(2) K-3 Illustrated by Matthew Trueman. In the blue-green depths of a Pacific Ocean kelp forest, a vast array of plants and animals live in harmonious balance. Seaweed, snails, shrimp, fish, eagles, and the "kings of these forests"--sea otters--make up this ecosystem's food web. Facts about each species wind through the illustrations, which portray adorable (somewhat anthropomorphized) otters in a peaceful ocean environment. But, as Buhrman-Deever warns, this wasn't always the case. In the early twentieth century, fur traders devastated the sea otter population, which led to an overgrowth of sea urchins, who ate the kelp and destroyed the forests. This disequilibrium is portrayed dramatically in Trueman's gauzy underwater illustrations. Over a few page-turns, the forest is taken over by spiky purple urchins that raze the kelp and drive away the animals that depended on it for food and shelter. When laws are passed to protect the otters, balance is restored. In today's kelp forests, "there is just enough seaweed, enough seaweed eaters, and enough meat eaters to help the forests thrive." Back matter provides additional details about the effect of unchecked hunting in the region as well as an update of current sea otter numbers in the wild; a selected bibliography is also appended.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2020

(2) K-3 Munro takes readers on a virtual field trip to Caribbean coral reefs, showcasing the "rich diversity of life" found there. Full-bleed, double-page-spread illustrations (and a bonus gatefold, unseen) surround readers with ocean creatures in their natural setting, mimicking a snorkeling or diving expedition. Descriptions of animals (from fish to crustaceans to mollusks; from the spotted scorpionfish to the batwing coral crab to the reef squid) appear on each page, creating a near field guide. Because multiple animals appear on every spread, readers must examine each description and then match it with one of the creatures in the illustrations. Thus youngsters become inquisitive partners, rather than passive observers, in the aquatic experience. That Munro depicts the animals at their actual size, and with colorful inks that mirror the habitat, adds to the realism. All the creatures are identified in the main text, and an appended legend also names all the fish that are shown there. Endnotes emphasize the importance of coral reefs and the threats to their existence; back matter also includes a list of related readings and websites, a glossary, an index, and a map of "coral reefs of the world."

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2020

(2) K-3 For some animal species, there are evolutionary advantages to social groupings. "Packs, herds, huddles, and pods. Together, we are better." Salyer introduces young readers to many of the creative words used to describe animal aggregations (an army of frogs, a flamboyance of flamingos, an ­implausibility of wildebeest) but also explains just what those groupings provide: care for their young (elephants, lions); communication to locate food and prey (bats, bees); and safety in numbers (zebras, mongooses). The richly colored illustrations portray the multitudes, often oriented to seem to flow past the observer, or to highlight how animals clustered together make it hard to identify individuals or distinguish them from their backgrounds. The final double-page spread connects the book's message to a familiar social animal--humans--as people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities happily congregate in a village square. "All together...we are better!" Notes at the end of the book identify the exact species portrayed in the illustrations, and caution that many of these species are under threat of extinction. Also appended with a brief bibliography.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2020

(3) 4-6 Translated by George Newman. Illustrated by Adrienne Barman. From the Big Bang through the "Time of the Humans," this breakneck ride through Earth's history is divided into six major epochs (e.g., "The Paleozoic," "The Cenozoic"). Each double-page spread focuses generally on one or two geological or evolutionary developments, with a chatty paleontologist, "a storyteller," and two kids providing information and banter. The comic-panel illustrations are relatively uncluttered and easy to follow. Because humans are such a recent presence (evolutionarily speaking), most of the book's discussion focuses on events from 4.6 billion to twelve thousand years ago--giving readers a good sense of the scale of time (a "geologic time scale" is helpful). A glossary and index are appended.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Science Superheroes series. Scientist and conservationist Cramp presents a comprehensive overview of oceanography and marine biology, including a full chapter on sharks--the focus of her research. High-quality photographs, simple but effective experiments, and profiles of other marine researchers enhance the text. Occasional comics featuring Captain Aquatica (Cramp's alter-ego) and sidekick Finn the hammerhead shark open each chapter. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(2) K-3 Judge's latest volume focuses on the places that mammals inhabit as they bear and raise their young. The sheltered spaces are roughly organized by their purpose or location; each spread features three species, accompanied by paragraphs highlighting how the natural environment contributes to the protection and care of the newborns. Animal families are front-and-center in the soft-colored, idyllic illustrations that include characteristic details about the creatures and their habitats. Websites. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(3) PS Bespectacled babies explore the seashore and ocean, with an emphasis on marine animals at different ocean depths and their adaptations. The babies float around in scuba gear, making cartoon speech-balloon comments. Even though the "nerd" label and glasses for anyone interested in science is a bit stereotypical, this is a lively introduction to science for the youngest readers, who are encouraged to "stay curious!"

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Mike Shiell. Where there's a stink, there's bound to be something disgusting--that's the charm of this book about the olfactory senses of humans and animals. From rotting flesh to poop to skunk spray, readers learn about many aspects of smell. Cartoony caricature illustrations add to the kid-appeal. The fonts of the chapter titles and subject headings are close enough to make the organization a little confusing. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(2) PS Illustrated by Kelsey Oseid. Following the format of Whose Poop Is THAT? (rev. 3/17), Lunde poses the title question seven times about seven different animals in a series of four-page sequences, inviting readers to guess the makers of various footprints and impressions. Each print, rendered in shades of black and brown on a white background, is centered prominently on the right-hand page. A clue for identification comes via the accompanying text, which emphasizes the motions or actions employed to produce the print ("It was made by running on snow"; "It was made by standing in soft mud"). Additional hints to each creature's identity are found on left-hand pages, with glimpses of an ear, tail, nose, etc., edging into the picture. For the reveal, illustrations of mountain goats, wallaroos, snowshoe hares, snakes, flamingos, chimpanzees, and even a dinosaur are accompanied by information about what part of them made the prints (variously: feet, bodies, knuckles) and the ways their physiologies allow the animals to move or balance; the seven examples are carefully chosen to represent the relationships between morphology and function. The book ends with a look at the various prints people can make with their footwear, connecting familiar human experiences with their animal equivalents.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(2) 4-6 Photographs by Roger Wood & Logan Wood. Montgomery and readers join a group led by an eminent scientist to follow wildebeest migrations through Tanzania and Kenya. Montgomery's detailed narrative provides explanations of the science of migration and the complex relationships among life and land in the Serengeti ecosystem. The photos skillfully capture sweeping landscapes, the region's diverse species, and the people who live nearby and who study the animals. Back matter includes advice for how to support conservation efforts. Maps. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Betsy Bowen. In 1882, surveyors mapping northern Minnesota made a mistake; subsequently an old growth forest was ignored until 1958. The protected forest still exists today in Chippewa National Forest. Root includes surveying details and the ecology of such pine forests that once covered the northern U.S. Bowen's painted backgrounds and survey-notebook inserts capture the texture and colors of fresh-cut pine or yellowing maps. Substantial back matter serves as a field guide. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Gilbert Ford. From dung beetles to rotten logs to that weird stuff in the back of your refrigerator, this book covers all kinds of decomposition; there's also a chapter that relates what happens when there is no decomposition, specifically in overflowing landfills. The tone is light but respectful, and plenty of real-world examples and illustrations will keep readers engaged. Hands-on activities are scattered through the text. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(3) YA Illustrated by Teagan White. Darwin's groundbreaking argument for biological evolution is made accessible for today's teens, with edits for language and length and the removal of now-inaccurate ideas. After a brief biographical introduction, Stefoff's adapted text follows the structure of Darwin's original but is augmented with well-captioned photographs and diagrams, helpful annotations, and sidebars that explain the work of his contemporaries and today's modern understandings. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Amazing illustrations created entirely with pressed plants are the centerpiece of this nature guide covering the four seasons. Each image reflects an accompanying paragraph on various topics including nest building, deer rutting, and hibernation. Ahpornsiri's book provides a more advanced nature study, so this is ideally suited for upper-elementary-age readers. Appreciation of the art may inspire kids to try their own pressings. Glos.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(2) K-3 This small square book depicts animals of India screenprinted on textured paper. The diversity is both biological (tiger, deer, snake, etc.) and cultural, with the images coming from more than a dozen artists from different areas of India. Color choices for backgrounds complement the mostly two-color images of the animals, each given its own spread. Full art notes are appended.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2018

(3) 4-6 Arnosky explains how the showy appearances or behaviors of animals help them to find mates, scare off predators, and communicate. His excellent illustrations, some across foldout pages, include dramatic portrayals of animals in full display as well as smaller sketches that provide variations across species. Personal notes from the naturalist author-illustrator at the beginning and end add an intimate touch. Reading list.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Julian Frost. Scanning electron microscope images by Linnea Rundgren. In this nifty, lighthearted introduction to microbiology, a microbe named Min moves from the book's page to parts of the human body then to a shirt, picking up friends (fellow microbes) along the way. Goofy illustrated microbes are backed up by "really, really close up" photo-images as they comment about their environments (on a tooth: "we're digging cavities!"). A final page reveals more scientific facts about microbes.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) PS Clues written in the first person coupled with illustrations of each animal's tail end encourage readers to guess which animal's head will appear on the following page. Among the mostly predictable answers, a couple of twists are included. Canty's delicate watercolor and mixed-media illustrations are in muted tones and are "adapted from nineteenth-century artwork."

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) K-3 Penguin Young Readers series. An overview of the Amazon rainforest is organized into chapters and short paragraphs. With clear and immersive language, a leveled text geared toward "fluent readers" smoothly introduces vocabulary as it touches on climate, geography, and the diversity of animals in each forest layer; a final chapter focuses on conservation. Quality photos appear throughout. Young readers will come away well informed. Glos.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Hannah Bailey. Dixon presents an overview of the concept of evolution and the process of natural selection, then illustrates changes over time across thirteen taxonomic groups. Spread across the pages are familiar animal species such as elephants, crocodiles, snakes, and birds, as well as their ancient relations. Bailey's clear, tidy, field guide–like illustrations of the many species are accompanied by short explanations about their times and locations. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford