Small Mammals

Gr 4-6 Don't judge these books by their covers. The cheerful exteriors are dotted with close-up photographs of the subject matter and suggest appealing content within, but the pages are a jumbled mix of vapid, confusing, and random material. Text balloons located next to particular birds, bugs, plants, or mammals ask questions that are either irritatingly obvious or impossible to answer. Kids are encouraged to become "wildlife watchers," so perhaps the queries are meant to be a checklist of what to look for when a certain species is possibly spotted. However, this is not explained, stumping readers as to the real purpose of the questions. "Am I covered in stinging hairs?" ("Plants") and "Is my gray-brown fur greasy?" ("Mammals") invite touching, but then children are warned not to do so. A section titled "Water birds" is followed by one on ducks, geese, and swans, but the first sentence in both sections notes that they live near water, and nothing else is mentioned to distinguish them. Why not group them all together? Earthworms, slugs, and snails are included in "Bugs", and while "bug" may be a loose term, it is a stretch to think that those critters qualify. Skip these volumes."Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.