From School Library Journal
K-Gr 2-Readers follow an animal through its waking time, seeing the flora and fauna that are part of its habitat and watching its daily activity until it goes to sleep. In Koala, children are introduced to a joey as he makes his first, tentative forays away from his mother. In Nagda's book, a two-year-old snow leopard has recently left her mother and searches for food. Handsome realistic illustrations share equal prominence with the texts and help readers visualize the ecosystem about which they are reading. A double-page foldout spread at the end of each book identifies the plants and animals that have been introduced. Both authors write clearly and the "day in the life of" pattern makes the narratives enjoyable as well as informative. McKinnon uses a colorful palette in his vivid illustrations of the eucalyptus forest and its denizens. Kratter employs earth tones and subdued colors in his pictures of the Himalayan mountainside. His art makes it easy to see how the snow leopard's coat provides camouflage. While there is no dearth of material about animal habitats, these titles will be welcomed as solid additions to science collections.
Louise L. Sherman, formerly at Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
Reviewed with Deborah Dennard's
Koala Country.
Gr. 2-4. Like National Geographic's nonfiction Destination books, this fiction title in the Wild Habitat series describes locations with you-are-there immediacy. The story follows a snow leopard as it stalks prey (mostly without success) through mountain terrain. Descriptions are slightly text-heavy, and the paintings (by Paul Kratter) are muted and less alluring than the vivid close-up paintings by James McKinnon in Koala, by Deborah Dennard. The story format delivers plenty of facts, especially about the food chains in both habitats, and closing notes address the fragility of the landscapes. Gillian Engberg
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