Kinkajous

April 1, 2013

PreS-Gr 2-These slim books are packed with well-organized information about some of the more unusual jungle babies and could serve as models of informational books for this audience. The vocabulary is simple but still manages to pack a punch, with important words in bold defined by both word and picture in the glossary. The photography is sharp and clearly labeled. Sidebars include maps, diagrams that indicate comparative size, and magnifications of a particular animal's unique features. In addition to a table of contents and an index, there are "read more" and "learn more online" features in the back matter. Although too small to be used for actual classroom instruction, these titles will attract browsers and will be appreciated by fledgling report writers.

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2013
Grades K-3 What is a kinkajou? Good question. As this title in the Jungle Babies of the Amazon Rain Forest series explains, a kinkajou is a small mammal, related to a raccoon, with thick fur; large, round eyes; and small ears. But perhaps the most remarkable feature of the kinkajou is its powerful tail, which is about 20 inches longor the same length as its entire body. This small-trim title presents simple facts about the mammal, divided by spreads into categories such as Kinkajou homes and A baby kinkajou, with sentence structure and vocabulary just right for emergent readers, plus a concluding pictorial glossary. Each spread features up-close photographs, which are often unnecessarily labeled (e.g., tail ). These guys are pretty cute, and just try stopping yourself from saying kinkajou over and over.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)