Scary Creatures of the River

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

What kinds of animals live in rivers and what makes them scary? A hippopotamus is large and can weigh more than a minivan. They can become dangerous when they feel threatened or are protecting their young. Manatees are aquatic mammals that live in rivers and have been mistaken for monsters; however, they are slow moving and not really dangerous. More are harmed by humans than the other way around. Certain snakes live in or near water and, yes, they can be very dangerous. Among the animals that are of interest are those in the crocodilian family because they appear to have been unchanged for millions of years. They are dangerous predators and there is an illustration showing the difference between a crocodile and an alligator. Fish are not normally though of as dangerous or scary, but big fish do prey on little fish. The one type of fish that seems to be the most scary is the piranha. Piranha can swarm and quickly devour the flesh of any animal. The book has wonderful photographs of a great variety of creatures and special pages that can be held up to the light to reveal even more information. The closing pages depict where the featured animals live in the world, offers some basic facts about life in rivers, and has a full page glossary and an index. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot

School Library Journal

Gr 3-5–In each of these titles, 13 one- or two-page chapters begin with questions such as “What Is a 'Living Fossil’?” (River), followed by brief, clear answers. Additional intriguing facts (“Anteaters have no teeth” in Soil) are included in small “Did You Know?” bubbles. Text is accompanied on every page by clear, captioned photographs; colorful, well-labeled illustrations; or realistic paintings. Each book contains two “see-through” pages that must be held up to a strong light for viewers to see the complete painting. Though the material is appealing, the inclusion of some animals is questionable. City, for example, highlights raccoons, dingoes, alligators, and polar bears. These volumes have high visual appeal but are not well organized.–Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN