Vampire Bats and Other Creatures of the Night (Young Observer)

Discusses the creatures that live in darkness, bats and other animals that fly at night, and other animals that hide from the light, and provides answers to questions in each subject area

Gr 3-5--These attractively formatted surveys give brief descriptions of major physical or behaviorial characteristics of dozens of species. Short paragraphs of text wrap around vivid drawings of the animals discussed. Boxed inserts offer additional tidbits of information on assorted creatures, as well as historical anecdotes, folklore, and legends. A ``Young Observers Quiz,'' consisting of eight multiple-choice questions, follows each chapter, with answers at the end of the books. In addition to the realistic illustrations, there are a number of cartoons, mostly in the quiz sections. A few are unnecessarily grotesque. Also, the text of Tiger Sharks is flawed by occasional oversimplification. For instance, the text refers to spiders as ``meat-eaters,'' a misleading statement as they must liquefy prey before they can feed. Another passage asserts that black widow spiders ``...like to spin webs across toilet seats. Ouch!''--this information is both sensationalized and incomplete. Vampire Bats succinctly outlines the major reasons why various animals are nocturnal and is by far the superior title. Susanne Whayne's Night Creatures (S.&S., 1993) provides more detailed information on many, but not all, of the same species. Stick with the Steele.

Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library

Copyright 1996 Cahners Business Information, Inc.