(3) K-3 "Turnstone turns stones by the sea. / Ring-billed gull watches, quietly." Spare rhyming text, accompanied by large close-up illustrations, describes a scene by the seashore. Single sentences accompany each double-page spread, their rhythms mimicking the ocean's ebb and flow. Further descriptions of the creatures and their places in the chain of coastal ecology are appended.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) 4-6 Our Wild World: Ecosystems series. Six chapters describe the Sonoran Desert ecosystem, including flora, fauna, and geography. Lynch's narrative, including entertaining first-person reminiscences about visiting the desert, is accessible and enthusiastic. Vivid photographs showcase both the beauty and the danger of this little-settled and still mysterious tract. Website. Ind.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Connie McLennan. The nests of thirteen animals--from the ruby-throated hummingbird to the threespine stickleback fish--are described in singsongy quatrains, followed on the facing page by the titular question and its answer. The verse scans dependably, despite the occasional forced rhyme. Detailed, colorful illustrations of nests, animals, and habitats complement and extend the text, as does the one-page "Fun-Fact Glossary."

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) PS Illustrated by Susan Eaddy. "Little fish, brave in the sea, / swish your tail, swim home to me." In this fanciful flight of sensory overload, fish, anemones, and various sea creatures cavort across the pages. The simple rhyming text seems beside the point: the words are hardly noticeable, as they're surrounded by meticulously crafted (if jarringly bright) sculpted-clay illustrations.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaver

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Lindy Burnett. Like water rising with the incoming tide, anticipation swells for a little boy waiting to witness activity at the shoreline. Swirling gouache illustrations set the scene in this rhythmic exploration of the tide's ebb and flow, including how it sustains plant and animal life. The text occasionally sacrifices clarity to maintain the vibe, but beachcombers will enjoy the presentation.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) 4-6 Our Wild World Ecosystem series. With accessible first-person writing, Lynch describes the Arctic ecosystem, discussing both the high and low Arctic. The usual suspects--polar bear, snowy owl--are all here, but this book goes a bit further, showing the reader lesser-known inhabitants such as orange jewel lichen, purple saxifrage, dovekies, and gyrfalcons. Stunning photographs include close-ups and more expansive views. Sidebars provide "ECO-Facts." Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Our Wild World: Ecosystems series. Lynch's accessible, enthusiastic first-person narrative invites readers to share in his "amazing adventure" in the Florida Everglades. From its geography and climate to the abundant flora and fauna, the engaging text provides a thorough introduction to this unique ecosystem. Many impressive photographs of wildlife and landscapes in addition to sidebars and "ECO-Facts" add interest. Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Kathleen Kemly. With hopes of fish for dinner, two children set off for the stream with bobbers, buckets, rods, and nets in tow. They don't catch any fish, but when an unexpected breeze drops apples into the water, their craving for fish happily subsides in favor of apple pie. Warmly textured double-page spread illustrations accompany the playful, rhythmic text.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(3) 4-6 Our Wild World series. Illustrated by Andrew Recher. This book briefly examines the six major butterfly families, providing information about each group's physical characteristics, life cycles, natural habitats, behavior patterns, defense mechanisms, and diet. Researchers will appreciate the clear text, easy to follow layout, attractive close-up photographs, and occasional realistic drawings. "Butterflies Funfact" sidebars provide additional information. Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) 4-6 Our Wild World series. Illustrated by Andrew Recher. This book touches on some of the more than one thousand species of bats found worldwide. Briefly discussed are characteristics of a variety of bats, their natural habitats, behaviors, and diets. Children researching the topic will find the book informative and helpful. Attractive close-up photographs and some realistic drawings add interest to the text. "Bats Funfact" sidebars provide additional information. Websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) PS Illustrated by Susan Banta. Twelve animals native to Australia, six diurnal and six nocturnal, wake up and display a behavior particular to their species ("Wake up, fairy penguin, / Waddle from your nest..."). The illustrations feature overly cute animals and painted backgrounds that effectively reflect the changing light. The rhymes are singsongy and forced, but readers may glean some information; more descriptive and behavioral information is appended.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 Kids' FAQs series. This book features a broad array of questions kids might ask about birds: for example, "how do birds fly?" and "how do they chew their food?" More specific questions focus on details unique to a particular species: e.g., "Why are vultures so ugly?" Lots of photographs add interest. Overall, the treatment is broad but informative. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(4) PS Wild Ones series. Enticing photos illustrate the lives of lions and elephants in each of these little books. The text is very simple, giving brief overviews of and basic details about the animals. The variety of fonts used and some unusual text placement add visual interest but distract from content. These titles might be useful as cursory introductions. Review covers these Wild Ones titles: Elephants and Lions.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(4) PS Wild Ones series. Enticing photos illustrate the lives of lions and elephants in each of these little books. The text is very simple, giving brief overviews of and basic details about the animals. The variety of fonts used and some unusual text placement add visual interest but distract from content. These titles might be useful as cursory introductions. Review covers these Wild Ones titles: Elephants and Lions.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) PS Illustrated by Jane Dippold. This book demonstrates the different ways animal babies travel or are transported by their parents from place to place. The illustrations cleverly combine color photographs of the animals with lively watercolor and colored-pencil drawings of human babies traveling in similar ways. The rhythmic text will appeal to young listeners while they are also learning about animal behavior.

Reviewer: Barbara Barstow

(3) 4-6 Our Wild World Ecosystem series. Six chapters cover the history, geography, climate, ecology, terrain, flora, and fauna of the grasslands and the mountains. Stunning close-up photographs highlight both the changing scenery and the lives of resident animals in these two dramatically different ecosystems. The books' clear, thoughtful design makes the information easy to follow, and sidebars provide "ECO-Fact" tidbits. Websites. Ind. Review covers these Our Wild World Ecosystem titles: Prairie Grasslands and Rocky Mountains.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(3) 4-6 Our Wild World Ecosystem series. Six chapters cover the history, geography, climate, ecology, terrain, flora, and fauna of the grasslands and the mountains. Stunning close-up photographs highlight both the changing scenery and the lives of resident animals in these two dramatically different ecosystems. The books' clear, thoughtful design makes the information easy to follow, and sidebars provide "ECO-Fact" tidbits. Websites. Ind. Review covers these Our Wild World Ecosystem titles: Prairie Grasslands and Rocky Mountains.

Reviewer: Cindy Lombardo

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Olena Kassian. Painted compositions show children in outdoor settings discovering and observing nine different kinds of seeds to illustrate diverse seed shapes and their manner of dispersal. Rhyming text takes the form of riddles describing each type of seed, then asks "What kind of seeds are these?" While not particularly informational, the text is descriptive. Three simple activities are appended.

Reviewer: Paula M. Cairo

(3) PS Illustrated by Joan M. Delehanty. On facing pages, cheerful questions such as "What does the wind say?" and "What does the moon play?" are paired with simple, pleasing answers ("Whish-a-woo" and "Peek-a-Boo!", respectively), set in a variety of typefaces. Watercolor illustrations show families of different ethnic backgrounds engaged in a variety of enjoyable and familiar activities. The easy-flowing rhyme makes this an appealing read-aloud lullaby.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 4-6 Kids' FAQs series. "What's the difference between a pony, a donkey, and a mule?" "Why do horses wear shoes?" In an eye-catching design with large color photos, Crisp provides interesting answers to twenty-eight questions about horses. The questions are randomly organized, but the responses will whet young readers' appetites for more information. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Jack Forman