(3) 4-6 Animals Animals series. This clearly written book discusses various owls' physical characteristics (including why owls can rotate their heads so far), hunting methods, choices of prey, and life cycles. Also discussed is the decline in owl populations, primarily through loss of habitat. The crisp color photos, which often fill the page, should attract readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Animals Animals series. This clearly written book discusses the general differences between hawks and falcons and describes their physical characteristics, life cycles, migration patterns, and choices of prey. Brief mention is made of the effects of DDT, development, and poaching on these raptors. The crisp color photos, which often fill the page, should attract readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Animals Animals series. In two books in this series, clear color photographs and an accessible text introduce these often misunderstood reptiles. The text includes information about habitat, life cycles, and defenses, as well as a chapter on threats from humans. Short chapters and the easy-to-read typeface will encourage reluctant readers. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Animals Animals titles: Lizards and Snakes.]

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 Ecosystems of North America series. These books explore an ecosystem by examining its subsystems (e.g., the upper, middle, and lower canopies, understory, and floor of a rainforest). The accessible texts illustrate how living and nonliving components interact and affect one another; how plants and animals adapt to their surroundings; and how people have damaged and now try to sustain these ecosystems. Clear color photographs illustrate the books. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(3) 4-6 Ecosystems of North America series. These books explore an ecosystem by examining its subsystems (e.g., the upper, middle, and lower canopies, understory, and floor of a rainforest). The accessible texts illustrate how living and nonliving components interact and affect one another; how plants and animals adapt to their surroundings; and how people have damaged and now try to sustain these ecosystems. Clear color photographs illustrate the books. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(3) YA Ecosystems of North America series. These books explore an ecosystem by examining its subsystems (e.g. the beaches, estuaries, marshes, and reefs of the Atlantic coast). The accessible texts reveal how living and nonliving components interact and affect one another, how plants and animals adapt to their surroundings, and how people have damaged and now try to sustain these ecosystems. Clear color photos illustrate the books. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli

(2) 4-6 Photographs by Scott Sroka. The text is matter-of-fact in its explanations of the training, gear, tasks, and station life of firefighters. The book conveys the danger and importance of the work without overdramatizing as it provides a bit of history and explains the many responsibilities performed by the various members of firefighting companies. An assortment of large and small photographs accompany this intelligent introduction to the career of firefighting.

Reviewer: Margaret A. Bush | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 1998

(3) 4-6 Ecosystems of North America series. These books explore an ecosystem by examining its various subsystems (e.g., tallgrass, mixed-grass, and shortgrass prairies). The accessible texts illustrate how living and nonliving components interact and affect one another; how plants and animals have adapted to their surroundings; and how people have damaged and now attempt to sustain those ecosystems. Plenty of clear color photos illustrate the books. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli