Overview
Practically everyone knows about the hippopotamus--and probably even the newt. But how many have heard of the babirusa, the jabiru or the okapi?In this intriguing book, young readers meet twelve species of rare wild animals--from the terrier-size pudu, the world's tiniest deer, to the fearsom ten-foot-long lizard known as the Komodo dragon. Along with introducing children to this unusual wildlife, author Patricia Curtis conveys an important message: Many of these animals are in danger of disappearing from the earth forever--because of habitat destruction, pollution, and overhunting--before we can even get to know them.
The strange names, unique appearance, and unusual habits of these animals will delight young readers. The author's plea for their protection is sure to strike a chord of sympathy for their plight.
Presents twelve animals that are rare, threatened, or endangered, including the jabiru, caracal, and babirusa.
Editorials
Children's Literature -
Kids will get a big kick out of the names and the faces of these animals, and the opportunity to learn about the lives of a wide range of endangered species. The full-page colored photographs allow readers to view the animals up close in their natural habitat. The text explains why a particular animal is facing extinction and what we can do to help preserve its life. Adults should be prepared for some tongue twisting animals names; included in this collection are the jabiru, okapi, komodo dragon, babirusa, pudu, and the red uakari.School Library Journal
Gr 3-5A brief introduction to a dozen rare, threatened, or endangered animals not likely to be encountered in general readingor in many zoos, for that matter. Each double-page spread offers a full-page, full-color photograph, with a modest amount of information on the facing page. The creature's scientific name, global location, preferred habitat, diet, a comment or two on its lifestyle and its status (rare, etc.) are all included. Some animals get more coverage than others, perhaps because, in the case of a few species, little is known about their lives in the wild. All appears accurate though one might question the water salinity tolerance ascribed to desert pupfishes (five times greater than the ocean) and the nocturnal habits of the okapi. However, for young readers not acquainted with such exotics as an axolotl, a babirusa, a jabiru, a markhor, and a red uakari, this slim, colorful book is both attractive and informative enough to whet the appetite. All is prefaced with a plea for the protection of wildlife and natural habitats everywhere and rounded off nicely with an index to make the snippets of information immediately available for report writers.Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NYKirkus Reviews
Curtis (Aquatic Animals in the Wild and in Captivity, 1992) briefly describes the characteristics and plight of a dozen unusual endangered species of wildlife in habitats that range from the foothills of the Andes to the rain forests of Vietnam and Laos.Full-color, close-up photographs shot in wildlife reserves show such animals as the pudu (the world's smallest deer), golden lion tamarin (a monkey with a mane), a pygmy loris (a lemur-like primate), as well as the axolotl (a salamander), babirusa (a peculiar pig with tusks), and a red uakari (a red-faced monkey). The most familiar creature may be the Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard. Each animal is labeled with its status—rare, threatened, or endangered—depending on the severity of its decline. Curtis covers in summary the habits and habitats of the animals, and also discloses the nature of the threat to each one's survival or environment, e.g., acid rain, deforestation, poaching, overpopulation, pollution, etc. Unfortunately, no maps are included. Still, both children and adults will marvel at these eccentricities of the natural world and will quickly become concerned for them.