Review by Booklist Review
True to its name, the How Nature Works series (2 new titles) aims to explain elements of the natural world and how they function. That's an enormous topic, but a common thread of inviting writing and a critical-thinking focus tie these very different volumes nicely together. After explaining the difference between poisonous and venomous creatures, Don't Mess with Me profiles a vast array of marine animals capable of injecting toxins into their prey. The engaging, occasionally suspenseful paragraphs relate directly to the beautiful photos of underwater animals, which range from the familiar blue ringed octopus, box jellyfish, stingray to the newly discovered such as the blind remipede, the only known venomous crustacean. Both volumes boast appealing layouts, accessible writing, and specific scientific terms, all of which are defined in a closing glossary. With higher-level vocabulary and concepts in an invitingly visual package, these slim volumes are perfect for students making their ways into more advanced nonfiction.--Sarah Hunter Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Ewww! Erickson's friendly, informative overview of venomous sea creatures, accompanied by Martinez's vivid close-ups leans heavily on the ick factor. Readers will learn about common creatures from all six phyla: protective mechanisms, scientific name, size, range, and diet. The author makes references to author Arthur Conan Doyle and venom researcher Baldamero Olivera and briefly touches on the problem of invasive species. He does not, however, discuss the effect of global climate change and warming seas-not even noting the danger of jellyfish blooms. Students seeking in-depth information on this and other topics can use the book's bibliography, which lists several reliable sources. VERDICT An eye-catching and pleasingly gross introduction to venomous sea creatures, with extremely helpful back matter.-Sheri Reda, Wilmette Public Library, IL © Copyright 2019. 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
Erickson profiles venomous residents of the sea, including colorful and dangerous corals, anemones, rays, jellies, and worms. Additional sidebar information about species interactions, warnings about the effects of toxins on humans, and vocabulary-heavy details about the underlying science are included. The excellent photographs capture the details of each organism, and diagrams help explain their defense mechanisms. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos. (c) Copyright 2019. 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.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A sampling of the more than 12,000 varieties of stinging creatures that live in the ocean.Striking photographs and informative text introduce venomous ocean-dwellers in six different phyla: cnidarians, mollusks, annelids, arthropods, echinoderms, and chordates. This organization by increasing complexity is what's used in the bulk of the text and in the backmatter, which offers fast facts about the 28 different species described in this tempting title. After opening with a description of an iconic examplethe greater blue-ringed octopus, whose bite can kill a personErickson clears up the usual confusion between "poisonous" and "venomous" and presents a detailed explanation of how anemones, sea jellies, and coral can sting. He goes on, now following the phylum order, to introduce a variety of other sea creatures including bloodworms, the blind remipede (the first known venomous crustacean), the crown of thorns sea star, the bluespotted stingray, the reef stonefish, and the lionfish. Most spreads include a boxed text headed "How Nature Works," which may describe open scientific questions, settled theories, or applications. Erickson doesn't pander to his readers: He uses appropriate terminology. Martinez's clearly captioned photographs show the creatures in their habitats; there are also diagrams and microscope images. Colorful pages and varied design add interest.Though the text in this entry in an admirable series may be challenging for young readers, the subject has guaranteed kid appeal. (timeline, further resources, glossary) (Nonfiction. 9-14) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
