Dandelion

School Library Journal

Bks.). CIP. Silver Burdett. 1987. PSm $6.95; PLB $8.96. K-Gr 2 Two books illustrated with excellent full-color photographs. Apple Tree traces the development of an apple from bud to ripe fruit. Dandelion reveals the amazing complexity of this common weed. Macro-photography shows the delicate symmetrical beauty of the dandelion seed heads. Line drawings complement the photos and text, clarifying the information. Unfortunately, a photo in Apple Tree includes a bin of oranges amidst several varieties of apples while the text describes the many different kinds of apples which may be seen at a fruit stand. This is likely to mislead or confuse young children. Claudia Schieper's An Apple Tree Through the Year (Carolrhoda, 1987) is also a well-written, nicely illustrated book covering the same topic as Apple Tree, but is intended for slightly older readers. Hogan's The Dandelion (Raintree, 1979) presents the same information on the same level as Watts' Dandelion , but it is illustrated with impressionistic drawings rather than photographs. Barbara B. Murphy, Shaler Area School District Libraries, Pittsburgh