From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6?An introduction to the terrestrial biomes of North and South America. Clear, direct writing communicates basic facts about the areas' unique features and explains how their flora and fauna have adapted to their particular climates. Tundra, boreal forest, mountains, temperate deciduous forests, temperate evergreen rain forests, grasslands, deserts, chaparral, and tropical forests are each covered in a double-page spread. Inviting gouache paintings reflect and extend the text. However, the times of year discussed may create some confusion. For instance, the section on the tundra opens with a description of winter conditions, while the scene shown is clearly a summertime view. The illustration of the temperate deciduous forest shows the trees in blazing autumnal colors, which, while accurate, only last for a very short period. Most children's books focus on one biome, such as the tropical rain forest, without mentioning others. Our Natural Homes is a serviceable addition for school assignments and general reading.?Anne Parker, Milton Public Library, MA
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
In a work subtitled ``Exploring Terrestrial Biomes of North and South America,'' Collard (Do They Scare You?, 1993, etc.) introduces 12 land biomes with brief descriptions of the plants, animals, and climate of each. A double-page layout with two or three paragraphs introduces each biome, accompanied by a full-color scene of typical flora and fauna. While visually appealing (and reminiscent of museum dioramas), the illustrations can be at odds with the text, e.g., the description of the boreal forest, or taiga, notes that spruce trees ``are packed so closely together they block out light for other plants,'' while the scene shows a vast grassy area with a scattering of spruce trees in the background. A world map that brings the book to a close shows the 12 biomes with color variations that in some cases are so slight, readers will have difficulty distinguishing between temperate deciduous forests and temperate grasslands. The text lacks precision, e.g., ``This biome is a temperate place--it rarely gets too hot or too cold.'' Too hot or too cold for what? Of limited use. (glossary) (Nonfiction. 7-10) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
