Hippopotamus

April 1, 2018

K-Gr 2-A few basic facts per spread introduce the habitats, behaviors, physical features, diets, and life cycles of African animals. The text is clear and straightforward if not especially exciting. Consistently simple sentence structure keeps the language accessible for new readers. Species such as black rhinos and plains zebras are identified within the text when appropriate. The limited level of detail makes sense given the young audience, but at times more elaboration, such as naming at least one predator of zebras or warthogs or indicating animal size, would have been useful. A single large photograph accompanies each spread. Most are full-body shots of single creatures or groups, with few views that focus on particular elements, such as a zebra's teeth. Occasionally a truly engaging image appears: a hyena chasing a flamingo, or a baby hippo floating near its mother. VERDICT Solid but limited introductions for early readers.

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.