(3) 4-6 Zombie Chasers series. Illustrated by David DeGrand. The seventh book, once again, finds its madcap gang of middle schoolers traveling the globe for the ultimate antidote to the world's super zombie virus. Madagascar, China, and Egypt provide the setting for new adventures as the Zombie Chasers face zombified jungle animals and mummies ("zummies"). Fans will enjoy the nail-biting, brain-gobbling finale.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) K-3 Animal Diaries: Life Cycles series. Easily accessible pages offer an overview of panther chameleons' stages of development, diet, and habitat. Presented as observations in a child's notebook, the information is supported by engaging close-up photos, text boxes, and questions to encourage further thinking. The fictional narrator is unnecessary, but overall this is an adequate introduction to an animal found only on Madagascar. Related activities are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski

(4) K-3 Uncommon Animals series. Readers follow the work of scientists who study the unique features and challenges of animals living in remote habitats. Though scattering focus, firsthand accounts create a narrative feel while still weaving in facts about the animals and their environments. Large photos, mostly clear captions, and short sidebars enhance the texts. End-of-book animal facts add interest. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Uncommon Animals titles: Aye-Aye, Platypus, Fossa, Tasmanian Devil, Weddell Seal, and Arctic Fox.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Uncommon Animals series. Readers follow the work of scientists who study the unique features and challenges of animals living in remote habitats. Though scattering focus, firsthand accounts create a narrative feel while still weaving in facts about the animals and their environments. Large photos, mostly clear captions, and short sidebars enhance the texts. End-of-book animal facts add interest. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Uncommon Animals titles: Aye-Aye, Platypus, Fossa, Tasmanian Devil, Weddell Seal, and Arctic Fox.

Reviewer: Sethany Rancier Alongi

(4) K-3 Pebble Plus: Weird Animals series. This book gives very basic information about the aye-aye's features and behavior and explains how this marsupial is well suited to its Madagascar treetop habitat. Unfortunately, the text can be vague, and the aye-aye's dark fur blends in with the background in some (repetitive) photos, making it difficult to distinguish the creature's distinctive long tail and clawlike hands. Reading list. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Laura A. Woollett

(2) 4-6 Bishop situates a thorough discussion of a hot topic in paleontology in the work of Cathy Forster, a scientist who works both in laboratory and remote field locales. The excellent color photos are large enough to illustrate the detailed field work involved in finding and removing dinosaur fossils. This account of the development of scientific knowledge, linked closely to those who create it, makes the whole process highly appealing. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2000

(4) K-3 Ticket To series. This overly enthusiastic book provides a glimpse at life on one of the world's biggest islands. Short chapters with large type discuss geography, inhabitants, religion, language, celebrations, and food. Text boxes highlight additional snippets of information, and color photos appear on every page. While for a younger audience than the same title in the publisher's Globe-Trotters series, the two are almost identical. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Globe-Trotters Club series. This overview of life on Madagascar provides information on the island's geography, weather, plant and animal life, economy, culture, and customs. Brief chapters are written in a conversational but occasionally condescending tone; the large type and color photos make the book easy reading. While for an older audience than the same title in the publisher's Ticket To series, the books are practically identical. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Photographs by Christopher G. Knight. Published spring 1998. This book follows Alison Jolly, a primatologist, as she and her assistants study a troop of lemurs. While the text overly anthropomorphizes its subjects and lacks a strong connection with the unlabeled photographs, the close-up color photos create a sense of intrigue about lemurs and their everyday activities. Bib.

Reviewer: Daniel Brabander

(2) YA In 1717, fourteen-year-old Nathan Gull's country-parson father dies insolvent. He finds an unlikely rescuer in Tamo White, the young son of a wealthy pirate from Madagascar and his native wife. Tired of England, Tamo returns home and takes Nathan and his mousy, prudish sister with him. Readers will devour this riveting, thoughtful tale of both piracy and the clash of cultures.

Reviewer: Ann A. Flowers | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 1998

(4) 4-6 Biologist/artist Powzyk offers glimpses of eight of Madagascar's thirty-two species of lemurs in quick watercolor sketches and a few full-page portraits. The brief entries describing the author's rainy days and nights observing the lemurs and other animals in the rainforest are not Powzyk's strongest work, but the book may be useful as additional material on this habitat.

Reviewer: Margaret A. Bush