Review by Booklist Review
Gr. 2-4. Like National Geographic's nonfiction Destination books, these fiction titles in the Wild Habitat series describe locations with you-are-there immediacy. Both follow an endangered species through its day. Koala, the stronger of the two titles, explains marsupial eating, sleeping, mating, and parenting habits. These functions are woven into descriptions of the forest that encourage children to study the art and match the piecutes to the names of the flora and fauna in the text. World follows a snow leopard as it stalks prey (mostly without success) through mountain terrain. Descriptions are slightly text-heavy, and the paintings (by Paul Kratter) are muted and less alluring than the vivid close-up paintings by James McKinnon in Koala. The story format delivers plenty of facts, especially about the food chains in both habitats, and closing notes address the fragility of the landscapes. --Gillian Engberg
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Readers follow an animal through its waking time, seeing the flora and fauna that are part of its habitat and watching its daily activity until it goes to sleep. In Koala, children are introduced to a joey as he makes his first, tentative forays away from his mother. In Nagda's book, a two-year-old snow leopard has recently left her mother and searches for food. Handsome realistic illustrations share equal prominence with the texts and help readers visualize the ecosystem about which they are reading. A double-page foldout spread at the end of each book identifies the plants and animals that have been introduced. Both authors write clearly and the "day in the life of" pattern makes the narratives enjoyable as well as informative. McKinnon uses a colorful palette in his vivid illustrations of the eucalyptus forest and its denizens. Kratter employs earth tones and subdued colors in his pictures of the Himalayan mountainside. His art makes it easy to see how the snow leopard's coat provides camouflage. While there is no dearth of material about animal habitats, these titles will be welcomed as solid additions to science collections.-Louise L. Sherman, formerly at Anna C. Scott School, Leonia, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
During the course of a single day, a female snow leopard attempts to catch a variety of prey. Told from the young snow leopard's point of view, the detailed text manages to introduce many aspects of the Himalayan ecosystem. Accurate, realistic illustrations and a picture glossary at the back present a clear view of the flora and fauna of the Himalayas. From HORN BOOK Fall 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.