Ambushed by a Cougar

Gr 4-6 Exciting stories about people who survived attacks by cougars, crocodiles, or rattlesnakes will draw readers to these books. Accompanying photos include fingers swollen after snakebites, a forearm caught in a crocodile's jaws, and cougars devouring (nonhuman) prey. Text boxes feature quotations from witnesses and survivors. Yet, Hamilton does not limit her text to sensational incidents. Each book provides information on where the animals live and explains physical characteristics that make them successful predators. Although she notes that human deaths are relatively rare, the pages devoted to advice on avoiding and surviving attacks at the end give a final adrenaline rush. Readers will need additional resources for a complete picture of these predators, but these titles offer a dramatic way to start the exploration."Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.