National Geographic Readers: Great Migrations Amazing Animal Journeys

March 1, 2011

K-Gr 3-Dynamic full-color photographs, informative writing, and consistent organization work well together in these volumes. Identified by the publisher as "level 3" easy-to-read books, the material ties in with a National Geographic Channel TV program. Each selection has an eye-catching cover, text grouped under headings, plenty of photos that vary in size, and clear maps. Amazing Animal Journeys explains the migration patterns of zebras, red crabs, and walruses. Butterflies concentrates on migration characteristics of monarch butterflies found in the eastern United States, Canada, and Mexico. A noteworthy series of images document a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis. Elephants turns to the migration habits of African elephants, and sperm whales are the focus of Whales. Along with the many photographs, the fascinating details are supported by boxes of related information, helpful definitions of new terms, and a sprinkling of entertaining jokes/riddles. Animal silhouettes embellish the page numbers. In a few instances, photos have been repeated from volume to volume. Small pictures are a helpful accompaniment to the glossary definitions. These titles have potential as sources for reports, recreational reading for newly independent readers, and attractive browsing items to spark student interest.-Lynn Vanca, Freelance Librarian, Akron, OH

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2010
Grades 2-4 Based on TVs Great Migrations series, this slender book opens by introducing the term migration and the three animals to be discussed. Each 12-page chapter focuses on one species, with a number of excellent color photos showing the animals in their habitats as well as a clearly written, large-print text commenting on their lives, their reasons for migrating, and threats to their survival. The zebras of Botswana migrate between the river basin and far-flung water holes, depending on the availability of water and food. The red crabs on Christmas Island must travel from their forest home to the ocean to lay their eggs. Finally, Pacific walruses migrate between the Chukchi Sea and the Bering Sea as the ice changes with the seasons. With text, borders, illustrations, and patterned backgrounds as well as boxes carrying riddles, factoids, or additional information, the pages sometimes look crowded. Still, this book is a colorful supplemental title for science collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)