Do You Really Want to Meet a Swan? (Do You Really Want to Meet...?)

Gr 1-3—An attractive picture book guide to animals. Charmingly bold illustrations paired with enticing text share the basic facts about these creatures. A young explorer meets these different species in person and narrates her exploits for the benefit of readers. She dons her gear and kayaks through marshland to spy on nesting swans, boats through Northern Australian waterways to see a crocodile, and puts on night-vision goggles and takes a hike to glimpse the shy nocturnal platypus. The language is simple but engaging ("There's one! He's diving. He must be hungry.") and will add to the feeling of adventure. This solid combination of text and illustration will inspire readers to do some exploring of their own. VERDICT Those seeking animal titles should consider incorporating these into their collections.—Nancy Call, Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA