Boa Constrictor vs. Grizzly Bear

Gr 3–6—Each title of this high-interest set compares the fighting abilities of two animals unlikely to meet in the natural world. After a separate introduction for each creature, subsequent spreads highlight a shared feature, with each facing page including a photograph of and facts about each animal. Information ranges from general qualities, such as size and speed, to specific characteristics (e.g., hunting techniques). The main paragraph of text is supported by insets with statistics and factoids. Some of the side-by-side comparisons, such as cheetah claws and ostrich talons, are surprising; others are obvious and less intriguing. The opposing photographs on each spread are most effective when they have a strong visual tie, as in the paired close-ups of a boa constrictor and the teeth of a grizzly bear. While readers are told which animal is faster, tougher, or stronger, they are left to judge for themselves which would actually win an imagined battle.