Animals around the World

Julie Corsaro

The title is misleading: this handsome book, which resembles a science encyclopedia, is about the complex topic of ecology, providing overviews of ten climatic regions (deserts, tundra, etc.), eight aquatic habitats (rivers, shoreline, etc.), and two artificial habitats (farms, and cities and towns). Although the emphasis differs depending on the topic, the relationships between climate, geography, food sources, and plant and animal life are consistently mentioned. The coverage is enhanced by many captioned, striking color photographs and detailed drawings that feature animals usually not discussed in the body of the text. While the "scene-setting" stories that open each chapter are a waste of needed space, the accompanying maps are essential for understanding, as are the less frequent charts and diagrams. The author's comparisons (between biomes, for instance) may prove confusing, but the lengthy index of common names and the glossary will help allay the confusion. A book to meet curriculum needs.