Shells

KLIATT

This introductory series now extends to eleven titles that examine types of animals (insects, amphibians, birds) as well as other aspects of nature (weather, trees, the night sky). A profusion of lovely full-color photos make these pocket-sized books appealing as field guides or reference books. Their brief texts give some background and list size, habitat and range for the items identified. Fishes was written by the curator emeritus of the American Museum of Natural History's Dept. of Ichthyology. It begins by looking at types of fishes, methods of locomotion, senses, feeding habits, fish identification, and conservation, among other topics. The bulk of the book is given over to the field guide, which provides close-up views and descriptions of 50 common North American fishes with smaller photos of over 100 other species. A glossary and list of resources, including web sites, appear at the end. Shells, written by a naturalist and educator, follows a similar format, depicting over 50 commonly found shells in the U.S. and Canada. Both make good starting points for beginning naturalists, biology classrooms and school and public libraries. (National Audubon Society First Field Guide) KLIATT Codes: J—Recommended for junior high school students. 2000, Scholastic, 160p, illus, bibliog, index, 99-046831, 18cm, $8.95. Ages 13 to 15. Reviewer: Paula Rohrlick; September 2000 (Vol. 34 No. 5)

School Library Journal

Gr 4 Up-This small field guide serves a need in beach communities and as a vacation-treasure handbook. The first third of the volume covers general information on shells, how to collect them, and how to use this book. Then, 50 shells are introduced in full-color photos, each on a double-page spread, along with a description, a very small range map, and two smaller photos of similar shells with descriptions. The omission of the lucine, a very common clam shell, is a minor drawback. An attractive title to update books on identifying and collecting these popular items.-Nora Jane Natke, Hooked on Books, Hollywood, FL Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

From The Critics

This field guide to seashells will appeal to a wide age range; from elementarylevel users just being introduced to seashore life through high school and adult users who want an easy identification guide to shells. Each page is packed with color photos, while tips on keeping a shell collection, singlepage references to related shells, and searching tips supplement natural history insights. Highly recommended.