Animal Architects

Inviting readers to view the natural world as a "construction zone," Cherrix (In the Shadow of the Moon) looks at animals, insects, and invertebrates that build unusual dwelling places. Ants, bees, and termites construct ingenious hives in these pages; an alert-looking harvest mouse uses grass to weave a nest suspended between reeds; a bowerbird festoons its bower to attract a mate. Each highlighted species receives two spreads with text that provides plenty of chewy factoids (a beaver "can gnaw through a tall tree in just three minutes!"). Levels of detail vary, however: text about the Great Barrier Reef mentions that "tiny larvae have been building" it, but not how, while pages on the trapdoor spider detail its hunting mechanism: when an insect steps on strands that "fan out from the burrow... the burrow vibrates like a silent doorbell." Similarly, layered art by Sasaki (Sakamoto's Swim Club) focuses on visual impact and natural beauty, sometimes over architectural process (a finished beaver dam is pictured in stylized forms that may be difficult for young readers to scan, while an ant colony and prairie dog town provide more granular detail). A bibliography points to resources with more information. Ages 3-8. Author's agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Erin Murphy Literary. Illustrator's agent: Kirsten Hall, Catbird Productions. (Sept.)■

PreS-Gr 1--We live in a construction zone! That's what Cherrix tells readers in this look at the structures built by 11 different animals. Tiny larvae build the Great Barrier Reef; trapdoor spiders build insect traps to collect meals; male satin bowerbirds build elaborate sculptures out of twigs, called bowers, to attract a mate; ants dig complex tunnels; penguins build nests out of pebbles. All around us, animals are busy building homes, nests, tunnels, mounds, and more. Sasaki's lush, digital artwork is resplendent, with swift-moving strokes that produce lively movement on the page. Cherrix's prose is peppered with facts that describe what readers are seeing, while also evoking awe of the complex, often beautiful, structures, and just how talented these architects of the animal world are. Children will enjoy meeting new animals and learning their behaviors. Back matter includes further reading to keep young naturalists intrigued. VERDICT An appealing choice for story times.--Jessica Schriver, Rutgers Univ., Camden, NJ