Blue Whales

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3–This well-structured if somewhat formulaic series introduces individual endangered animals. The creatures’ habitats, diets, and the threats they face are detailed through a combination of exposition and letterboxes. A “Myth and Legends” segment at the end of each book provides the opportunity to think about how the reality of the animal compares to misconceptions common where they live. For example, Elephants describes how, in Africa, many believe that the animals are lucky, and “When elephants trample crops, some people blame evil spirits instead of the elephants.” Plentiful color photographs and a range map add to the titles, and useful Web sites appear throughout. No further-reading lists are offered, although organizations dedicated to the animals’ welfare are listed as sources of further information. Competent supplements.