It's a Good Thing There Are Snakes

K-Gr 2--These books open with a short list of "good things" that each animal contributes to the ecosystem opens these books. Bats, for example, eat insects and spread pollen and seeds. The content then shifts to more general information about physical features, life cycles, and habitats. Full-page photos of mostly high quality match the simple text effectively, aided by useful labels. Interesting details are judiciously woven into the broader overviews, some within the main text and others through "fun facts" insets. The titular "good things" return in a concluding spread, which restates the benefits, using effectively captioned photos. An additional "creature feature fun" section includes riddles, an activity suggestion, and more facts, along with photos. The theme of creatures helping the world may draw curious readers, while the solid presentation of information introduces each animal at a level that works for new readers.

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 2--These books open with a short list of "good things" that each animal contributes to the ecosystem opens these books. Bats, for example, eat insects and spread pollen and seeds. The content then shifts to more general information about physical features, life cycles, and habitats. Full-page photos of mostly high quality match the simple text effectively, aided by useful labels. Interesting details are judiciously woven into the broader overviews, some within the main text and others through "fun facts" insets. The titular "good things" return in a concluding spread, which restates the benefits, using effectively captioned photos. An additional "creature feature fun" section includes riddles, an activity suggestion, and more facts, along with photos. The theme of creatures helping the world may draw curious readers, while the solid presentation of information introduces each animal at a level that works for new readers.