School Library Journal Review

Gr 1-4-Large, colorful photographs of plants and animals in attractive layouts create visually striking glimpses of life in various biomes. Unfortunately, visual appeal cannot compensate for the confusing presentations about the elements of a food chain. To some extent, Riggs makes it seem as though the relationships form a single continuous cycle that can be easily explained. In Rainforests, for example, cacao leaves are eaten by leafcutter ants, which are eaten by a silky anteater, which is eaten by a boa, which is eaten by a jaguar. After the jaguar dies, nutrients from its body will replenish the earth and help nourish the cacao tree. How then do the depicted piranhas, orchids, quetzal, and poison dart frogs fit into this scheme? Why does a gorilla from a different continent appear? Similar problems plague the other volumes. Deserts seems to concentrate on the United States Southwest until a camel wanders across a landscape. No diagrams of a food chain or food web appear in the books to help explain the topic and alleviate confusion. Striking design is not enough to warrant purchase.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.