Zoo Clues

Using puzzle pieces and one sentence observations, the books in this series capture the reader’s attention with real-life photography. The puzzle pieces help the reader guess the little-known animal featured. The brief sentences are helpful for new or struggling readers. At the end of each book are facts about the animals, such as where they are from or their size in relation to a human. The colorful pictures will help to guide the reader to important facts in the text. Each book features a different animal, giving the reader little hints and facts about the animal. Recommended.

Simple vocabulary and concise sentences make this series accessible, while the guessing-game format gives it panache. Each book begins with a brightly colored photo on the cover that reveals only the body part from the title. The opening spread reminds readers to look at each body part (eyes, teeth, ears, etc.), and a short sentence or two describes the mystery animal part by part, spread by spread. Finally, the mystery animal is uncovered at the end. A superimposed jigsaw outline reinforces visual skills, both emphasizing and obscuring animal parts. The highlighted animals are not the standard early-elementary fare (among the offerings are lemurs, Komodo dragons, and giant anteaters), adding to the suspense and building curiosity. Additional features include a facts table and a map. This series will leave young readers wanting more-not a bad thing when it comes to developing reading skills. Give beginning readers the nonfiction they crave with “Zoo Clues,” “Miniature Animal Marvels,” and “Fetch.” The open layout, engaging photos, and solid information presented here will keep these titles flying off the shelves. For the intermediate crowd, selections become more serious. These series almost universally mention the growing extinction tragedy, setting them apart from many comparable books. “Real Life Sea Monsters” blends the fear factor with solid information while avoiding the macabre. For those looking for books on endangered creatures, “Animals in Danger” is the way to go, with Birds and Mammals offering the best of the bunch. If motivation for community action is needed, these may provide inspiration.