(4) K-3 Ecosystem series. Patkau leads readers to the conclusion that the world needs these ecosystems by explaining how each affects nature worldwide ("Without jungle plants, the earth's air temperature would rise even higher"). Colorful if synthetic-looking digital illustrations closely mirror text that is well organized and workmanlike but could use smoother transitions. Helpful diagrams throughout and appended information on inhabitants aid understanding. Glos. Review covers these Ecosystem titles: Who Needs a Jungle?, Who Needs a Swamp?, and Who Needs an Iceberg?.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Ecosystem series. Patkau leads readers to the conclusion that the world needs these ecosystems by explaining how each affects nature worldwide ("Without jungle plants, the earth's air temperature would rise even higher"). Colorful if synthetic-looking digital illustrations closely mirror text that is well organized and workmanlike but could use smoother transitions. Helpful diagrams throughout and appended information on inhabitants aid understanding. Glos. Review covers these Ecosystem titles: Who Needs a Jungle?, Who Needs a Swamp?, and Who Needs an Iceberg?.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Ecosystem series. Patkau leads readers to the conclusion that the world needs these ecosystems by explaining how each affects nature worldwide ("Without jungle plants, the earth's air temperature would rise even higher"). Colorful if synthetic-looking digital illustrations closely mirror text that is well organized and workmanlike but could use smoother transitions. Helpful diagrams throughout and appended information on inhabitants aid understanding. Glos. Review covers these Ecosystem titles: Who Needs a Jungle?, Who Needs a Swamp?, and Who Needs an Iceberg?.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 Patkau pairs an extinct animal with a contemporary one (e.g., the mollusk cameroceras and the blue-ringed octopus), drawing intriguing parallels between species ranging from reptiles to arachnids. In general the author avoids unfounded assertions, though she does imply strong similarities, if not ancestry, without documentation or further explanation. The accompanying brightly colored digital art verges on gaudy. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) K-3 "Big" and "small" are relative, but this book of simplified zoological paintings renders some basic ideas about scale and diversity in the animal kingdom. Each creature tells a bit about its own life in a few sentences. Some actual sizes of animals are depicted on the last few pages, and a world map on the endpapers indicates where each creature lives. Glos.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo