Ants (Nature's Children)

Gr 4-6--Opening with narratives about the topic animals in action, this series is notable for its broad but thorough coverage. Physical features and behaviors are covered in clear and lively prose. Facts and figures are woven neatly into the descriptions of food, predation, mating, habitats, and other subjects. Full-page photographs and occasional diagrams appear on each spread. Some photograph captions provide helpful species identification, though this varies from book to book (in Rabbits no captions note species, but in Hummingbirds four species are mentioned). Other features include range maps, information about related species, and a closing discussion of human impact on the animals, which in several cases (lemurs, red pandas, and hippopotamuses) has been devastating, along with current conservation efforts. Report writers should find everything they need here, and the attractive, engaging presentation will have strong appeal for recreational readers as well.