Grizzlies (True Books: Animals)

Gr 3-4--Colorful, plentiful photos; large typeface; and ample use of white space are trademarks of this series. Glossaries, indexes, and further sources of information (including on-line sites) are standard. As a manufactured package, the books are attractive, nonintimidating, and, for the most part, on high-interest subjects. However, there are certain drawbacks such as a tendency toward oversimplification. Badgers is a readable introduction to the American species to this sturdy Mustelid (although one photo depicts a pair of Eurasian badgers). Information includes the animals' physical characteristics, lifestyle, breeding, and survival. Carl Green and William Sanford's The Badger (Crestwood, 1986) provides most of the data found here, but readers may enjoy a new presentation. Grizzlies does much the same for these large brown bears but has a couple of problems. Statements like grizzlies "catch and kill such prey as fish and small animals" and they "may also prey on cattle or sheep" are rather disparate, and to say that "during hibernation, the grizzly's body temperature drops to less than 10 degrees Fahrenheit" conjures up images of a furry bear-icicle. (Actually, the temperature drops about 10 degrees Fahrenheit from normal, bears not being true hibernators.) Otherwise, a serviceable title, but if you own Michio Hoshino's The Grizzly Bear Family Book (North-South, 1994) or Lynn Stone's Grizzlies (Carolrhoda, 1993), don't discard them.

Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY

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