Sun Bear or Polar Bear (Wild World: Hot and Cold Animals)

Gr 3-5--These titles provide plenty of information about two similar species from widely different environments through contrasts and comparisons. Some spreads alternate between the two animals. A fennec fox hunting at night in the desert, for example, is followed by an arctic fox's successful lemming hunt in Fennec Fox or Arctic Fox. Other spreads examine features or behaviors side-by-side, such as the size comparison between Galápagos and emperor penguins in Galápagos Penguin or Emperor Penguin. Strong visual content includes photographs that are both appealing and useful, including a large captioned close-up photo to highlight key physical features and range maps for each species. Brief fact boxes appear throughout each book with additional data. A final "You Decide" page invites readers to choose which animal's preferences most match their own. VERDICT Engaging animal profiles, strengthened by the concept of comparing similar species.