Sea Lions

December 1, 2012

Gr 5-8-Concise texts describe distinctive characteristics of these creatures. Piranhas also discusses the ways popular culture views the fish (they're not as dangerous as portrayed) and serious ecological issues, such as dwindling numbers in the wild, problems caused by their importation and release into U.S. waters, etc. Sea Lions describes the animals' role as performers as well as their use by the military in locating mines, retrieving objects, etc., and threats to their survival. Each title concludes with a retelling of an ancient myth about the animal. Full-page, sharply focused, color photographs of the animals in natural settings illustrate the texts on about every other page; many are close-ups. Small captioned pictures in the margins of most pages offer additional facts. Both books are remarkable for their clear information and exceptional photography. Valuable additions to natural-history sections.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2012
Grades 4-6 Like any good animal series, these titles in the Living Wild series impart all the right information for school reports: physical description, habitat, life cycle, age range, care for the young, position upon the food chain, adaptations, and conservation efforts. The books go beyond these basics in how they consider the animals' places in history and culture. Noting their differences from seals and their declining population due to global warming, Sea Lions highlights these marine mammals' intelligence and their use by the U.S. Navy. Sidebar facts, a world map, a glossary, and a bibliography add to the research value, while gorgeous color photographs, many full-page, and a concluding folktale will lure browsers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)