Review by Booklist Review
K^-Gr. 3. Do ducks have teeth? How many seeds does a pumpkin have? Prereaders and older children will find the answers to these and other simple questions about animal and plant growth in this exceptionally fine series. The high-quality, vivid color photos will immediately attract kids, and many of the pictures appear life-size. The photos don't always give a sense of scale, but they usually provide enough context to avoid confusing even young children. The information is set down on bright white pages in extralarge, well-spaced type, making it easy to read, and the concepts are very clearly explained. Some content-specific words (fertilized, pollen, etc.) are printed in boldface and then redefined in a glossary. These word choices are well thought out, a big change from many series where boldface terms often seem arbitrarily chosen. Chapter heads, in even larger type than the main text, are made to order for the very young; each one adds a piece to a "story-within-a-story" that can be read on its own. A visual reprise of photos in the book makes up a "Life Cycle" page, giving children a chance to review what they have learned--for reinforcement or fun. A great way to introduce science in the classroom and out. --Stephanie Zvirin
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Dorling Kindersley, prolific creator of such successes as the Eyewitness series (Knopf), has done it again. It would take a hard heart indeed to resist the winsome juveniles depicted in this See How They Grow series--baby photographs to gladden the heart of any proud mother. Equally delicious are the texts, which impart a goodly share of child-oriented information in painless fashion. Little ones will easily relate to these creatures' birth and growth through the creative use of ``first-person'' accounts--``I have chipped away my shell, and now I am pushing myself out,'' says the duckling. Each spread is devoted to a single condition or activity pertinent to the book's subject--the kitten's concerns include ``Cuddling'' and ``Looking after myself,'' while the duckling discourses on ``New feathers'' and ``First swim.'' In horizontal borders at the tops and bottoms of the pages artful, miniature drawings portray events in each life cycle. Winning beginnings. Ages 5-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-- Excellent introductions to the development of four animals from birth to maturity. The texts are easy without being oversimplified or overly anthropomorphized, despite the fact that they are told from the individual animals' point of view. Each step is accurately described in a few words per page; the last two pages show a recap of the entire process. The full-color photograph cutouts on white backgrounds reflect clearly the information in the text. Additionally, each double-page spread has borders of full-color drawings of the featured animal engaging in natural activities. The pages are thick and sturdy, and are sure to attract young children. Public libraries should find these books useful for parents looking for first books to read to their babies. Nursery school teachers and caregivers of toddlers will find them helpful as a source of information and enjoyment. --Kay McPherson, Central Atlanta-Fulton Public Library (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
A duckling's birth and development are explored in a text presented in two parts. Younger or less experienced readers can choose to look at the crisp color photos and read a single sentence. More experienced readers can delve into the longer explanation provided. However, the photographs chosen don't amplify or extend the text, and the overall effect is bland. Glos., ind. (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.
