(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Kathy Boake. Double-page spreads highlight quirks of the human body, many the results of evolutionary changes. Flaking skin, goose bumps, and tailbones are explored in an interesting way. Because the sections aren't well tied together, the book is best used for browsing. Illustrations include computer-manipulated images of people with bizarrely distorted proportions. "Freaky Facts," sidebars, and a few activities are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Photographs by Paul Davidson. Eighteen double-page spreads help readers explore what makes an insect an insect. Body parts such as exoskeletons and spiracles are described in kid-friendly scientific language. Survival strategies from camouflage to "weaponry" are also covered. Large, bright, zoomed-in photos let readers see the creatures in uncommonly close detail. "Buggy Bit" text bubbles offer unusual facts ("grasshopper songs have different beats"). Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. Using an uncluttered page design with ample white space, these two books introduce penguins and hummingbirds. Covered are habitat, diet, mating, and raising chicks. Clear color photographs--some that don't correspond to the main text--illustrate the pages. Glos., ind. Review covers these Welcome to the World of Animals titles: Hummingbirds and Penguins.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. Using an uncluttered page design with ample white space, these two books introduce elephants and wild horses. Covered are habitat, diet, mating, playing, and raising young. Clear color photographs--some that don't correspond to the main text--illustrate the pages. Glos., ind. Review covers these Welcome to the World of Animals titles: Elephants and Wild Horses.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. Using an uncluttered page design with ample white space, these two books introduce crocodilians (the group that both alligators and crocodiles belong to) and frogs and toads. The books cover habitat, diet, mating, and raising young. Clear color photos--some that don't correspond to the main text--illustrate the pages. Glos., ind. Review covers these Welcome to the World of Animals titles: Alligators and Crocodiles and Frogs and Toads.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. Using an uncluttered page design with ample white space, these two books introduce elephants and wild horses. Covered are habitat, diet, mating, playing, and raising young. Clear color photographs--some that don't correspond to the main text--illustrate the pages. Glos., ind. Review covers these Welcome to the World of Animals titles: Elephants and Wild Horses.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. Using an uncluttered page design with ample white space, these two books introduce crocodilians (the group that both alligators and crocodiles belong to) and frogs and toads. The books cover habitat, diet, mating, and raising young. Clear color photos--some that don't correspond to the main text--illustrate the pages. Glos., ind. Review covers these Welcome to the World of Animals titles: Alligators and Crocodiles and Frogs and Toads.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. Using an uncluttered page design with ample white space, these two books introduce penguins and hummingbirds. Covered are habitat, diet, mating, and raising chicks. Clear color photographs--some that don't correspond to the main text--illustrate the pages. Glos., ind. Review covers these Welcome to the World of Animals titles: Hummingbirds and Penguins.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. These books introduce their wild animal subjects to young readers. Short chapters discuss habitat, behavior, physical characteristics, food, and care of young. Clear captioned photos accompany the accessible text, but chapter-concluding sidebars are printed in a small typeface that may prove challenging to newly independent readers. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Welcome to the World of Animals titles: Bats, Beavers, Foxes, and Squirrels.]

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. These books introduce their wild animal subjects to young readers. Short chapters discuss habitat, behavior, physical characteristics, food, and care of young. Clear captioned photos accompany the accessible text, but chapter-concluding sidebars are printed in a small typeface that may prove challenging to newly independent readers. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Welcome to the World of Animals titles: Bats, Beavers, Foxes, and Squirrels.]

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. This book introduces these raptors to young readers. Short chapters discuss habitat ("except for Antarctica, every continent is home to eagles of one kind or another"), behavior, physical characteristics, food, and care of young. Clear captioned photos accompany the accessible text, but chapter-concluding sidebars are printed in a small typeface that may prove challenging to newly independent readers. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. These books introduce their wild animal subjects to young readers. Short chapters discuss habitat, behavior, physical characteristics, food, and care of young. Clear captioned photos accompany the accessible text, but chapter-concluding sidebars are printed in a small typeface that may prove challenging to newly independent readers. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Welcome to the World of Animals titles: Bats, Beavers, Foxes, and Squirrels.]

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. Short chapters discuss shark habitats ("oceans everywhere"), behavior, physical characteristics, food, and care of young. Clear captioned photos accompany the accessible text, but chapter-concluding sidebars are printed in a small typeface that could prove challenging to newly independent readers. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. These books introduce their wild animal subjects to young readers. Short chapters discuss habitat, behavior, physical characteristics, food, and care of young. Clear captioned photos accompany the accessible text, but chapter-concluding sidebars are printed in a small typeface that may prove challenging to newly independent readers. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Welcome to the World of Animals titles: Bats, Beavers, Foxes, and Squirrels.]

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 What could be an ordinary what-to-expect book stays fresh thanks to Swanson's energetic prose. This reassuring guide comprises fourteen two-page chapters, each of which features a color photo of a kid in a dentist's chair (though the overall layout is too busy). An empowering sidebar called "Your Job" and a frequently-asked-question sidebar correspond to each chapter's theme. Ind.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. This book effectively introduces readers to snakes and, in four-page chapters, discusses their habitats, behaviors, physical characteristics, and care of young. Clear captioned photos enhance the straightforward and accessible text. An informational sidebar concludes each chapter. Glos., ind.

Reviewer:

(3) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. The books in this series effectively introduce readers to a particular wild animal and, in four-page chapters, discuss its habitat, behaviors, physical characteristics, and care of young. Clear captioned photos enhance the straightforward and accessible text. An informational sidebar concludes each chapter. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Welcome to the World titles: Coyotes, Porcupines, Rabbits and Hares, and Skunks.]

Reviewer:

(3) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. The books in this series effectively introduce readers to a particular wild animal and, in four-page chapters, discuss its habitat, behaviors, physical characteristics, and care of young. Clear captioned photos enhance the straightforward and accessible text. An informational sidebar concludes each chapter. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Welcome to the World titles: Coyotes, Porcupines, Rabbits and Hares, and Skunks.]

Reviewer:

(3) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. The books in this series effectively introduce readers to a particular wild animal and, in four-page chapters, discuss its habitat, behaviors, physical characteristics, and care of young. Clear captioned photos enhance the straightforward and accessible text. An informational sidebar concludes each chapter. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Welcome to the World titles: Coyotes, Porcupines, Rabbits and Hares, and Skunks.]

Reviewer:

(3) K-3 Welcome to the World of Animals series. The books in this series effectively introduce readers to a particular wild animal and, in four-page chapters, discuss its habitat, behaviors, physical characteristics, and care of young. Clear captioned photos enhance the straightforward and accessible text. An informational sidebar concludes each chapter. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Welcome to the World titles: Coyotes, Porcupines, Rabbits and Hares, and Skunks.]

Reviewer: