesting information for young readers about the Cape buffalo:  habitat, description, value to society, danger to humans, and its prevalence in the world.  In the introduction, Lisa Owings describes a confrontation between some workers and a Cape buffalo in South Africa, which leaves one young man struggling to survive after he is gored unexpectedly.  This exciting introduction will entice young readers to turn the pages.  In Chapter Two, Owings describes the typical Cape buffalo and contrasts his body size with a human’s.  The animal's ferocity is described in detail, and one learns that a Cape buffalo will even wait for a lion in a tree for hours!  The Cape buffalo cannot be tamed like the water buffalo.  It is in this chapter that the supporting photographs are the most interesting.  One shows a lion waiting to attack, and another shows two Cape buffalo fighting each other for dominance.  Chapter Three contains fascinating information about the reputation of the Cape buffalo as a killer.  Once wounded, he will kill.  He will even wait for a hunter and trample him!  This chapter shows children the value of the Cape buffalo and threats to its existence.  All in all, this book contains the requisite information to make it useful for research, classroom presentations, and compare/contrast studies between the buffalo and other predators.  The extra features include vocabulary words highlighted in neon green, a layout that is pleasing to the eye, a glossary, a list of resources to consult, and a short index.

The series Nature’s Deadliest includes books about the African elephant and lion, the box jellyfish, the great white shark and the grizzly bear, to name a few.  Each one covers descriptions of the animal and its habitat along with a summary of its uses to mankind, its danger to society and other pertinent information.                         --Martha Squaresky

Owings, Lisa. The King Cobra.

Owings, Lisa.     The King Cobra.   Scholastic/ Childrens Press   24p  $17.00 978-0-531-20882-3       elem  Series: Nature's Deadliest (Scholastic/Childrens) E-Bnes

           

This book provides information on the king cobra for young students, and focuses also on the people who work with these snakes to manufacture anti-venoms that save lives.  This slim volume starts out with a bang ... discussing the career  and bravery of a man who has survived numerous king cobra attacks as he works to develop anti-venom remedies for snake bites.  By focusing the beginning of the book on the power of the snake’s venom and efforts to create antidotes to it, the author grabs the reader’s attention right away.  Subsequently, she discusses the other physical aspects of the king cobra, its use as entertainment in India, and its diet and habits.  There is a good index and a list of resources for further information that are helpful.  The illustrations are colorful and apt, and they add to the book’s impact.

This reviewer checked out the factsurfer website and found it to be a good resource.  Nature’s Deadliest series includes twelve titles, including the African elephant, the Bengal tiger, and the Komodo dragon.  

                                                      --Carol Kennedy