Reading Level: Kindergarten Interest Level: Grades PreK – 2
Whales are huge ocean mammals! Beginning readers can learn about these awe-inspiring animals through literacy-focused text and crisp photos in this low-level title. Special features introduce different types of whales, while a diagram highlights important body parts to reinforce the text. Young students new to independent reading will have a whale of a time with this engaging title!
These introductory titles focus almost exclusively on the main physical features of an animal group. Sharks, for example, identifies fins, gills, and teeth, with facts about the function of each part: “Sharks have fins. Tail fins make sharks go.” This limits the breadth of information but also keeps the text easily digestible for readers who are just beginning to read nonfiction. Simple vocabulary and basic sentence structure, paired with large, double-spaced type, also aids accessibility. Layouts feature a full-page photograph and bubble-like circles on each spread. These are generally not dynamic but provide useful examples of the featured body part, often noted with captions. Smaller insets depict details of species and foods. VERDICT Appealing additions to nonfiction collections for new readers.
