Several interesting facts about 101 various animal babies engage readers of all ages.  The amphibian, axolotl, never develops beyond the larva stage.  The largemouth bass male digs a nest with his tail.  Dolphin calves have babysitters when Mom goes off to feed.  Baby elephants often suck the end of their trunks much like baby humans sucking their thumbs!  For each baby, there is one large and one small photograph.  The pages are colorful and appealing.  Readers will enjoy flipping from animal to animal, learning many fascinating facts about many cute babies.

This introductory text to the food group “meat and protein”  is quite basic for preschoolers.  It identifies meat, beans, fish, eggs and nuts as food that we eat to be protein healthy. After explaining where all of these come from, we are told that these foods can keep us healthy (especially our blood), help us grow, and give us energy.  Fat in some meat is to be avoided…(photo of a hamburger and fries).  The out-dated food pyramid is shown to inform kids to eat foods from each food group.  Each two page spread has a close-and-up-front photo with one sentence underneath each photo.  Information  seems almost  too elementary, even for preschoolers.  The notes to parents and teachers in the Back Matter help suggestions for discussions that I think could have been included in the book, itself…such as…”Discuss the fact that some people do not eat meat and fish…some people do not eat meat, fish,  eggs, or dairy.”   Also…”Some people do not eat certain types of meat, or only meat that has been prepared in a certain way because of their religious beliefs.”  Students these days seem to be more informed that these books assume.  My three year old granddaughter would maybe get only one new concept from this costly publication.  Picture Glossary (three words) and Index are included in the Back Matter.

Orq is a cave boy and he loves his pet wooly mammoth, Woma.  This mother does not.  He sheds, stinks, and is not housebroken.  Orq decides to teach Woma tricks to endear him to Mom.  Things to not go well and Mom is unimpressed.  One day, Orq is playing mighty hunter, only to find he was also being hunted – by a saber-tooth tiger!  Woma comes to the rescue and Mom gratefully welcomes Woma into the cave.  Elliott’s humorous, sparse cave talk is wonderfully paired with Nichols’s large, simple, lightly colored pencil drawings.  Orq’s love for Woma is shown by big red hearts.  Emotions are comically expressive.  In the background, a family of prehistoric birds share Orq’s love of Woma and add another dimension to this funny, enjoyable story.

We are off on a trip to the Serengeti Plain of Africa!

Irene Latham’s 15 poems of the African savanna accompanied by their 15 paragraphs of background information make this book a treasure for poets, adventurers, biologists, and  geographers with each turn of the page.

Anna Wadham’s colorful muted backgrounds make the often-time brown hues’ of the animals pop off of the pages.

Latham’s poems, most often written in couplets,  vividly describe the actions and behaviors of the animals. The poems come one to a page with its background piece on the opposite page just before the page turn. Topics include: the watering hole, impalas, a variety of snakes, meerkats, oxpeckers, giraffe, zebras, dung beetles, bush willow, wildebeest, rhino, lioness, nightjar, and a couple more.

Dylan is fearless in sports, his favorite being ice hockey.  Just before school started, he fell while attempting a trick on his in-line skates and broke his wrist.  Ten weeks later, his cast is off but he has missed most of the practices.  He talks his coach into letting him play only to find his whole arm hurts when he tries to hit his power shots.  He is mad and sullen when the coach benches him.  Moping about not being to help his team, he is not sure why he should even suit up.  His friend, Nick, convinces him to watch the other team and give them advice on how to play better.  Dylan is surprised and grateful that he could help his team from the bench.  His observations pay off and his team wins.  Black and white illustrations support the story.  Includes glossary, discussion questions, writing prompts, as well as extra paragraphs about hockey positions and famous people who play them.

Salamanders are described in meaningful detail.  The life cycle, from egg to adult, contains clear information.  Appropriate scientific language is used to explain each step.  Photos on every page are up-close and vibrant.  Food for salamanders are identified, as well as how and when they hunt and how prey is caught and swallowed.  Mating, which continues the life cycle, is briefly and suitably described.  A story diagram concludes and reviews the process.  Words in bold font are defined in the glossary.  Other books to read are written at a similar reading level.  Two websites and an index are included

Gordon Guinea Pig guides a potential owner through everything one should know before owning a guinea pig as a pet.  Beginning with types of guinea pigs and where to find them, one learns how to prepare a home for them.  A variety of correct foods and plenty of water keep them healthy.  Guinea pigs are active and need safe places to play and explore.  Signs that a guinea pig needs veterinary care are listed.  Extra facts and tips are given along with a glossary, index, websites, and additional books to read.  When considering purchasing a guinea pig for a pet, this book provides a good balance of fun and daily responsibilities.  Illustrations are a mixture of colorful cartoon images and photographs.  Photographs are carelessly “taped” to the page – possibly to add kid appeal.  All told, this is a useful resource for those interested in guinea pigs.

Beginning in her studio, Miss Sylvie teaches dance to youthful students – the best job in the world.  A young girl, Isabelle, peers around the studio door with a strong desire to become a ballerina.  Isabelle practices ballet long and hard, ignoring other dance forms.  Her friends eventually drop out, but Isabelle continues ballet and eventually joins a Dance Academy.  She improves until, at last, she becomes a prima ballerina.  After many years of dancing around the world, she decides to retire and come home.  Her first visit is with Miss Sylvie, ready to become a teacher.  Isabelle buys the studio from Miss Sylvie and settles into teaching dance, the best job in the world.  “And then one day, a young girl peers through the studio door…”  The rich, pastel watercolor illustrations on white pages beautifully depict the elation, hard work, and loveliness of the craft.  A tribute to those who find joy in dance and to those who teach and inspire others.

The author zeros in on the effect our hands have played in the development of the most useful tools we need to  function in our everyday lives.  For example, our hands were the first “handy” set of chipsticks for picking up foods…and a primitive visor before baseball caps were designed…and the first fan to keep ourselves cool.  Indeed, nature is the mother of much invention.  Written in rhyme that engages the ear…and fabulous photos that engages the eyes, this text begs to be read aloud to a small group of preschoolers.

With an Introduction by Ben Fogle who spent forty-nine days rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, as well as spending a year living on an unhabited island, plus an author who is a trekker and climber you can learn how to survive in the wilderness, whether it’s the arctic, the desert, the jungle, or your own backyard.  I commend the kid friendly, graphic design with colorful illustrations and photos.    Learn how to plot a map, make a waterproof shelter, navigate using the stars, leave tracking signals, and bake high energy survival snacks.  Each chapter includes hands-activities.  For example, the Desert Chapter ends with how to build a solar still, and a water filter from natural materials.  Also, each chapter ends with real survival stories that can be quite riveting.  The last chapter  includes Tips, Warnings, Trivia and a Survival Quiz.  If you only need one survival guide in your collection…this is the one!