Fun, fullcolor photographs illustrate the sleeping habits and locales of more than two dozen animals.
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
Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
January 1, 2012
Colorful photos of animals fighting or sleeping engage readers. Every page has its own background color, its own tag ("Seal Naps"), and an associated word ("Dreaming?"). Each animal also has its own poem, but the verse can be awkward and it sometimes personifies the animals ("Do you think they [giraffes] might cry?"). Photos of additional animals fighting or sleeping end the books. Ind.
(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)