Animals Alive

Gr 3—6—This excellently crafted book begins with an overview of evolution and explains the need for biodiversity and each species's role in an ecosystem. The next sections include information about extinction and the threats that different species face, such as habitat loss, climate change, etc. The different categories include "Near Threatened," "Vulnerable," "Endangered," "Critically Endangered," "Extinct in the Wild," and "Extinct." The bulk of the book focuses on specific animals within the following groups: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates. For the highlighted animals, information includes a brief overview, the main threats to their survival, population, size, weight, diet, habitat, and lifespan. The last few pages give tips on how children can become involved by studying tracks and projects to create homes for frogs, bugs, bees, and birds. The layout invites readers in through the use of different fonts and bolded words, small paragraphs, circular quotes, and fact blurbs. Each spread has stunning photos of the animals and simple illustrations. A good choice for reports, and a great read for anyone interested in endangered species.—Samantha Larsen Hastings, Riverton Library, UT