Animal books are perennial favorites for pleasure reading and report writing. This spring, series about pets, both common and unusual, are prevalent, as are titles about attention-grabbing (big or scary) creatures. While many of the sets cover standard report elements such as habitats, life cycles, and the food chain, others have a more specific focus. Publishers have clearly taken note of the Common Core State Standards; along with the expected elements (glossaries, table of contents, and indexes), features such as charts, diagrams, and tables are widespread. Though the writing style in many of these series does not do much to engage readers, students will be drawn in by the bright color photos, sidebars, and attractive layouts.

Preschool-Grade 4

APPLEBY , Alex. I See a Bird. ISBN 978-1-4339-8539-3; ISBN 978-1-4339-8542-3. LC 2012022023. ––––. I See a Butterfly. ISBN 978-1-4339-8543-0; ISBN 978-1-4339-8546-1. LC 2012022022. ––––. I See a Chipmunk. ISBN 978-1-4339-8547-8; ISBN 978-1-4339-8550-8. LC 2012020691. ––––. I See a Frog. ISBN 978-1-4339-8551-5; ISBN 978-1-4339-8554-6. LC 2012020692. ––––. I See a Ladybug. ISBN 978-1-4339-8555-3; ISBN 978-1-4339-8558-4. LC 2012020693. ––––. I See a Squirrel. ISBN 978-1-4339-8559-1; ISBN 978-1-4339-8562-1. LC 2012022024. ea vol: 24p. (In My Backyard Series). glossary. photos. index. Gareth Stevens. 2013. PLB $22.60; ebook $22.60. PreS-Gr 1 –In these introductions to common animals, spreads consist of a full-color photo on one side and one or two sentences in a large font on the other. The images generally support new words featured in the text. Readers will learn about the animals’ homes, bodies, life cycles, and diet, among other things. By the time students learn to read, however, they may already know much of the very basic information presented in this series, but the titles could also be read aloud to younger children. Unfortunately, Butterfly refers to a cocoon rather than the preferred chrysalis and some difficult vocabulary (such as “migration”) is left out of the picture glossaries.

DOUDNA , Kelly. Bashful Ball Pythons. ISBN 978-1-61783-397-7; ISBN 978-1-61480-749-0. LC 2011050724. ––––. Cheeky Chinchillas. ISBN 978-1-61783-398-4; ISBN 978-1-61480-750-6. LC 2011050725. ––––. Hilarious Hedgehogs. ISBN 978-1-61783-399-1; ISBN 978-1-61480-751-3. LC 2011050726. KUSKOWSKI , Alex. Magnificent Macaws. ISBN 978-1-61783-400-4; ISBN 978-1-61480-752-0. LC 2011050727. ––––. Portly Potbellied Pigs. ISBN 978-1-61783-401-1; ISBN 978-1-61480-753-7. LC 2011050812. ––––. Tricky Tarantulas. ISBN 978-1-61783-402-8; ISBN 978-1-61480-754-4. LC 2011050813. ea vol: illus. by C.A. Nobens. 24p. (Unusual Pets Series). glossary. photos. ABDO. 2013. PLB $22.78; ebook $22.78. K-Gr 2 –This series is an odd melding of fact with fiction. The books begin with five spreads of basic information about the featured pet, followed by an eight-page illustrated story in rhyme. The simple texts are accessible to beginning readers, but there is little here for researchers who want to know how to feed, house, and take care of these animals. The stories, which sometimes add humor, feature multicultural children and their pets but don’t provide additional facts. The stock photos clearly show the creatures, though often their owners (mentioned in the text) are not in view. Each title also contains a page of “Fun Facts,” a quiz, and a note cautioning readers to further research the needs of unusual animals before bringing one home. PowerKids’s “Classroom Pets” series (2007) covers some of the same creatures in more detail, though it is at a higher reading level.

