Plants - Softcover

Grade 5-7?These series entries introduce their subjects in a small-size format that, at first glance, appears designed for younger readers. The spare texts succinctly describe the origins and development of birds and plants, but the vocabulary and concepts are best suited for older students. Birds is arranged by type of diet (seedeaters, fruit eaters, fish eaters, etc.) rather than by individual species as in Alexandra Parsons's Amazing Birds (Knopf, 1990). Plants is arranged by habitat and adaptation instead of type as in Wendy Baker and Andrew Haslam's Plants (Aladdin, 1993). Both books then cover reproduction and environmental/ecological threats. The writing is clear, with one topic flowing naturally into the next. The outline nature of the texts leads to the omission of some details but those included compensate to give a lively presentation of the big picture. Each title also features a two-sided fold-out: an Andean Condor and cutaway anatomical drawing of a parrot (Birds) and a towering silver fir and horse chestnut trees (Plants). "Amazing Facts" are appended; e.g., "Owls can spot a mouse from a distance of over 3,000 feet when it is almost completely dark," and the rafflesia has flowers that "reach up to 3 feet in diameter and smell like rotting flesh." Although there are many books available on the subjects, these attractive additions stand out for their layout and full-color illustrations.?Frances E. Millhouser, Chantilly Regional Library, VA
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