Penguins (Living Wild)

Gr 4-7 The 17 species of penguins and 7 of swans fill these slim, informative volumes. Each overview is divided into several chapters (with no table of contents) describing the shared and distinct physical characteristics of the various species, the location of their particular habitats, life cycle, social behavior, and the history of human awareness of and impact on these animals. Fine color photographs face pages of text with smaller views placed in colored sidebars or insets. The books conclude with current environmental threats and conservation efforts. The discussion of human involvement with penguins is an unusual and useful angle, and swans are not as heavily covered in children's books. The short further reading lists include adult and children's books, some of which go back as far as 1956 ("Penguins") and 1970 ("Swans"). Handsome and appealing, these titles are solid additions."Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston" Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.