(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shennen Bersani. A monk seal got a fishhook caught in her mouth and almost starved. Rehabilitated by a team of scientists, "Honey Girl" was released back into Hawaiian waters. Readers will cheer Honey Girl's recovery and birth of healthy pups into the endangered population. Unfortunately, no photos are included, but the realistic illustrations are somewhat appealing. Four pages of additional information and activities are appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Shennen Bersani. Bats, opossums, frogs, fireflies, and more "creep" at night. Over two spreads, rhyming couplets (red foxes "Waking up" is followed by "Noisy pup" on the next page showing wolves) are each accompanied by short paragraphs of facts about the animals. The text and realistic illustrations are serviceable, but both could have done more to demonstrate connections among the nocturnal creatures. Back matter includes educational activities.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shennen Bersani. Simple text mimicking oral tradition highlights the importance of elephants as a keystone species in the savanna ecosystem, providing food, water, and shelter for other animals as a byproduct of their daily activities. Though the book's flow is slightly uneven, the illustrations bring the setting to life with subtly varying textures. Back matter includes additional information about savannas and elephants.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shennen Bersani. A girl and her scientist father find salamanders in a vernal pool; for five months, she records what she and her dad observe about two hatchlings they bring to the lab ("since Dad is a scientist"). A scrapbook-like design includes color photos of varying quality and amateurish drawings. More information about salamanders and the work of biologists is appended.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shennen Bersani. This rather unfocused concept book introduces different types of butterflies and also teaches young readers counting, colors, and how to say "butterfly" in more than twenty different languages (without pronunciation guidance). The vibrant, digitally manipulated Prismacolor-pencil art draws readers in as they encounter each new butterfly and counting challenge. The book is jam-packed with information but a bit overwhelming.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shennen Bersani. Each on a double-page spread, thirteen brief poems offer silly interpretations of animals' symbiotic relationships. The various rhyme schemes are mostly unsuccessful, but, paired with back matter explaining the scientific concept and differentiating between mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism, they are mildly entertaining vehicles for the information. Bersani's detailed, realistic illustrations are suitable. A matching activity is also appended. Bib.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shennen Bersani. A rhombus-torsoed mom and a rectangle-torsoed dad have a baby who resembles "both of her parents. She had four right angles and four equal sides." Geometrically varying relatives suggest names ("Parallelogram," "Quadrangle," etc.), but the giddy reader knows from the get-go that "Square" is the answer. The story is enlightening but uses nothing by way of artistry to get there. Activities are appended.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Shennen Bersani. Counting from one to forty-nine by odd numbers, this book offers brief information about various marine animals, including basking sharks, limpets, lumpfish, and horseshoe crabs. The text is mostly factual but occasionally forced ("Yay! Thirty-three!"). Counting the creatures in the realistic illustrations--as the text invites readers to do--isn't always easy, but the arithmetic theme is secondary.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn