Insects and Other Invertebrates

These volumes compose the third cluster of the five-set World of Animals collection, so far joining Mammals (2003) and birds [RBB Mr 1 04]. Insects continues set numbering where birds left off and is numbered volumes 21-30. Libraries that shelve by Dewey decimal number will find that this new set is shelved prior to both previously released clusters, even though the volume numbers indicate a continuing set.

Geared to middle- through high-school students, the set groups species that share similar characteristics or have similar lifestyles, such as simple and wormlike animals, crustaceans, arachnids, mollusks, and echinoderms. Six of the ten volumes are devoted to insects. Because the set contains a huge diversity of animal types, a "Find the Animal" guide is included in each volume. Much like Birds and mammals, each 128-page volume presents information in two types of articles. The first introduces and provides a general overview of major groups (mollusks, insects, flies, jelly animals). The second type, which constitutes the majority of the text, concentrates on describing important groups in detail (jellyfish, sea anemones, corals).

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. Many entries have highlighted boxes that offer interesting side notes, for example, the deadly effectiveness of the Australian Box Jellyfish toxin. Cross-referencing in the bottom margin includes related animal or topic, with volume and page number. Each volume concludes with a volume-specific glossary, lists of further reading and Web sites, and a set index.

An additional noteworthy feature is the "data panel" found at the beginning of each entry. Data found here include common name, phylum, number of species, size, key features, habits, diet, breeding, habitat, and distribution. 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. Shauna Yusko
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