Lemurs on Location

Children's Literature - Mary Sue Preissner

Mom and daughter have teamed to create an easy to read and visually appealing book about these endangered species of Madagascar. Every turn of a page brings a new and stunning photograph of these monkey-like animals in their natural habitat. Three species, ringtailed, brown, and sifaka, are featured here for their physical characteristics and behaviors. Unfortunately, with the advancement of man, these animals have become habituated. This book will satisfy both the "curious about animals" readers and the upper elementary/middle school student researchers.

School Library Journal

Gr 3-6An up-close encounter with the relatively obscure lemurs of Madagascar. Continuing with the same format as in other titles in the series, this mother-daughter team takes an in-depth look at brown lemurs, white sifakas, and ringtails. The lively text opens with the Darlings hearing the animals' cries in the forest; the author explains that when Europeans first heard these ghostly cries, they gave the species the name "lemur" meaning "spirit of the dead." This introductory chapter also tells how Madagascar broke off from the continent of Africa, thus allowing the evolution of these creatures in isolation. Common characteristics within the various species are noted while a wide variety of differences are clearly established, from the shy, leaping sifakas to the rowdy, smelly ringtails who depend most on scent to communicate. One chapter titled "The Big Stink Fight" is sure to get readers' attention. Excellent-quality, clearly captioned, full-color photographs capture the behavior of these fascinating animals in their forest habitat. A page of "lemur facts" rounds out a presentation that will appeal to both casual readers and report writers.Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