Cutest Animals Collection

Gr 1–4—To this eclectic mix of three individual 32-page sections (on penguins, monkeys, and polar bears) under one cover, National Geographic has added a fourth one that focuses on orphaned or sick baby animals thriving under veterinary care, eventually to be released into the wild. Each one is written in large print, enhanced with clear high-definition photography. Written in a conversational tone and using one- to two-syllable words, "Polar Bears," is targeted at emergent readers. The last three sections in this collection are labeled as reading-level two; they use two- and three-syllable words, with pronunciation guides for the more complex words, such as "arboreal." Throughout, fact bubbles and silly joke insets keep learning light and easy. While the first three parts touch on habitat, diet, anatomy, and care of the young, the final one, "Saving Animal Babies," includes a variety of animals in need of help, such as giraffes, tigers, and seals, as well as "Dos and Don'ts" for readers. All in all, this new series presents basic solid science in an accessible format.—Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA