(4) K-3 Amazing Animal Adventures series. Illustrated by Alan Male & Alan Male. A mother crocodile takes her babies to the river to hunt for food. In addition to introducing readers to the behavior and habitat of young Nile crocodiles, the meandering story and detailed color illustrations include mention of other animals found in the Luangwa River in an unnamed southern African country. A foldout depicts the crocodile's habitat and includes a pictorial glossary.

Reviewer: Jim St. Claire

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Male. This book introduces thirteen lizards, including the Komodo dragon, chameleon, horned lizard, marine iguana, basilisk, gecko, and Gila monster. Each double-page spread, devoted to a particular lizard, features a realistic color illustration and a few paragraphs of accessible information. An appended chart compares and contrasts the characteristics of snakes, lizards, and salamanders.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Male. This book introduces readers to a dozen familiar and less well-known spiders, and one impostor (daddy longlegs). The larger-than-life color illustrations provide details down to the leg hairs. The sophisticated text presents facts effortlessly while remaining appealing throughout. Each profile builds in new details about spider ecology. The combined effect is a complete presentation of the characteristics that define the arachnid class. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2001

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Alan Male. Roughly following a mother crocodile and her brood of young crocs, this observational book remarks upon the other animals in the Luangwa River Valley in Zambia, Africa. The somewhat meandering and slow-paced text and the highly detailed color illustrations work together to identify the animals, and a "glossary"--a foldout spread of other reptiles, fish, birds, and mammals, identified in spot illustrations--is appended.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam