Insects and Spiders

KLIATT

These two well-written and beautifully designed entries in the Discovery Channel's "Explore Your World" handbook series set a high standard for future natural history books. Each includes more than 300 full-color photographs as well as abundant charts, maps, and diagrams that enrich the highly informative text. Both volumes feature background information on evolution, anatomy, habitats, life cycles, and survival techniques; practical advice on field study and identification; and useful information on choosing and caring for appropriate insect, spider, reptile, and amphibian pets. Over half of each slim volume comprises an identification guide to over 160 species, organized by environment. Each concludes with an extensive resource guide of useful addresses and web sites, a glossary, and a detailed index. Nature lovers of all ages will return to these handbooks time and again both for casual browsing and for serious research. It's hard to imagine a much better use for less than an inch of biology shelf space than these two superb handbooks. KLIATT Codes: JSA—Recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2000, Random House/Discovery Books, 192p, 21cm, 99-087177, $14.95. Ages 13 to adult. Reviewer: Jeffrey Cooper; Writer/Editor, Long Island, NY, July 2000 (Vol. 34 No. 4)

VOYA

This review was written and published to address two books that are part of the Explore Your World series, Reptiles and Amphibians and Insects and Spiders. Youthful interest in scary critters initiated the scientific quest of many scientists. These two books are just the tools to whet the appetites of the young and encourage them in scientific study. Incredible photographs and illustrations are sure to catch the eye of even the most reluctant reader, weaving important concepts amidst the illustrations. Scientific skills of observation, recording, and classifying are encouraged, while including ethical and safety considerations at home or in the field. The backyard bug primer in Insects and Spiders gives a simplified key for classifying insects. The variations of insect mouthparts are beautifully illustrated and provide a tool for youth to predict the food source for a particular insect. Suggestions for acquiring and caring for reptiles and amphibians are provided in the King title. The decline of the amphibian populations also is discussed. Survival of the fittest includes defense mechanisms, camouflage, mimicry, and symbiosis. Illustrations of common specimens are organized by biome, with a particularly good map of biomes of the world in the reptile book. The evolution of fish to amphibians to reptiles is illustrated with Crossopterygii, the lobe-finned fish with lungs. The resource guides for both books include addresses for international resources with their Web sites. Younger teens probably will be the most enthusiastic and numerous readers of these titles, but older youth and adults will find them valuable guides. Teens with a special interest in the subjects need a personal copy inaddition to a copy in the library. Other titles in this series include Birds, Night Sky, and Rocks and Minerals. Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Resource Guide. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2000, Discovery Books/Random House, 192p, $14.95 Trade pb. Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Marilyn Brien

SOURCE: VOYA, October 2000 (Vol. 23, No. 4)