Jaguars

April 1, 2014

Gr 4-6-These comprehensive examinations of some of the world's most charismatic animals cover physical features, adaptations, life cycles, behavior, intelligence, and diet. Big cats are differentiated from smaller cats, and the books close with a strong message on human threats and the organizations helping them, with suggestions for getting involved. A final table and labeled photo review vital statistics and characteristics. The titles include well-chosen color photos, high-interest and background insets, and brief bios of field scientists. A classification triangle and occasional diagrams are included. The books contain several oversights and mistakes, such as the faulty eye diagram in Tigers, incomplete maps and mismatched keys in a few titles, and an inaccurate bio in Lions that erroneously states that Born Free was written about Christian the lion, instead of Elsa. For browsing and report writing, Cheetahs, Jaguars, and Leopards are your best choices.

Give beginning readers the nonfiction they crave with "Zoo Clues," "Miniature Animal Marvels," and "Fetch." The open layout, engaging photos, and solid information presented here will keep these titles flying off the shelves. For the intermediate crowd, selections become more serious. These series almost universally mention the growing extinction tragedy, setting them apart from many comparable books. "Real Life Sea Monsters" blends the fear factor with solid information while avoiding the macabre. For those looking for books on endangered creatures, "Animals in Danger" is the way to go, with Birds and Mammals offering the best of the bunch. If motivation for community action is needed, these may provide inspiration.

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