GRAY , Leon. Cane Toad: The World’s Biggest Toad. ISBN 978-1-61772-727-6; ISBN 978-1-61772-777-1. ––––. Flemish Giant Rabbit: The World’s Biggest Bunny. ISBN 978-1-61772-729-0; ISBN 978-1-61772-779-5. ––––. Giant Pacific Octopus: The World’s Largest Octopus. ISBN 978-1-61772-730-6; ISBN 978-1-61772-780-1. ––––. King Cobra: The World’s Longest Venomous Snake. ISBN 978-1-61772-732-0; ISBN 978-1-61772-782-5. ––––. Trumpeter Swan: The World’s Largest Waterbird. ISBN 978-1-61772-734-4; ISBN 978-1-61772-784-9. ––––. Walking Sticks: The World’s Longest Insects. ISBN 978-1-61772-733-7; ISBN 978-1-61772-783-2. LUNIS , Natalie. Giant Weta: The World’s Biggest Grasshopper. ISBN 978-1-61772-731-3; ISBN 978-1-61772-781-8. OLDFIELD , Dawn Bluemel. English Mastiff: The World’s Heaviest Dog. ISBN 978-1-61772-728-3; ISBN 978-1-61772-778-8. ea vol: 24p. (Even More SuperSized! Series). diags. further reading. glossary. index. maps. photos. websites. Bearport. 2013. PLB $23.93; ebook $23.93. Gr 1-3 –Browsers and report writers alike will enjoy this series about giant animals. Readers will learn about the featured animals’ diets, defenses, habitats (all titles include a map), physical characteristics, and life cycles. The size of the creatures is compared to objects young children would know, such as soccer balls, pencils, or refrigerators. Each spread features large, vibrant, color photos that emphasize the magnitude of the animals, a few sentences of text, and text boxes outlined in coordinating borders, such as dog collars or feathers, that offer additional facts (e.g., “One bite from a king cobra has enough poison to kill an elephant or 50 people”). Environmental issues and pet care are addressed in some titles. Just as in Bearport’s “SuperSized!” (2007) and “More SuperSized!” (2010), each book concludes with a list of related animals and a picture glossary, which will help students discover visually the meaning of new words.

GUILLAIN , Charlotte. Cats. ISBN 978-1-4109-4935-6; ISBN 978-1-4109-4940-0. LC 2012012895. ––––. Rabbits. ISBN 978-1-4109-4938-7; ISBN 978-1-4109-4943-1. LC 2012013030 . MASON , Paul. Dogs. ISBN 978-1-4109-4936-3; ISBN 978-1-4109-4941-7. LC 2012013028. ––––. Horses and Ponies. ISBN 978-1-4109-4937-0; ISBN 978-1-4109-4942-4. LC 2012013029. ea vol: 32p. (Animal Family Albums Series). further reading. glossary. illus. index. photos. websites. Raintree. 2013. PLB $29.99; pap. $7.99. Gr 3-5 –A cartoon pet welcomes readers to each book, introducing it as a family album, and then helps presents facts on different pet breeds and their wild relatives. Students will learn how the animals grow, what they eat, and how their own pets are similar to creatures they may only have seen at the zoo. Information on how to care for pets is minimal. Kids will enjoy taking the quiz at the end of each title to see which breed they would be. True to the “family album” concept, the visually-appealing layout is much like a scrapbook with text boxes, color photos, and captions appearing to be taped, paper clipped, or otherwise fastened to the pages. Readers will want to pick these up for pleasure reading as well as research. Marshall Cavendish’s “Great Pets” series (2007) has similar information presented in a more standard narrative format, while Smart Apple’s “Pets Plus” (2012) has a greater focus on caring for pets.

