A Prickle of Porcupines

May 1, 2013

K-Gr 3-The phrase "the more the merrier" really applies to this series featuring mobs, colonies, and prickles. Topics briefly describe the differences within the species, the mating process, care of the young, and distinguishing characteristics. A few unique facts ("Red kangaroos can cover 15 feet (4.6 m) with one hop!") round out these offerings. Specificity varies throughout; the differences between a group of crocodiles in water (a float) and a group of crocodiles on land (a bask) is defined, but the section on communication is more general. "The many penguins in a colony all look the same, so they use sounds to communicate." James's book ends a bit abruptly, with a section on porcupine maturity that reads, "It may spend the winter alone, or it may find a prickle to hang out with." Large-font text with a few words in bold, highlighted in the glossary, appears on most pages; vocabulary that is defined within the text is not featured in the glossary. Though there is a table of contents, some headings, such as "Old and New" and "Get to the Point," provide a little pizzazz but fail to inform readers of the content. Large, clear photographs add visual interest, with a heavy emphasis on the animals' interactions within their units. Overall, engaging visual elements and the beginning-reader format make these books suitable choices for many collections.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC

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