Overview
What is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? What do alligators and crocodiles eat? Amazing Animals offers early readers a compelling look at the animal world. Every book explores the life span, habitat, and family life of an animal in the wild. Colorful and captivating, each volume reveals fascinating facts about the animal's development and behavior, delves into folklore, and touches on conservation efforts. Website links connect readers to relevant, child-friendly Internet content.
An introduction to the physical features of alligators and crocodiles, their habitat, life cycle, and relationships with other animals, as well as conservation efforts and related facts.
Synopsis
What is the difference between an alligator and a crocodile? What do alligators and crocodiles eat? Amazing Animals offers early readers a compelling look at the animal world. Every book explores the life span, habitat, and family life of an animal in the wild. Colorful and captivating, each volume reveals fascinating facts about the animal's development and behavior, delves into folklore, and touches on conservation efforts. Website links connect readers to relevant, child-friendly Internet content.
Ruth Buchholz - Children's Literature
Crocodiles and alligators are incredible predators, but the excitement is lost in this book. This overview lumps the 20-plus alligator and crocodile species into one conglomerate animal. The book never specifically answers the question every kid wants to know, "What's the difference between a crocodile and alligator?" The author especially disappoints with the "What Do You Think" questions. Does anyone really expect a child to say yes, when asked, "Do you think we need to make clothing from alligator and crocodile skins?" The author cheats the reader of a true, thought-provoking experience. If the text had provided an objective look at why people and alligators or crocodiles are in competition for food and space (which is why most populations are at-risk), then asked truly thought-provoking questions, readers might have learned a bit about the challenge of finding a animal/human balance. As part of the "Amazing Animal" series, the layout provides the perfect amount of text, photos, and illustrations. It is unfortunate the text doesn't match the variety and quality of photographs. Some suggested Web sites are science oriented, but unfortunately, some offer a non-scientific political agenda inappropriate for this age. The language level is appropriate and the science, though over-generalized, is easy to understand. 2004, Smart Apple Media, Ages 7 to 9.
Editorials
Children's Literature
Crocodiles and alligators are incredible predators, but the excitement is lost in this book. This overview lumps the 20-plus alligator and crocodile species into one conglomerate animal. The book never specifically answers the question every kid wants to know, "What's the difference between a crocodile and alligator?" The author especially disappoints with the "What Do You Think" questions. Does anyone really expect a child to say yes, when asked, "Do you think we need to make clothing from alligator and crocodile skins?" The author cheats the reader of a true, thought-provoking experience. If the text had provided an objective look at why people and alligators or crocodiles are in competition for food and space (which is why most populations are at-risk), then asked truly thought-provoking questions, readers might have learned a bit about the challenge of finding a animal/human balance. As part of the "Amazing Animal" series, the layout provides the perfect amount of text, photos, and illustrations. It is unfortunate the text doesn't match the variety and quality of photographs. Some suggested Web sites are science oriented, but unfortunately, some offer a non-scientific political agenda inappropriate for this age. The language level is appropriate and the science, though over-generalized, is easy to understand. 2004, Smart Apple Media, Ages 7 to 9.— Ruth Buchholz