Top 10 Birds of Prey

April 1, 2012

Gr 2-4-With lurid cover photos of gaping or beady-eyed predators, these melodramatic browsing items introduce 10 fear-inducing animals using an arbitrary countdown structure. Sandwiched between opening overviews of each type of animal and a closing page on some related topic (such as recommended first-aid procedures in Snakes, Marine Animals, and Minibeasts), bursts of pithy text and basic facts share space on each spread with dramatic photos and photorealistic digital images of animals on the hunt. From the great white shark (placed at just number six in Marine Animals) to the Japanese giant hornet (number one in Minibeasts, ahead of the deathstalker scorpion and the goliath birdeater tarantula), there is something rousingly nightmarish waiting in these pages for young readers looking more for entertainment than information.

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2012
This book begins with an introduction to birds of prey, including "threats to survival" and a wingspan chart. Ten different species are then profiled on busy double-page spreads. Each spread includes discussion of the bird's hunting style and its "deadliest" physical features. The information is accessible, and the large captioned photos are engaging, but the frenetic design may prove overwhelming for less-confident readers. Glos., ind.

(Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)