Everglades National Park

Children's Literature

Located on the southern tip of the Florida peninsula, the Everglades National Park is the biggest subtropical wilderness left in the United States. This "river of grass" contains an astonishing variety of plants and animals: panthers, raccoons, black bear, snakes, deer, gray fox, alligators, crocodiles, bottle-nosed dolphins, egrets, great blue herons, sea turtles, hammerhead sharks, the West Indian manatee—the list goes on and on. The book's five chapters introduce readers to the park's ecology, seasons (there are just two: wet and dry), history and fragile ecosystems which are home to so many unique plants and animals. One chapter is devoted to the American alligator, the "king of the Everglades." The last chapter addresses the many challenges faced by the park today. The biggest threat comes from human development which has altered the flow of water and resulted in the drastic decline of the wildlife population. The easy-to-read text is illustrated with color photographs, many full or double pages. The book includes a table of contents as well as a glossary and an index. 2005, ABDO Publishing Company, Ages 10 up.
—Anita Barnes Lowen

School Library Journal

Gr 4-6-Beautifully illustrated with full-color photos taken by the author, these titles are not only informative but also quite readable. Each volume discusses the origins, history, ecosystems, geology, wildlife, and highlights of the park. A section on future challenges such as overcrowding and development is appended. Useful as introductions, these overviews provide more information than other series such as "National Parks" (Capstone), "True Books" (Children's Press), and "Vision Books" (The Child's World).-Doris Losey, Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library, Tampa, FL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.