Animal Fights

November 1, 2011

K-Gr 2-Science and poetry come together in these titles. Fights focuses on the reasons and methods used by various species to combat one another, whether for territory, food, or a mate. The poetic nature of the text ranges from cute and witty ("When a zebra gets into a fight/He uses his own special trick/His back legs are long/And amazingly strong/And deliver a powerful kick!") to choppy verses that struggle to rhyme ("If a bull elephant/Is fighting for the right/To win a lady elephant/He'll spread his ears out wide/And roaring, charge the other guy/Who'll have no place left to hide"). Color-blocked layouts and large font captions highlight the stunning full-color photographs that complement the text on each page. The poetry in Naps reads more smoothly and contains less awkward phrasings. Many verses have an appealing limerick rhythm ("The leopard's a creature of speed/Who can run like the wind if there's need/When she'd like a little rest/A high branch is just the best/You could say that this leopard's been treed!"). The photographs are amazingly adorable, and anyone who picks up this book will enjoy it. Both titles could be used for animal-themed read-alouds.-Cathie Bashaw Morton, Millbrook Central School District, NY

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