Buffalo

Gr 3-5-Eye-catching covers, smoothly written and informative chapters, and numerous clear, close-up color photographs are the hallmarks of these titles. Comprehensive in scope, each volume describes the animal's characteristics, behaviors, and habitats. Useful comments are included on the preservation of these species. Organized charts list facts that students commonly need for reports such as height, weight, and life span. Colorful maps show where these species can be found. Illustrations of the skeletal structures also enhance the content. Moose has a larger format and is more current than Annie Hemstock's The Moose (Capstone, 1998). Porcupines is more informative than Peter Murray's Porcupines (The Child's World, 1994; o.p.) and is written at a higher reading level than Shannon Zemlicka's Prickly Porcupines (Lerner, 2002). Buffalo has a different scope and easier style than Beverly Brodsky's Buffalo (Marshall Cavendish, 2003), which focuses on the buffalo's place in Native American culture. The two titles complement one another nicely. Fine, quality additions to libraries of all sizes looking for more material on these animals, these volumes are good for reports as well as for browsing.-Lynn K. Vanca, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Richfield, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

These clearly written books describe each featured animal's physical characteristics, different species (all but Moose), diet, and life cycle. Also discussed is the relationship between each animal and humans and population control efforts or decline due to hunting and loss of habitat. The crisp photos, which often fill the page, should attract readers. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Animals Animals titles: Moose, Kangaroos, Porcupines, Zebras, and Buffalo.] (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.