Gr 4-6-These concisely written introductions begin with an overview of the subject animals that identifies the large groups to which they belong (phylum or class in most of the books) and describes their common attributes. Succeeding sections, two to four pages in length, survey smaller groups (orders or family) within the phylum or class. Each section explains its group's classification and briefly describes its geographical range, basic anatomy, distinctive characteristics and behavior, life cycle, etc. A "Classification key" reinforces the text. One or two different-sized, clear color photographs of representative species appear on almost every page; extended picture captions describe some of their outstanding characteristics. In addition, an "Amazing facts" sidebar offers trivia about the animals and/or unusual species. The last three sections of each title discuss threats to the animals' survival and efforts to protect them, how the classification system works, and the evolution of the featured animals. These titles are more tightly organized than general titles such as Barry Clarke's Amphibian (1993) and Colin McCarthy's Reptile (1991, both Knopf) and give more detailed information on specific groups' characteristics and their classification than Richard and Louise Spilsbury's Classifying Amphibians and Classifying Reptiles (Heinemann, 2003). Useful additions to natural history sections.-Karey Wehner, formerly at San Francisco Public Library Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
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