Giant Pandas

November 1, 2012

Gr 3-6-Written from a conservationist's point of view, this series is made more impressive by the academic "oomph" of its expert consultants (among them a professor of biology, a zoo curator, and a director at the World Wildlife Fund). Organization and scope are superb. Each title opens with a vivid, interest-grabbing description of its subject and continues with thorough and clearly written chapters on physical traits, habitat, and life cycle; each one concludes with information about why the animal is endangered and how kids can help. New words are defined not only in the glossaries, but also at the bottom of the pages on which they appear-a user-friendly way to help readers without prior knowledge learn essential words such as "poaching," "ecosystem," and "rehabilitation." Well-labeled maps, diagrams, color photos, and sidebars add a wealth of information to each attractive page. The "Read More" and "Internet Sites" recommendations are age-appropriate and current. A stellar set for research or general perusing.

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