Sea Snakes

May 8, 2020

K-Gr 3-Each title in this series looks at one type of animal commonly associated with coral reefs. The focus is squarely on the animals and not the biome itself. The text covers physical features, behavior, predators, and food. More complex subjects like life cycles are not examined; animal size ranges are also absent. Short sentences and large fonts make the books accessible to younger readers. More challenging words like crustaceans and mucus are in boldface and defined in the glossary. For the most part, visual content effectively supports the information. The layouts feature varied frames to highlight photographs, most of which directly support the content. Simple captions identify body parts where needed. Multiple species are represented visually, and some scenes are especially engaging. For example, in Clownfish, a clownfish hides from an unaware eel. However, in a few cases, the photos don't fully depict the details referred to in the text. In Sea Snakes, the text says barnacles and algae may attach to sea snakes, but it's hard to spot either organism in the image, and they don't appear to be on the sea snake shown. A range map and a table showing conservation status provide further information. VERDICT Solid choices to fill subject gaps for elementary school readers.-Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville P.L., OR

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2020
Grades K-2 Each level-2 reader in the Animals of the Coral Reef series (6 titles) introduces one of the diverse creatures living in this fascinating ecosystem. In the book's main section, a typical page features one or two illustrations, usually eye-catching photos, along with a few short lines of text in large type. Words that might be unfamiliar, such as biome, predators, and prey, are defined in the glossary. Besides the excellent illustrations, colorful design elements add to the books' appeal. While the topics covered will vary, depending on the featured animal, the discussion might include where the animal lives, what it eats, and how it is well adapted to its habitat. Sea Snakes considers how an air-breathing reptile that needs to drink fresh water has adapted to live in warm oceans. An attractive series for the many young readers intrigued by marine animals.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)