Dolphins and Other Marine Mammals. (What Kind of Animal Is It?). Kelley MacAulay & Bobbie Kalman. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2006. 32 pp., pbk. & cl., $8.06 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB). ISBN 0-7787-2222-8 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-2164-7 (RLB). Subject Heading: Marine mammals-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Harriet Zaidman. **** /4
	Koalas and Other Marsupials. (What Kind of Animal Is It?). Bobbie Kalman & Robin Johnson. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2006. 32 pp., pbk. & cl., $8.06 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB). ISBN 0-7787-2220-1 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-2162-0 (RLB). Subject Headings: Koala-Juvenile literature. Marsupials-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Harriet Zaidman. **** /4
	Monkeys and Other Primates. (What Kind of Animal Is It?). Rebecca Sjonger & Bobbie Kalman. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2006. 32 pp., pbk. & cl., $8.06 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB). ISBN 0-7787-2223-6 (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-2165-5 (RLB). Subject Headings: Primates-Juvenile literature. Monkeys-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Harriet Zaidman. **** /4
	Guinea Pigs and Other Rodents. (What Kind of Animal Is It?). Bobbie Kalman & Reagan Miller. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2006. 32 pp., pbk. & cl., $8.06 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB). ISBN 0-7787-2221-X (pbk.), ISBN 0-7787-2163-9 (RLB). Subject Heading: Rodents-Juvenile literature. Grades 2-4 / Ages 7-9. Review by Harriet Zaidman. **** /4

excerpt:

Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world! Capybaras live in South America. The weather in South America is always warm. Caybaras swim in lakes and rivers to keep their bodies cool. They are excellent swimmers! (From Guinea Pigs and Other Rodents.)

Young researchers will find that this series of books about different animal groups provides useful and interesting facts. The information is accompanied by close-up photographs or detailed drawings that have clearly written captions.

     Each two-page chapter, listed in a table of contents, adds several facts to the body of information. The books begin with basic questions, such as ‘What are rodents?’ and ‘Primates are mammals’. Further chapters explain how particular animals within the group eat, where they live and how they raise their young. Separate chapters then describe specific species within the group.

     These 32-page books are simply designed. The font size is large, and the text and illustrations are set on a bright white background so the reader won’t be distracted from the content. The picture frames are circles, ovals or other shapes to add variety.

     Targeted at children who are learning how to research, the books provide a helpful index on the last page. The animals and some terms listed in the index are illustrated in alphabetical order, a help to young children who will likely not remember all the names of a plethora of relatively obscure animals, such as cuscuses, planigales and quolls. General topics are listed alphabetically in a typical index. In another nod to the age group, the glossary is entitled “Words to know.”

     The “What Kind of Animal Is It?” series is appropriate to the curriculum followed in early years studies and will be a useful resource in a classroom or library.

Highly Recommended.

Harriet Zaidman is a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

 

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