200-Year-Old Bowhead Whales!

Gr 3–5—The animals featured in this set share the common quality of longevity, though more general information, including physical characteristics, life cycles, and behavior, make up the majority of the content. Three or four sentences per page provide basic facts, with easy-to-follow sentences opposite attractive full-page photographs. Descriptions of how scientists determine ages aren't always included (in Red Sea Urchins readers are informed about when scientists learned the maximum age, but not how), though the facts about the unusually long life spans are generally intriguing. For instance, students will discover that elephants typically live longer in zoos than in the wild, and that a harpoon tip can pinpoint a whale's age. The four titles about land dwellers feature examples of specific creatures, such as a movie star parrot, lending extra appeal. Each book ends with a brief note about threats to survival.