School Library Journal Review

Gr 2--4--Each series title offers a handful of facts about eight different species within a broad animal group. Neatly laid-out spreads present information that is clear and easy to follow. A couple of introductory sentences, two captioned images, and an inset with a specific bit of information are complemented by a simple "fact file," a range map, and a scale drawing. There's just enough data to engage a young reader's curiosity about the animals, with a nice balance between general and specific information. The focus is on highlighted species, so group commonalities or differences are not addressed. Most of the featured animals can be found in other books. Larger drawings effectively depict the animal's key features, although neither these nor the smaller photographs are especially eye-catching. VERDICT Basic information in an accessible, though less than exciting format.