Capybaras

The stone-faced gaze of the world's largest rodent greets readers from the cover of this title in the Super Species series. A quick turn to the text reveals that the capybara weighs roughly the same as three beavers and can grow as tall as a standard poodle. After describing its physical appearance, the text offers a glimpse of capybara life, where readers learn that this South and Central American creature loves the water see the close-up photo of its webbed foot and communicates with a range of noises. A final, adorable spread on capybara pups concludes. Youngsters will love poring over the crisp, oversize photos that occupy each long, horizontal two-page spread, and the simple, large-type sentences are ideal for emergent readers. An attractive introduction to the nonfiction format, as well as to a subject guaranteed to fascinate.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist

Gr 1-3-Each of the six featured species is distinguished by length, height, or weight-sometimes all of the above. Three to four sentences per page accompany a single photograph covering more than half of each spread. Much of the content focuses on the animal's size. Facts and figures are supported by helpful comparisons: the 3.5-ounce weight of a goliath beetle, for example, becomes more impressive when readers learn it is heavier than a robin. Students also discover how extreme size helps each animal to survive. Large, clear photos provide strong reinforcement for the simple facts. In Ostriches, for instance, successive pages provide great examples of head, legs, feet, wings, and eggs. Though size is the main topic, additional areas, such as food and life cycles, are included, while a closing "More Facts" page adds a few more bits of data. VERDICT Excellent introductions to particularly interesting animals. Recommended. © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.