FICTION

Too Hot? Too Cold?: Keeping Body Temperature Just Right

by Caroline ARNOLD
illus. by Annie Patterson. 32p. diags. glossary. Charlesbridge. 2013. RTE $17.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-276-6; pap. $7.95. ISBN 978-1-58089-277-3; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-60734-596-1. LC 2012000792.
COPY ISBN
Gr1–3—This well-organized title uses a picture-book format to take a relatively boring concept-temperature regulation in people and animals-and make it downright interesting. Arnold touches on all aspects of the subject, from the internal (fevers, muscle contraction, goose bumps, sweating) to the external (sunbathing, burrowing, hibernating, migrating). The text is clear and readable, and the design includes plenty of white space to avoid overwhelming readers. The illustrations, though appealing, feature muted tones that are unlikely to grab readers' attention. The lack of an index or table of contents lessens the book's usefulness for reports.—Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Carroll County Public Library, MD
The approachable subject matter is presented in a clear, straightforward manner. Caroline Arnold directly addresses the reader, using simple language in her age-appropriate explanations: “You have a layer of fat under your skin. It is like a built-in blanket that helps protect your body and keep it warm.” Fact collectors will appreciate the many interesting details that populate the book’s captions. For example, people who live in hot climates “can produce up to three quarts of sweat an hour”; some Arctic fish have proteins in their blood that act like antifreeze; and larger whales, such as the bowhead, can have layers of blubber that are more than twelve inches thick. Cheerful, appealing illustrations showcase animals and humans across a range of habitats.

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