Macmillan Children's Guide to Endangered Animals

Offering a global approach to endangered animals, this informative reference introduces 150 endangered species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and invertebrates from around the world, discussing threats to their survival and conservation measures being taken.

PreSchool-Grade 5-This very attractive book, on a popular and important theme, has strengths that demand a closer look. Its clear and unbiased text introduces the real threats to creatures worldwide, the costs to save them, and the programs that have succeeded or failed up to this point. The remainder of the book is a continent-by-continent look at specific animals in trouble. Each division has the same strong elements. First, the continent's problems are discussed; maps show where some of the animals live. Next, individual species are highlighted in boxes, each with a lovely, full-color illustration. Each box contains the featured subject's scientific name, size, palpable threat to its survival, and interesting facts. Each geographical division closes with a two-page focus on one animal. A useful index and a lengthy list of organization addresses appear at the end of the volume. Libraries needing material on global wildlife in danger will be well served by this fine volume. It has more information and is more eye-catching than Dorothy Patent's The Challenge of Extinction (Enslow, 1991).
Amy Nunley, Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, OH
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A brief discussion of the causes of extinction (hunting, habitat destruction, pollution, etc.), followed by units focused on continental regions and their special problems, each introducing 20 or so ``endangered'' or ``threatened'' animals (terms the author never defines), with color photos or illustrations of each animal, a few facts, common and scientific names, and size. The illustrations (by many different artists) are uneven in quality (Few says the St. Helena earwig has ``forceps on its head,'' but the picture shows them on its abdomen), but, overall, attractive and detailed. Facts on File's The Atlas of Endangered Animals (1993) gives similar coverage with clear color photos and more accurate information on location and endangered status. Few includes a helpful ``Resource List,'' but his book is a second choice. Index. (Nonfiction. 8-12) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 5 and up. Few organizes his material according to habitats, describing the endangered animals in one or two paragraphs that are always accompanied by a colorful photograph or painting. Maps pinpoint places where the animals can still be found in the wild, and statistical data list location, main threats, scientific name, and size (given only in length, not height or weight). Most of the animals are endangered because of hunting or habitat destruction and survive only because of animal preserves or captive breeding. Illustrations define the subjects clearly, in some cases spectacularly, and, for the most part, are well placed (one wonders, however, why a painted African hut appears on a page with South American hyacinth macaws). Although the book does not

provide extensive information on any animal or direct the reader to additional sources, it is still a valuable addition to the zoology section because of the number and variety of animals included and the clarity of the illustrations. Sheilamae O'Hara