(3) 4-6 How Nature Works series. The Galápagos Islands are home to marine iguanas that, like no other iguana species, swim and feed in the ocean. Collard's story of how this came to be is an explanation of island biogeology, evolution, and natural selection in the locale that inspired Darwin. Crisp, detailed photographs of the animals, along with sidebars that provide deeper explanations of evolutionary biology, are included. Reading list. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 How Nature Works series. Photographs by Andrew Martinez. Erickson profiles venomous residents of the sea, including colorful and dangerous corals, anemones, rays, jellies, and worms. Additional sidebar information about species interactions, warnings about the effects of toxins on humans, and vocabulary-heavy details about the underlying science are included. The excellent photographs capture the details of each organism, and diagrams help explain their defense mechanisms. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 How Nature Works series. Photographs by Jeffrey L. Rotman. This well-organized picture book explores the diversity of the world's oceans by concentrating on the busy, crowded tropical zones ("the city") and the temperate zones that have a slower rhythm of life ("the country"). Close-up underwater photographs of fish and sea creatures are captivating and sometimes haunting. This second edition includes updated material on the effects of climate change. Reading list. Glos.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) 4-6 How Nature Works series. Well designed and illustrated with captivating photos, this volume introduces animals that glide, including rodents, frogs, lizards, and snakes. Most live in forests and gliding helps them move from tree to tree without descending to the ground. The engaging text includes the evolution and adaptations of gliders and a discussion of gliding vs. flying and gliding vs. parachuting. Reading list, websites. Glos.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) 4-6 How Nature Works series. This book introduces eight sea and two land creatures from the prehistoric past with the tenacity to still survive today. In white text on dark backgrounds and "Extreme Survival Secrets" sidebars, Ridley describes hardy animals that made it to the top of the evolutionary tree and stayed there. Startling close-up photos illustrate each species' biological persistence. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo