Animal Senses (Spyglass Books)

Kindergarten-Grade 2-These texts, which consist of two to four sentences per page, are so simplistic and rambling that confusion reigns. Each spread has a full-page digital color photo, but some of the pictures are not of good quality. In both titles, unfamiliar terms are boldfaced and defined in the glossary, but not in context. In Animal Senses, the first chapter implies that some animals use senses other than the standard five. Two pages of "Fun Facts" appear at the end of the book. In Farm Friends, two of the animals seem to be all head, and the cover photo shows cows wearing bells, which is not likely in the U.S. The first chapter displays the silhouette of a 1950s vintage tractor, while the chapter on chickens features a photo of a rooster. Barn-shaped boxes with a fact and sometimes a photo are included on each text page. These volumes are not worth their shelf space.
Eldon Younce, Harper Elementary School, KS
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