CM Magazine: Explore the Continents Series.

________________ CM . . . . Volume XVII Number 18. . . .January 14, 2011.

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Explore Earth’s Seven Continents. (Explore the Continents).

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $10.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-3092-7 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3078-1 (RLB.).

Subject Heading:
Continents-Juvenile literature.

Kindergarten-grade 4 / Ages 5-9.

Review by Sherry Faller.

***½/4

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Explore Earth’s Five Oceans. (Explore the Continents).

Bobbie Kalman.
St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2011.
32 pp., pbk. & hc., $10.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.).
ISBN 978-0-7787-3091-0 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-3077-4 (RLB.).

Subject Headings:
Oceans-Juvenile literature.
Oceanography-Juvenile literature.

Kindergarten-grade 4 / Ages 5-9.

Review by Sherry Faller.

***½/4

excerpt:

Many kinds of animals live in Africa. They live in different habitats. Habitats are the natural homes of plants and animals. Grasslands are areas covered in grasses. The grasslands in Africa are called savannas. Many animals live on the African savannas. Africa also has mountain, forest and desert habitats. (From Explore Earth’s Seven Continents.)

Leave it to Bobbie Kalman and her team to put together a wonderful beginning set of books to learn about the continents and oceans of our Earth. Gone are the days of having kids memorize lists of oceans and continents. By using these books, the name “Indian Ocean” will have meaning. The drawn maps and satellite views are clearly labeled and accompanying coloured photos give the reader a sense of what they would see there.

     The large text, bordered captions and animal drawings throughout make a fresh, enjoyable read. There are the usual table of contents, index and glossary with the selected words found bolded in the main text.

     Explore Earth’s Seven Continents describes each continent in a different way. For example, North America has places to see, Africa is all about animals, and Antarctica features ice shapes and forms.

     Explore Earth’s Five Oceans describes the various ocean zones and displays the animals found in each. Coral reefs, the Pacific Ring of Fire and the relationship between currents and weather patterns are all briefly explained.

     The series also includes a book about each of the continents and judging by the child-friendly content and format of the books reviewed, the rest will be of the same high quality and a popular choice for any elementary school library.

Highly Recommended.

Sherry Faller is a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364 Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

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