JOHNSON , Jinny. Beagle. ISBN 978-1-59920-839-8. LC 2012008596. ––––. Boxer. ISBN 978-1-59920-840-4. LC 2012012139. ––––. Bulldog. ISBN 978-1-59920-841-1. LC 2012012142. ––––. German Shepherd. ISBN 978-1-59920-842-8. LC 2012012144. ––––. Golden Retriever. ISBN 978-1-59920-843-5. LC 2012008597. ––––. Labrador Retriever. ISBN 978-1-59920-844-2. LC 2012012145. ––––. Poodle. ISBN 978-1-59920-845-9. LC 2012012146. ––––. Yorkshire Terrier. ISBN 978-1-59920-846-6. LC 2012012147. ea vol: 24p. (My Favorite Dogs Series). glossary. index. photos. Smart Apple. 2013. PLB $25.65. Gr 1-3 –In the first two spreads, readers hear directly from the dogs themselves, with each canine describing its personality and its needs (e.g., lots of exercise, plenty of attention, etc.). After that, the simple text changes to a standard nonfiction narrative detailing the  breed’s development, training needs, and any special requirements to keep it healthy. Every title has a diagram of the dog’s physical characteristics and concludes with a brief index and glossary. This solid set stresses the importance of responsible pet ownership, noting that it’s often a long-term commitment. The accessible information will appeal to report writers while the color photos of the animals in action will lure in dog lovers. For those in need of more in-depth information, Lerner’s “The Best Dogs Ever” series (2010) covers some of the same breeds but for a slightly older audience.

LYNETTE , Rachel. Anacondas. ISBN 978-1-4488-9631-8; ISBN 978-1-4488-9870-1. LC 2012017220. ––––. Piranhas. ISBN 978-1-4488-9634-9; ISBN 978-1-4488-9873-2. LC 2012020041. ––––. Rats. ISBN 978-1-4488-9630-1; ISBN 978-1-4488-9869-5. LC 2012016786. ––––. Scorpions. ISBN 978-1-4488-9633-2; ISBN 978-1-4488-9872-5. LC 2012019920. ––––. Tarantulas. ISBN 978-1-4488-9632-5; ISBN 978-1-4488-9871-8. LC 2012017448. ––––. Vampire Bats. ISBN 978-1-4488-9629-5; ISBN 978-1-4488-9868-8. LC 2012016371. ea vol: 24p. (Monsters of the Animal Kingdom Series). glossary. index. photos. websites. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. 2013. PLB $22.60; ebook $22.60. Gr 2-5 –Kids have a continuing fascination with dangerous animals, so this series is sure to find an audience. In each title, students learn about the subject’s habitat, physical characteristics (with special focus on teeth or other frightening features), diet, family life, growth, predators, and relationship with people. A typical layout consists of two paragraphs of text accompanied by one or two large color photos with captions. A spread of “Scary Facts” (e.g., “Anacondas have been known to eat jaguars”) midway through every volume is ideal for quick sharing or booktalking. Though the headings of each section are rendered in a font reminiscent of a horror movie poster, the texts are surprisingly tame, and there is enough information for report writers as well as browsers.

ROCKWOOD , Leigh. Tell Me the Difference Between a Bee and a Wasp. diags. ISBN 978-1-4488-9639-4; ISBN 978-1-4488-9878-7. LC 2012022551. ––––. Tell Me the Difference Between a Frog and a Toad. ISBN 978-1-4488-9636-3; ISBN 978-1-4488-9875-6. LC 2012020317. ––––. Tell Me the Difference Between a Porcupine and a Hedgehog. ISBN 978-1-4488-9637-0; ISBN 978-1-4488-9876-3. LC 2012020399. ––––. Tell Me the Difference Between a Rabbit and a Hare. ISBN 978-1-4488-9638-7; ISBN 978-1-4488-9877-0. LC 2012022308. ––––. Tell Me the Difference Between a Seal and a Sea Lion. ISBN 978-1-4488-9640-0; ISBN 978-1-4488-9879-4. LC 2012023900. ––––. Tell Me the Difference Between an Alligator and a Crocodile. ISBN 978-1-4488-9635-6; ISBN 978-1-4488-9874-9. LC 2012019322. ea vol: 24p. (How Are They Different? Series). chart. glossary. index. photos. websites. Rosen/PowerKids Pr. 2013. PLB $22.60; ebook $22.60. Gr 3-5 –Children who have ever wondered how to differentiate between similar species should start with this series. Each title begins with an explanation of scientific classification, which can be a bit technical. (A chart would have been helpful.) Through describing the anatomy, diet, habitat, and life cycle of each species, the texts show how they are alike and not. A handy table midway through every volume makes comparison between creatures easy. The glossaries define most unfamiliar terms; however, some, such as “binocular vision” and “deciduous,” are not included. The large, color photos are captioned, though in one apparent error, a caption in Bee shows a wasps’ nest but notes that “Soon adult bees will come out.” These titles are best suited for readers who want  to learn about both subjects since it would be difficult to separate the information to report on one creature.

