Sponges Are Skeletons: Stage 2 (Let'S-Read-And-Find-Out Science Book)

Explains how sponges are animals that live in the ocean and how they are harvested and used by humans

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Most kids do not bathe with natural sponges, but that is the jumping off point for this bubbly introduction. The pen-and-ink and watercolor cartoon illustrations are bright and jaunty. The narrative superficially describes the physical characteristics of the natural sponge. Past and present tenses are mixed throughout as are the you, we, us and it voices as Esbensen describes different types of sponges and how they are harvested and prepared for use. The natural environment of the sponge is described and illustrated with no mention of the realities of habitat destruction, over gathering, and other environmental issues. A colorful but marginal purchase.
Frances E. Millhouser, Reston Regional Library, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A ``Let's-Read-and-Find-Out'' book that's cheerful and colorful, if a bit odd: Esbensen describes the sponge as the skeleton of an animal, but gives few specifics on the live animal; she remarks that ``When the sponge was alive, it pumped sea water through its thousands of small pores,'' but never explains how. Not until page 24 does she point out that most ``sponges'' are not skeletons of animals but made in factories. Keller's charming illustrations include many softly colored underwater scenes of bath sponges, divers, and fish. But even in such a simple presentation, young readers could be told more about the 5,000-plus species of unique and ancient animals that make up the phylum Porifera. (Nonfiction. 5-9) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 1-4. A new addition to the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out series, this book explains how some bath sponges are actually the skeletons of animals that have been harvested by divers from the ocean floor. Typical of the highly regarded series, the presentation is both lively and informative. "Sploosh! Splash! Dribble! Time to squeeze a skeleton." The text is simple and thought provoking, and the illustrations are bright and animated. Esbensen does strike a somewhat jarring, if realistic, note by stressing that sponges are beautiful living animals ("No two living sponges are ever exactly the same shape.") while at the same time promoting their harvest for use as bath sponges ("A sponge is especially good for washing because it holds more water than a washcloth. . . . The sponges die and their skins rot. The smell is terrible--whew!"). Otherwise, this book is a very child-friendly examination of an interesting creature and its use by humans. Annie Ayres