About Mammals: A Guide for Children

From The Critics

This book simply outlines the two basic concepts that link all mammals while beautifully portraying their diversity. This excellent introduction includes additional information about each mammal featured. 2000, Peachtree Publishers, Ltd., $14.95. Ages 3 to 10. Reviewer: S. Kleven SOURCE: Parent Council Volume 8

Children's Literature - Lisa Phillips

All types of mammals are explored in this easy-to-read, informative guidebook for youngsters. Athough all animals share some basic characteristics, each has its own unique qualities. Some live in the cold Arctic region, while others live in hot, dry deserts. Some animals are born helpless, while others move about on their own soon after birth. The beautifully drawn pictures make this book a treasure that children will refer to even as they outgrow picture books. About Mammals is written with just a few words per page to hold the interest of even the youngest audience. For older kids, the book also includes an Afterward, which provides additional facts about each animal illustrated. About Mammals is a follow-up to Sill's critically acclaimed book, About Birds. She has also co-authored numerous popular bird guides, and her husband John Sill, a prize-winning wildlife artist, created the beautiful illustrations in this book.

Children's Literature - Lisa Phillips

All types of mammals are explored in this easy-to-read, informative guidebook for youngsters. Athough all animals share some basic characteristics, each has its own unique qualities. Some live in the cold Arctic region, while others live in hot, dry deserts. Some animals are born helpless, while others move about on their own soon after birth. The beautifully drawn pictures make this book a treasure that children will refer to even as they outgrow picture books. About Mammals is written with just a few words per page to hold the interest of even the youngest audience. For older kids, the book also includes an Afterword, which provides additional facts about each animal illustrated. About Mammals is a follow-up to Sill's critically acclaimed book, About Birds. She has also co-authored numerous popular bird guides, and her husband John Sill, a prize-winning wildlife artist, created the beautiful illustrations in this book.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2Soft, realistic, full-page watercolors are paired with minimal text in this introduction to mammals. Commonalities (hair, milk) are presented along with a variety of behavioral and physical characteristics (movement, diet). The paintings are presented in an Audubon-like format, as individual plates with identification labels, displaying each animal in its habitat. Many of the subjects could be encountered on a quiet walk through the woods; others live in distant places. The paintings draw viewers in with their warmth, charm, and accuracy and the large type, surrounded by white space, makes this an unusually attractive easy reader. An afterword offers small, color reproductions of each plate with a bit more information. More sophisticated than Jim Arnosky's Crinkleroot's 25 Mammals Every Child Should Know (Bradbury, 1994), this is ideal for storytimes and will balance well with Allan Fowler's It Could Still Be a Mammal (Children's Press, 1990).Susan Oliver, Tampa-Hillsborough Public Library System, FL