This new series encourages children to look closely at nature and helps them to understand how nature works from what they see. The reader can turn "nature detective" in the garden, in the town, in the country or by the sea. The books focus on the clues that young readers are most likely to find, from feathers and footprints to berries and seeds. The clues act as starting points to introduce the reader to the lives of the plants and animals that left the clues. This book looks closely at the flowers, leaves and fruits of different types of plants, from garden flowers to wild flowers, water plants to trees so that young readers will discover how plants germinate and move through their life cycles. Their adaptation to different habitats and the part they play in various eco-systems is also investigated.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
From School Library Journal:
Grade 5-7?These series entries introduce their subjects in a small-size format that, at first glance, appears designed for younger readers. The spare texts succinctly describe the origins and development of birds and plants, but the vocabulary and concepts are best suited for older students. Birds is arranged by type of diet (seedeaters, fruit eaters, fish eaters, etc.) rather than by individual species as in Alexandra Parsons's Amazing Birds (Knopf, 1990). Plants is arranged by habitat and adaptation instead of type as in Wendy Baker and Andrew Haslam's Plants (Aladdin, 1993). Both books then cover reproduction and environmental/ecological threats. The writing is clear, with one topic flowing naturally into the next. The outline nature of the texts leads to the omission of some details but those included compensate to give a lively presentation of the big picture. Each title also features a two-sided fold-out: an Andean Condor and cutaway anatomical drawing of a parrot (Birds) and a towering silver fir and horse chestnut trees (Plants). "Amazing Facts" are appended; e.g., "Owls can spot a mouse from a distance of over 3,000 feet when it is almost completely dark," and the rafflesia has flowers that "reach up to 3 feet in diameter and smell like rotting flesh." Although there are many books available on the subjects, these attractive additions stand out for their layout and full-color illustrations.?Frances E. Millhouser, Chantilly Regional Library, VA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherFranklin Watts Ltd
- Publication date1992
- ISBN 10 0749606916
- ISBN 13 9780749606916
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages32
- IllustratorDanny Flynn