Animals and Their Families

PreS-Gr 1—Nascimbeni introduces 32 wild and domestic animals in an interesting format. Each one appears in silhouette with its name on the left, opposite watercolor cartoon renderings of its family grouping on the facing page. Names for the adults as well as their young are labeled. Below each family group, information enclosed in circles reveals the sound the creature makes, its habitat, and what it eats. Appropriately for young audiences, the facts presented are basic, yet provide an opportunity to introduce such vocabulary as "krill," "rodents," and "algae." Perhaps less appropriate for the youngest viewers is the inclusion of predators and their prey. Even though children may be familiar with most of the animals in this collection, they will enjoy viewing the rosy-cheeked creatures and trying to name the animals when they reappear in silhouette on the endpapers.—Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT