Birds

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Grade 6 Up-This visually delightful survey of the world's birds, grouped by similar lifestyle and characteristics, is a companion to the 10-volume Mammals(Grolier, 2003). Individual titles begin with volume 11 and include Ground Birds; Seabirds; Shorebirds; Waterbirds; Hunting Birds; Omnivorous Birds; Seed-, Fruit-, and Nectar-eating; Insectivorous; Tropical Forest; and Unusual Birds. The introduction defines what a bird is; provides labeled diagrams of main external and internal features; and discusses "Feather Form and Function," "Flight Styles," "Bills and Feeding," and more. Within each book, general articles on specific families are followed by separate entries on some typical members. Entries provide detailed descriptions, discuss life cycles, and consider conservation issues. Eye-appealing, close-up photographs of the creatures in their natural habitats and artists' renderings illustrate the entries. A data panel gives facts at a glance including size, distribution notes and map, and environmental status. Sidebars highlighted in pastel colors discuss the animals' relationship to humankind, such as the crow in mythology (and superstition), or explain behavior such as the macaw's consumption of clay. All volumes contain a set index with common name and volume in bold type and main entry pages underlined. Species such as parrots appear in more than one volume but see-also references will alert readers to other entries. Although it is not all-inclusive (250 characteristic species are included), this attractive resource is very accessible, with an equal balance of text and illustration. It will serve students and browsers well.-Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY
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Birds is the second cluster of the five-set World of Animals collection to be released. It joins Mammals [RBB Ag 03], while insects and other invertebrates, fish, and amphibians and reptiles are scheduled to follow. The Birds cluster continues set numbering where Mammals left off and is numbered volumes 11-20. Libraries that shelve by Dewey decimal number will find that this new set is therefore shelved prior to Mammals even though the volume numbers indicate a continuing set.

Geared to upper-elementary- through high-school students, the set groups species that share similar characteristics or have similar lifestyles, such as ground birds, seabirds, insect eaters, and tropical forest birds. More than 250 characteristic species are covered. Each 128-page volume is organized by family and presents information in two types of articles. The first introduces individual or closely related bird families (for example, the ratites) and reviews the variety of birds as well as their relationship with other bird families and orders. The second type, which constitutes the majority of the text, concentrates on birds typical of the family or families (for example, the ostrich, emu, or brown kiwi of the ratite families).

Well-written entries range in length from two to six pages and include numerous full-color photographs and illustrations. These detailed, vivid, and captioned pictures enhance the highly appealing and browsable layout. Cross-referencing in the bottom margin includes bird, volume, and page number for easy additional searching. Each volume concludes with a list of bird orders and families, a set glossary, further reading and useful Web sites, and a set index.

An additional noteworthy feature is the "data panel" found on the introductory page of each individual bird entry. Information provided includes common name, scientific name, family, order, size (imperial and metric), a visual comparison of an adult bird to a six-foot-tall human, key features, habits, nesting, voice, diet, habitat, distribution, International Union for the Conservation of Nature status, and a locator map showing normal range. School and public libraries alike will find that this set contains sufficient information to serve the needs of a variety of student users and will appeal to the casual browser as well. RBB
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