Endangered Mountain Animals

School Library Journal

Gr 3-8-- After opening pages describe a specific environment and define ``animals in distress'' (in three paragraphs duplicated in all four books), each of these titles covers ten species. Two pages are devoted to each animal, with two or three clear, full-color photographs included. General information concerning food and habitat is briefly given, but more emphasis is placed on the animal's endangered status and the reasons behind it. Only about half of the profiles indicate how many members of the species still survive, while an inset box gives the height, weight, length, and location of each one. Grouping the animals by type of environment rather than geographical area is not ideal, particularly since there are no maps. Taylor notes many of the ways in which humans have threatened these species, but also includes some positive examples of conservation movements. The last page of each volume suggests ways in which children can get involved, but these are too vague to be of much use. Although there is not enough information for an in-depth report on any single species, these books do offer solid overviews in an attractive, accessible format. --Steven Engelfried, Pleasanton Library, CA