CM Magazine: The Science of Living Things.

________________ CM . . . . Volume VII Number 5 . . . . November 3, 2000

What is a Marine Mammal? (The Science of Living Things).

Bobbie Kalman & Jacqueline Langille.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: Crabtree Publishing, 2000.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $7.16 (pbk.), $18.36 (cl.).
ISBN 0-86505-954-3 (pbk.), ISBN 0-86505-936-5 (cl.).

Subject Heading:
Marine mammals-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3 - 6 / Ages 8 - 11.

Review by Meredith MacKeen.

*** /4

What is an Amphibian? (The Science of Living Things).

Bobbie Kalman & Jacqueline Langille.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: Crabtree Publishing, 2000.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $7.16 (pbk.), $18.36 (cl.).
ISBN 0-86505-952-7 (pbk.), ISBN 0-86505-934-9 (cl.).

Subject Heading:
Amphibians-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3 - 6 / Ages 8 - 11.

Review by Meredith MacKeen.

** /4

What is a Rodent? (The Science of Living Things).

Bobbie Kalman & Jacqueline Langille.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: Crabtree Publishing, 2000.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $7.16 (pbk.), $18.36 (cl.).
ISBN 0-86505-951-9 (pbk.), ISBN 0-86505-923-3 (cl.).

Subject Heading:
Rodents-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3 - 6 / Ages 8 - 11.

Review by Meredith MacKeen.

*** /4

What is a Whale? (The Science of Living Things).

Bobbie Kalman & Heather Levigne.
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON: Crabtree Publishing, 2000.
32 pp., pbk. & cl., $7.16 (pbk.), $18.36 (cl.).
ISBN 0-86505-953-5 (pbk.), ISBN 0-86505-935-7 (cl.).

Subject Heading:
Whales-Juvenile literature.

Grades 3 - 6 / Ages 8 - 11.

Review by Meredith MacKeen.

** /4

excerpt:

What is a marine mammal?
A mammal is an animal that drinks milk from its mother's body as a baby. All mammals are warm blooded, which means their body temperature stays the same in warm or cold places.
Most mammals have some hair or fur on their body. About 4600 species, or types of mammals live on Earth. (From What is a Marine Mammal?)

The four books in "The Science of Living Things" series all follow a similar format. Each is successful in appealing to students in the grade 3 to 6 range and in providing appropriate information. The books each begin with a definition of the type of animal being examined and continue through a review of related orders, characteristics, body features, mating and parenting, food, homes, and relationship to the environment, including human beings. Two page spreads cover special examples of the mammal or amphibian written up. For example, in What is an Amphibian?, the featured amphibians included: frogs and toads, salamanders, and caecilians. Specific information is easily located via the explicit headings in the table of contents and a glossary is provided. Appropriate scientific terms are introduced in the text which is organized either into a paragraph with a heading or a box with sentences and the main word italicized.
Most importantly, in terms of gaining a readership, the books are very attractive. The covers are colourful and, to attract a reader's attention, usually have the face of mammal peering quizzically. Inside, every page has dramatic coloured photos, usually covering half the page.
This quartet of books is a welcome addition to any elementary school library looking for overviews of types of animals. Children will select these books for their own recreational reading, and, if the students have broad research topics, then the books will be most helpful.

Recommended.

Meredith MacKeen is the teacher-librarian at Glen Stewart School in Charlottetown, PEI.

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

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - November 3, 2000.