The World's Biggest Animals

Each book introduces the class of animals in question before moving on to two chapters, each of which focuses on a different “biggest” animal. Basic info, with an emphasis on size, is provided. The authors employ child-friendly comparisons: school buses, cars, and average child or adult weight or height are frequent standards. “Did You Know?” insets extend the facts, while labels, simple graphs, and a world range map add value. Photos are clear and well chosen. A final graphic contrasts the height, weight, or length of one or both of the animals with humans, inviting further exploration. A quick “Try This!” activity that concludes each volume continues the math integration. VERDICT Young readers will find both the topic and treatment inviting as they are encouraged to interact with the text through questions and extensions.

In these bright introductions for emergent readers, close-up photos of delighted looking children using their senses in easy to understand ways (“Eli smells his stinky feet. Ew! He knows he needs a bath.”) accompany short, explanatory notes in large type. Though the amount of detail is skimpy (smell is said to be triggered by “scent bits,” and the fifth taste, umami, is not mentioned in Tasting), each volume does close with a simplified but recognizable graphic depiction of the relevant sense organ featuring (nontechnical) labels. Each also ends with a leading question—a ploy that Rustad flubs in Smelling with a confusing “What things do you smell? What do they tell you?” but elsewhere are sure to spark animated discussions. An excellent alternative or replacement for Katie Dicker’s “Sparklers: My Senses” series (Black Rabbit, 2010).