Manatees (Our Wild World) - Softcover

Grade 3-5-There is plenty to interest both report writers and animal lovers in these books. Although there are no chapter divisions or sections, information is fairly well organized and accessible through the index. Both volumes include some historical background on the animals and information about physical characteristics; habitat; living, feeding, and breeding habits; growth of offspring; and fascinating "Funfacts." Some terms are written phonetically within the texts to help with pronunciation. Many large, clear photos alternate with color drawings. Some captions repeat information provided in the texts or in other captions (more so in Bison than in Manatees). A few photos in Bison are not placed near related text. Manatees are presented as friendly, curious mammals; unusual photos of them include one of an open-mouthed sea cow cleaning its teeth on the anchor rope of a boat. The massive size and strength of both individual bison and a herd are apparent in both written description and photographs. An appended listing of Internet sites is the same in both volumes. Jean H. Sibbald's The Manatee (Dillon, 1990; o.p.) is similar in content to Feeney's book, but speaks more about human threats to manatees. Kathy Darling's Manatee: On Location (Lothrop, 1991) is much more descriptive. Dorothy Hinshaw Patent's Buffalo: The American Bison Today (Turtleback, 1986) is more detailed and highly readable, but is for an older audience.
Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.