(4) K-3 Illustrated by Jean Cassels. Abandoned during Hurricane Katrina, a dog (Bobbi) and a blind cat (Bob Cat) survive together for months before receiving care and ultimately a new owner through various animal protection groups. Although some illustrations look stiff, the heartwarming story deserves a place in collections. An afterword includes a photograph of the two devoted animal companions.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jean Cassels. Short chapters feature cats as heroes, world travelers, bodyguards, therapists, and more. Ranging from the legendary animal who helped Dick Whittington make his fortune to cats that have climbed mountains and acted in films, these stories, illustrated with black-and-white spot art, provide a historical framework and behavioral context that help readers better understand the mysterious and engaging feline world. Websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jean Cassels & Jean Cassels. A simple narrative about the Galápagos saddleback tortoise artfully incorporates details about his life: his habits and characteristics, his apparent sole-survivor status, his discovery by wardens from the Galápagos National Park, and his removal to the Darwin Research Station. Detailed illustrations extend the text, and a brief afterword offers more information. Directory.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jean Cassels. Pregnant with her first child, the narrator watches an orb-weaver spider spinning its web and laying eggs. Unlike most orb weavers, it lives through the winter, surviving until the spiderlings hatch. The narration uses some fairly sophisticated vocabulary, while smooth, mellow illustrations in a realistic style help convey the narrator's feeling of connection to the spider. An author's note about spiders is included.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jean Cassels. This collection of poems presents the reader with fresh observations of wildlife, from an appreciation of the rat in spite of its repugnant nature, to a recognition of the oneness of a starfish and human, to a haiku-like musing on day-old chicks. The poems, both free verse and rhyming, are accompanied by realistic watercolors in soft, muted earth tones.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley