Dire Wolves

Gr 2–4—The animals featured in this set all lived in North America and died around the time of the last Ice Age. Basic facts about physical features, behaviors, and environment are described in simple sentences that are generally clear, though not especially lively. In addition, details on traits are not consistent. For instance, the size and weight of teratorns are provided with numbers and diagrams, but the size of the stag-moose's antlers are not ("Its antlers were wide and flat"). Some titles include comparative diagrams of varied levels of usefulness (in Saber-Toothed Cats the size of the cat's prey is shown, but not the saber-toothed cat itself).Visual support includes drawings and photos of adequate quality. Maps in each volume show glacier coverage of the last Ice Age, plus the location of a key fossil find, but not the habitat range of the animal. Despite flaws, most of these animals are not often covered in single volumes (Stag-Moose, Giant Short-Faced Bears, and Monster Birds in particular), so they may fill subject holes.