Mammals

Book by Morris, Pat, Beer, Amy-Jane, Bower, Erica

Grade 6 Up-This set is as comprehensive as it is beautiful. Animals are photographed up close in their natural environment and meticulous drawings are artistically placed. Organization is logical, with each volume containing mammals grouped by family and habitat, such as sea mammals, primates, marsupials, and ruminant (horned) herbivores. Species within a family are listed in each introduction and in the back of the volume but main entries feature only predominate members. Insectivores and Bats states that one-quarter of all known mammal species are bats; a lengthy general section devoted to common features is followed by nine individual portraits. Habitat, feeding habits, reproduction, and relationship to humankind are presented in a readable, narrative style and numerous interesting facts will invite browsing. Only wild animals are included, though domesticated species such as horses, cattle, and llamas are described in introductory essays within the appropriate family. A data panel for each entry presents such facts-at-a-glance as classification, size, diet, population status (specific numbers and risk of endangerment), along with a distribution map. Useful wildlife-organization, club, and museum Web sites (general and volume specific) are listed in each book. This well-organized and wonderfully designed resource will appeal to a range of ages and is easier to use than Maurice and Robert Burton's International Wildlife Encyclopedia (Marshall Cavendish, 2002).
Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Grolier has released Mammals, the first cluster of a five-set World of Animals collection intended for the middle-school level and up.

Closely related mammals with similar lifestyles are grouped in 10 volumes. For example, volume 6 covers ruminant herbivores, and volume 10 covers marsupials. Each 128-page volume follows a well-organized format. In clear, concise text intermingled with many color photographs and illustrations, information is presented in three types of articles. The first, introducing major animal groups such as ruminants and marsupials, emphasizes similarities. The second provides overviews of families or closely related groups like deer and their relatives and American opossums. A third type, which constitutes the bulk of the text, with articles ranging from two to six pages, describes individual^B species such as the Muntjac and the Virginia opossum. More than 250 animals are covered. The vivid, detailed photographs and illustrations alone provide great pictorial data that would satisfy the investigation of a younger learner. Cross-referencing--located in the bottom margin--denotes animal, volume, and page number, making additional searching easier. Each volume concludes with a volume-specific species list and glossary, lists of further reading and Web sites, and a full set index.

Especially noteworthy is the feature called a "data panel." Placed on the introductory page for each individual animal, the panel includes the common and scientific names, family, order, size (in imperial units and metric equivalent), a visual comparison of an adult mammal and a six-foot tall human being, key features (habits, breeding, voice, diet, habitat, distribution, and International Union for the Conservation of Nature status), and a locator map showing the normal range. Solid information is presented for the most minimal inquiry. Volumes have reinforced bindings, a critical feature because it is predictable that this set will be used frequently based on traditional grades 6-12 curricula.

Public schools and libraries should plan to include this and future World of Animals publications in their yearly budgets. Subsequent sets--each also consisting of 10 volumes--will cover birds, insects and other invertebrates, fish, and amphibians and reptiles. RBB
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