Gray Whales (World Life Library : Nature)

Grade 6 Up-Darling's book is extremely informative and easily outpaces comparable titles in its depth of scientific reportage. The conversational text covers physiology, habits, habitats, and, of course, migration. A section on gray whale/human interaction and a fact sheet are included. The book is graced with numerous large, full-color photos of these cetaceans plowing through the blue Pacific waters, following patterns of life that have been set in place for centuries. Less unique, but still interesting is the title on snakes. Rather than focusing on specific species, the readable text centers more on generalities: the branches of the snake family, general snake biology, the evolutionary adaptations these creatures have made to a vast variety of environments, and their diverse hunting techniques. There is a long section on snake/human relations over the ages and a table of snake families. The many crisp color photos are handsome indeed, showing these elusive reptiles in all their scaly magnificence. It's not a replacement for David Badger's even more attractive (and more species specific) Snakes (Voyageur, 1999) but it's certainly a worthy partner to it. Both books have a short list of recommended readings (all adult).
Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
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