This slim encyclopedia
is aimed at satisfying the very young reader's first
attempt at animal research. The 155 entries are arranged
in alphabetical order, from aardvark to zebra, and are
illustrated with just fewer than 1,000 color pictures,
including some photographs. The animals are those most
likely to be encountered by young children in picture
books, zoos, or their own backyards. There are also
entries for larger groups (baby animal, mammal, reptile)
and for some topics related to animal behavior, such
as communication and migration. Each topic is covered
in one page, with text consisting of a brief description
of the animal in bold type, and captions for each picture.
The print size is readable and appealing to the elementary
user.
For some animals, such as butterfly
and frog, an illustration of the life cycle is provided,
with numbers to help students see the various stages
in sequence. Each page includes "Find Out More,"
which functions as a see also reference. Fact boxes
contain added facts and figures, but are missing for
some animals. Parents, teachers, and librarians will
welcome step-by-step activities and projects that are
included with animal topics that lend themselves to
arts-and-crafts projects. A glossary and index add value
to the volume as a reference tool.
