Readers will become engrossed in this informative volume on orcas. Full-page photographs and basic text take readers into the depths of the ocean. A picture glossary and index enhance the text and are first-rate resources for readers.
April 1, 2013
PreS-K-Each book contains one simple declarative sentence per spread that is placed opposite a full-page, color photograph. Minimal information is conveyed, and there is oversimplification that could result in confusion. For example, in Walruses, statements such as "Walruses are big!" give young readers no context. And the sentence "Females are cows" might leave some thinking that the author means dairy cows. Orcas states that "They eat many foods" without giving any examples or pictures of the creature's prey. These generalizations are problematic as is the fact that the photos don't always coincide with the text. For example, in Walruses, readers learn that "Clams are their top food." But no clams are in sight in the accompanying image. The "Words to Know" sections contain pictures, but no text definitions. All in all, there is not enough substance here to hold the attention of the intended audience.
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