Animal Teachers

K-Gr 2—Halfmann explains that animal babies, just like human children, have very important teachers—parents. Otter pups are taught to swim and dive, beaver kits learn to make dams, young cheetahs practice stalking their prey. Each spread features one animal and one lesson, concluding with questions asked directly to readers, e.g., "Who gave you your first swimming lessons?" "Who sings to you?" These questions help children relate to the baby animals they are reading about and understand the importance of families in their world. Hudson's realistic watercolor illustrations depict the tenderness between parent and child. Each picture features families in their own environments, expanding on the text in a subtle way. The book concludes with additional facts about the animals introduced. A useful and attractive title for classrooms and libraries.—Susan E. Murray, formerly at Glendale Public Library, AZ