(4) K-3 Illustrated by Kathy Boake. Providing real recipes used to feed zoo animals, this book shows mid-elementary readers how zookeepers cater to a wide variety of diets and feeding behaviors. Other challenges, such as providing animals with physical and mental exercise and serving those with highly selective palates, are also highlighted. The informal delivery and bounty of zoological facts, culinary and otherwise, make up for the somewhat garish illustrations. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Kathy Boake. Language evolution, language acquisition, and endangered languages are just a few of the topics explored in this thorough introduction to linguistics. The casual tone and humorous examples make the impressively informative text feel approachable, as does the bright, appealing layout. Though slick and even creepy-looking, the caricatures in Boake's Photoshop art are diverse, comical, and unique. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Siena Leslie

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Kathy Boake. Double-page spreads highlight quirks of the human body, many the results of evolutionary changes. Flaking skin, goose bumps, and tailbones are explored in an interesting way. Because the sections aren't well tied together, the book is best used for browsing. Illustrations include computer-manipulated images of people with bizarrely distorted proportions. "Freaky Facts," sidebars, and a few activities are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges