K-Gr 2-In this set of informative foldout board books, Hutt explores natural food chains in three different habitats. "High in the sky, all around the forest, and deep in the ocean, everyone is hungry." At the bottom of each chain, the warmth and energy from the sun nourishes plants, which are eaten by a tiny organism like a krill, a slug, or an aphid. The chains then proceed through a line of ever-larger creatures until "no one is hungry anymore." The candid narrative highlights a variety of interesting animals ranging from ladybugs to owls, silverfish to whales, and shrews to bobcats, explaining how animals hunt and catch one another to survive. The books open up into six-foot-long, double-sided panels. As each volume unfolds, bright illustrations spotlight each creature in a singular fashion. Handmade figurines are set against paper and mixed-media backgrounds and photographed. A small, luminous pink squid floats at the bottom of the cerulean ocean. A yellow-eyed great horned owl perches on a tree branch. A red fox leaps through the dark green forest brush. On the reverse side of the panels, black-and-white pictures accompany additional animal dietary facts.
VERDICT Although the quirky title may startle some sensitive animal lovers, these offerings, presented in a straightforward, unvarnished style, will work well in classrooms and programs.-Linda L. Walkins, Saint Joseph Preparatory High School, Boston
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