How Animals Work

Gr 3—8—This oversize collection of amazing photographs and descriptive captions will give browsers plenty to pore over. Eight general sections covering animal forms, movements, diets, families, and more are divided into seven or eight spreads loaded with examples and details. "Senses," for instance, includes spreads on "Eyesight," "Hearing," "Seeing with sound," "Taste and smell," "Touch and motion," and "Special senses." Each spread includes an introductory paragraph, a large central photo, and a smattering of smaller photos and diagrams that provide examples of the variety within the topic. The ninth and final section begins with evolution and then presents 10 major animal groups. This section, much like a visual catalog, subdivides the groups according to a common characteristic; e.g., insects are grouped as "Partial transformers" and "transformers." Dynamic photographs show birds in flight, slugs on a slime trail (shown from below), and lizards in mid-leap. Occasional double-page photos add variety and impact. Readers will spend hours drifting from one fascinating image to the next.—Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WI