![]() ![]() Being a carnivore, even a large and powerful one, is hard work. Both the seal and bear are powerful swimmers but if, as often happens, the chase gets into the water the seal generally wins. Seal, the patient bear is described it sometimes waits for a long time beside an air hole waiting for the seal to come up for a breath. This is a great book series that will help get young students interested in science and at the same time dispel some myths (like the idea that wolves, sharks, and lions always get their prey). Each 32-page book in the series ends with a traditional glossary and index, which will be useful to readers. The final pages of text describe the "winner" of the contest (with some surprises) and the odds of the predator catching the prey. In addition, there is a "Find Out More" section listing additional books and websites. Yellow "Did You Know" information balloons present interesting facts that are important to understanding the animal. Some of the terms may already be familiar to older readers but to younger ones this is very helpful. Potentially new vocabulary terms are presented in bold type to make it easier to pick them out in the text. A color-coded world map shows the animals' locations this could be useful in tying geography in with the science curriculum. The adaptations of each competitor are described, as are their sizes, weights, and particular strengths. Each sets up opponents as competitors in a contest-a life and death struggle depicted by beautiful action photographs of the predators and prey. Students in grades 3-5 will be intrigued by these books. all of these terms are used, along with many others, in describing animals in the Predator vs. School Library Journal April 2011, Snarling, biting, running, hiding, ripping teeth, sharp antlers, and slashing hooves. In Crocodile, Owl, Shark, Tarantula, and Wolf, close-up scenes of feasting predators may disturb more sensitive young viewers (in the volumes on the other creatures, predator and prey are seen in different pictures), but for the most part the photos are more exciting than disturbing. Dolphin includes a simplistic claim that "A dolphin will help an injured person in the sea," but in general the information is accurate. Surprisingly (but realistically), the prey escapes (or in the case of Tarantula, successfully defends a clutch of nestlings) in five of the eight titles. ![]() Janet Luch, Educational Reviewer, Visiting Professor DeVry University, Adjunct Instructor SUNY New Paltz, Touro College, University of Phoenix Online Library Media Connection August/September 2011, Opening with attention-grabbing drama-"Teeth pierce! Tails splash!" (Dolphin), "Claws rip! Horns stab!" (Lion)-and using words like "challenger," "battle," and "winner," each of these short texts presents a blow-by-blow encounter between a predator or group of predators and their common prey. A short story concerning the predator and prey ends in one of them winning in the chapter titled "And the Winner Is" followed by a chapter explaining how often the predator catches its prey. A drawing of a globe, with one of these captions and a key, shows where the predator and prey live. There are captions with arrows pointing to particular areas of interest in the photographs. These words can also be found in the one-page glossary. Each of the books has unfamiliar words in bold. Although the prey is sometimes caught and eaten, the pictures are not gruesome. MLB (Miriam Lang Budin) The Horn Book GuideFall 2011, This series has large color photographs, many of which are close-ups, showing the predator chasing its prey. Meinking's careful choices about which details of the animals' anatomy are aids or liabilities in terms of hunting or escaping are parceled out at a pace that will keep readers with a bloodlust on the edges of their seats. The struggle between polar bear and seal is described in clear language and illustrated with engaging color photographs.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |