Primates: Lemurs, Monkeys, and You

School Library Journal

Gr 6-8-A thoughtful introduction to the evolution of primates that includes information about these animals today. Tattersall establishes the general context of the study of evolution, providing definitions of common ancestors and qualities shared by the incredible variety of life on Earth. The importance of fossils and surrounding rocks in determining the age of bones is clearly discussed, and the reasons for grouping animals by evolutionary trends (e.g., the development of the five-fingered hand) are well described. Such physical differences are used to make logical chapter divisions between the prosimians (lemurs, lorises) and the anthropoids (monkeys and great apes). Occasionally, explanations are slightly obscure. Illustrated with good-quality reproductions of paintings of prehistorical ancestors and glossy, full-color photographs of modern species, the book unfortunately lacks maps, a time line, charts of classification schemes, and a pronunciation guide.-Frances E. Millhouser, Reston Regional Library, VA