Review
'The Animal Life Cycles series takes a commonly studied elementary science concept and makes it attractive with high-quality color photos of animals in their natural environments. The large photos work along side short, straightforward text to describe each stage of an animal's development. Each volume opens with a quick introduction to the type of animal and its habitat, and includes several vibrant charts that depict a visual summary of the life cycle, as well as the animal's dura tion, size, and diet in each stage. Frog emphasizes the varying physical characteristics of each stage of a frog's development, from the soft, round shape of eggs to the large head and loss of tail in the adult frog. Ladybug concentrates on the insect's diet and activities to transform from larva to pupa and finally, a mature ladybug. Penguin explains these birds' eating habits as chicks and development into skilled fishers, as well as the molting of their down as they grow waterproof feathers. Sea Horse spotlights some of the numerous species of this tiny fish, its elaborate courtship rituals, and how male sea horses store eggs in their brood pouches. A glossary and list of follow-up resources conclude this solid, eye-catching series for beginning readers.', Angela Leeper, Booklist
