Marsico, Katie. Chimpanzees.

Marsico, Katie.   Chimpanzees.  Scholastic/ Childrens Press  48P  $28.00  978-0-531-20910-3  elem  Series: Nature's Children (Scholastic/Childrens)

E-BNes           

This title in the Nature’s Children series deals with chimpanzees.  The text packs a great deal of information into the small number of pages.  Even though many facts are presented, the text is not intimidating to readers.  Each page is titled with a heading to help children find the information they desire, and a full-page photograph accompanies the text.  Whether it is a close-up or a photo showing the whole chimp, each photograph is bright, sharp and relevant to the text.

This title provides amazingly detailed information on chimpanzees.  It includes their characteristics, life cycles, habits and environment.  Also included is a brief description of their close relatives.  The impact of human behavior on wild chimpanzees and other threats to their survival and conservation efforts are also covered.
 

The glossary is very helpful.  There is a short list of resources and a simple index.  While these sections are short, they are adequate for the level of the text.
 

Altogether, it is a very inviting yet informative title.  The ten titles in the Nature’s Children series offer substantial but not intimidating quantities of specific information about the featured animal's characteristics, life cycles,  relatives, and natural and human threats to the species' survival.  They are perfect for students in grades 3-6, and are very highly recommended for elementary-school libraries.  They are great for readers just seeking information for themselves as well as for reports.             -- Joan Theal    

Zeiger, Jennifer. Lions.

Zeiger, Jennifer.  Lions.     Scholastic/ Childrens Press   48p  $28.00 978-0-531-20903-5 elem  Series: Nature's Children (Scholastic/Childrens) VG-BN       

Books about animals generally fall into one of two categories: decent and really good.  This title is one of the really good books, because not only is it informative and nicely illustrated, it is also very accessible.  The text is very readable and flows well, and the illustrations are well placed within the text.  Readers will come away from the book with a very thorough understanding of lions.  Throughout the book there are bold red words that are defined in the glosary in the back of the book.  A list of web sites and print resources and an index conclude the book. 

The Nature’s Children books are well-written, well-documented and  nicely illustrated titles that young people can read about a variety of animals and related issues, such as conservation and the impact that humans have had on their existence.                                    --Lynn Fisher

Marsico, Katie. Chimpanzees.

Marsico, Katie.   Chimpanzees.      Scholastic/ Childrens Press   48P  $28.00 978-0-531-20910-3       elem  Series: Nature's Children (Scholastic/Childrens)  E-Bnes

The text in this book about chimpanzees packs a great deal of information into a small number of pages.  While many facts are presented, the text is not intimidating to readers.  Each page is titled with a heading to help children find the information they desire.  A full-page photograph accompanies each page of text.  Whether close-up or showing the whole chimp, each photograph is bright, sharp and appropriate to the text.

This title provides amazingly detailed information on chimpanzees.  It includes their characteristics, life cycle, habits and environment.  Also included is a brief description of close relatives.  The impact of humans on wild chimpanzees and other threats to their survival are covered, as well as conservation efforts.

The glossary is very helpful.  There is a short list of resources and a simple index.  While these sections are short, they are adequate for the level of the text.

Altogether it is a very inviting yet informative book.  In the Nature’s Children series, ten titles offer substantial but not intimidating quantities of specific information about a featured animal's characteristics, life cycles, relatives, and natural and human threats to the species' survival.  They are appropriate for children in grades 3-6.                                                             --Joan Theal

Gregory, Josh. Dolphins.

Gregory, Josh.    Dolphins.   Scholastic/ Childrens Press   48P   $25.20978-0-531-20900-4 elem  Series: Nature's Children (Scholastic/Childrens)  Good       

This volume is appealing and readable, providing an engaging overview of dolphin habitat, behavior, and survival. 

The photographs are eye-catching.  Each full-page color photo is paired with a page of informative text.  Unfortunately, many of the crisp, colorful photos are truncated because parts of them are trapped in the book’s “gutter.”  The “Fact File” feature at the front of the book will appeal to young researchers, who will find this summary useful for reports. 

One other caveat: Pages 16-17 focus on dolphin diets. The photograph of an orca (or “killer whale”) and the inclusion of orcas in the text may confuse readers.  The text does not explain that orcas are the largest breed of dolphin until page 33.                               --Hilary Welliver

Franchino, Vicky. Tarantulas.

Franchino, Vicky.  Tarantulas.      Scholastic/Childrens Press    48P $25.00 978-0-531-20908-0        elem        Series: Nature's Children (Scholastic/Childrens Press)

     

This book includes a lot of information written at the elementary-school level, with wonderful full-color photographs that enhance the text.  The book begins by explaining that tarantulas are not insects, but spiders, and explains the difference between the two in detail, for students who are not already knowledgeable.  The physical characteristics of many varieties of tarantulas are described, along with the explanation of why they are venomous ... namely, they have to watch out for so many predators.  There are chapters describing the life cycle, habitats, and future of tarantula species.  In addition, there are chapters that describe several spiders that are close relatives of tarantulas: wolf spiders, scorpions, and spruce-fir moss spiders.

The organization of the book is good, with new terms highlighted in red font and appearing in the glossary, small fact boxes throughout the text, and easy-to-read, attractive font and page layouts.  The map of habitats is helpful, as are the “Find out more” section and the index.                                                                            -- Carol Kennedy

Dolbear, Emily J. Bald Eagles.

Dolbear, Emily J.   Bald Eagles.  Scholastic/ Childrens Press     48P $25.20 978-0-531-20901-1    elem  Series: Nature's Children (Scholastic/Childrens)  VG      

This book is appealing and readable, providing an engaging overview of bald eagle habitat, behavior, and survival.  At one point in the last century, our national symbol nearly went extinct, with only 500 mated pairs in North America; today there are about 10,000 bald eagles. 

The photographs are eye-catching, moving beyond the usual static close-up of the bald eagle at rest to arresting photos of the bird in flight, fledglings, and a row of eagles occupying a roof.   A full-page color photo is paired with a page of informative text.  The “Fact File” feature at the front of the book will appeal to young researchers who will find this summary useful for reports.  Students may be interested to learn that the bald eagle is North America’s only breed of sea eagles and that Ben Franklin campaigned to have the turkey as the national emblem.

I have only one small gripe with the text.  On page six, the text reads "Bald eagles got their name from early settlers in North America.  These settlers described them with a word similar to bald that meant 'white'." The term that means "white" instead of "bald" is not provided.

Unfamiliar terms are defined (and sounded out) for readers in the glossary.  Readers interested in learning more will find the book list and websites that are provided useful.  There is also a brief index.  This is a current, informative volume on a species that has bounced back from the edge of extinction.                                          --Hilary Welliver