Editorials
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2
These books are brief and playful introductions to each animal, with their noises used as a unifying device. The rhyming texts are presented in a large, clear font that stands out against the colorful photos. Informational inserts are on a higher reading level. They sometimes interfere with the flow of the reading and get in the way of the pictures, but these are minor quibbles because the layout and design of the books are otherwise excellent. The pictures enhance the text; the animals have been photographed creatively-sometimes up close, sometimes off-kilter, but always at their best. Each book has a fun "Animal Sounds Around the World" glossary that notes that volume's animal sound in English, German, Japanese, French, Greek, and Spanish. This is a useful series for classroom libraries and for beefing up nonfiction easy-reader collections.