TWIST , Clint. The Life Cycle of Army Ants. ISBN 978-1-84898-517-9. LC 2012003594. ––––. The Life Cycle of Cockroaches. ISBN 978-1-84898-518-6. LC 2012003595.

––––. The Life Cycle of Dung Beetles. ISBN 978-1-84898-519-3. LC 2012003596.

––––. The Life Cycle of Fleas. ISBN 978-1-84898-520-9. LC 2012003597.

––––. The Life Cycle of Honey Bees. ISBN 978-1-84898-516-2. LC 2012003598.

––––. The Life Cycle of Tarantulas. ISBN 978-1-84898-521-6. LC 2012003599.

ea vol: 32p. (Creepy Crawlies Series). diags. glossary. index. photos. New Forest. 2013. PLB $28.50. Gr 3-5 –Despite the titles, only a few pages of each book are devoted to the life cycles of their subjects. Researchers will also find information on body parts, habitat, diet, defenses, interactions with humans, and similar species. Every book ends with a selection of fascinating facts and a diagram, some more detailed than others, summarizing the insect’s or arachnid’s life cycle. The text is broken up into boxes, and each bright spread is interspersed with close-up color photos. Paint-speckled backgrounds add visual excitement; but sometimes the design elements fall on top of the text and photos, making them a challenge to see. In addition, some images are blurry, and one is incorrectly labeled. For those in need of more in-depth information, Crabtree’s “The Life Cycle” series covers similar species and devotes more space to their life cycles.

Grades 5 & Up

GAGNE, Tammy. Pointers: Loyal Hunting Companions. ISBN 978-1-4296-9908-2. ––––. Retrievers: Loyal Hunting Companions. ISBN 978-1-4296-9909-9. ––––. Spaniels: Loyal Hunting Companions. ISBN 978-1-4296-9907-5. KARWOSKI , Gail Langer. Terriers: Loyal Hunting Companions. ISBN 978-1-4296-9989-1. LEVINE , Becky D. Hounds: Loyal Hunting Companions. ISBN 978-1-4296-9990-7. ZUCHORA-WALSKE , Christine. Setters: Loyal Hunting Companions. ISBN 978-1-4296-9906-8. ea vol: 32p. (Edge Books: Hunting Dogs Series). charts. further reading. glossary. index. photos. websites. Capstone. 2013. PLB $27.32. Gr 4-7 –Each title initially draws readers in with a story about a dog at work. From there, the straightforward (though somewhat dry) text relates information about its history and how readers can select, train, and care for their own hunting companion. Information about different breeds is presented via both text and tables, and most of the breeds are pictured. “Dog Fact” text boxes deliver additional facts (e.g., “Many retrievers work as guide dogs, police dogs, search and rescue dogs, or therapy dogs”), and the clear, color photos will appeal to animal lovers. New words are defined both in the glossary at the back of the book and in text boxes on the bottom of the pages. These volumes would be best for readers who want to know how to train a hunting dog; for more general information on dog breeds, direct readers to the publisher’s “Edge Books: All About Dogs” or Lerner’s “Best Dogs Ever” series.

Kid-friendly and well organized for report writers, Bearport’s “Even More SuperSized!” would be a solid choice for most libraries. The high-interest subjects of PowerKids’s “Monsters of the Animal Kingdom” are sure to grab young readers’ attention, and, as a bonus, these titles are also helpful for researchers. Since the Common Core State Standards emphasize nonfiction reading for even the youngest students, libraries wishing to expand their collections may want to purchase Gareth Stevens’s “In My Backyard.” While there are many similar titles, Raintree’s “Animal Family Albums” has an attractive layout and would be an adequate choice to supplement a collection. Smart Apple’s “My Favorite Dogs” could also be an option for libraries that need to replace titles on dogs for early readers. In spite of some flaws, both Capstone’s “Edge Books: Hunting Dogs” and PowerKids’s “How Are They Different?” have a unique focus.