Steven Engelfried
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Crocodiles: Built for the Hunt
Above-average treatment of a high-interest topic.
Short two- or three-paragraph chapters accompanied by large, pertinent color photos clearly explain the concepts of predator and prey. The text focuses on the crocodile's hunting style: discussing the kinds of prey it seeks, the creature's size, speed, physical attributes, defenses against counterattack, and strategy. Fact sidebars and same-page vocabulary definitions are helpful design elements. Reading list. Glos., ind.
We Need Worms
The scope necessarily varies depending on the topic, but the theme of balanced ecosystems is well supported by words and images.
Amazing Animal Communicators
Plenty of information is packed into each book, with visuals that are effective, if not especially eye-catching.
This informative series centers on abilities common to various animals. After a two-page introduction, each book breaks down the title ability into subtopics explored in two-page case studies, such as chemical communication of skunks and metamorphosis of frogs. Engaging captioned photographs and sidebars are included on clean layouts. The books end without conclusions, but the material is compelling. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Fact Finders: Animal Scientists titles: Amazing Animal Communicators, Amazing Animal Shape-Shifters, and Amazing Animal Tool-Users and Tool-Makers.
The Dawn of Planet Earth
High-quality individual titles stand alone, and the whole set provides a strong introduction to prehistoric life.
The evolution of animal life on Earth, from formation to the rise of mammals, is profiled across the four books. Hosted by a smiley tetrapod, each packed two-page spread features facts and descriptions of several species and their remains, their environments, and major geological and evolutionary events. Computer-generated images of the various creatures include many with anthropomorphized features. Ind. Review covers these Prehistoric Field Guides titles: The Dawn of Planet Earth, Dinosaurs Rule, The Last Days of the Dinosaurs, and The Rise of Mammals.
Chameleons
Bare-bones material paired with strong visual appeal makes this set an excellent choice for beginners; older readers will want more content.
Allosaurus
Smooth prose and strongly organized text and illustrations make this a better-than-average choice for the dinosaur shelves.
The series describes common and less-familiar dinosaurs through a focus on prominent fossil finds, explaining how the evidence can be used to determine the behaviors, feeding habits, competitors, and environments of each species; paleontologists are also profiled. Tiny photos, illustrations of varying quality, and odd layouts detract somewhat from the presentations. There are seven other fall 2015 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Exploring Dinosaurs titles: Apatosoaurus, Compsognathus, Maiasaura, Oviraptor, and Velociraptor.
Cranes
The consistent, if unexciting, structure makes this series a good fit for beginning readers hoping to digest introductory data, but they will need to look elsewhere for more engaging treatments of these highly interesting animals.
Mutants in Nature
There are plenty of fascinating bits of animal information throughout the series, particularly in Zombies and Super Powers, but the sometimes scattered presentation limits its general usefulness.
Bright, well-reproduced color photographs and simply written texts will make this series attractive to science-minded elementary school students. After relating the topic to attention-grabbing material ("Mutants are not just in comic books. In real life, mutations make strange plants and animals"), Larson dispenses well-chosen facts about each "freaky" occurrence in natural life. Readers may be inspired to research further. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Freaky Nature titles: Mutants in Nature, Super Powers in Nature, Vampires in Nature, and Zombies in Nature.
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