Family A peek-through picture book

An up close and personal glimpse into the lives of various animal families. Courtesy of see-through holes on each page, children will get a sense of how some of these creatures live, love, and provide ever-watchful protection for each other in the wild. Narrated in gentle, lilting verse that will be easy enough for the youngest audiences to understand, the book also offers an introduction to names for animal groups: "A herd of elephants cross the trail, / Steadily walking, trunk to tail." "Baby lions stay close to their mother. / This pride will care for one another." Youngsters will derive great comfort and satisfaction knowing that animal families, whether on land, in trees, or underwater, stick closely together, providing love, warmth, defense, and guidance--just as readers' own families do. This delightful book, originally published in the U.K., covers familiar, beloved creatures that live in a variety of habitats, including gorillas, owls, polar bears, manatees, and more. Notably, readers will also see male parents serving important, nurturing roles in their youngsters' lives and development--a father emperor penguin keeps his eggs warm, while a male wolf goes out hunting "to feed his playful, hungry brood." The lush, heavily textured illustrations reflect the animals' natural behaviors, coloring, and habitats by day or night. Warm and soothing--the very epitome of family.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.