ANIMALS NOBODY LOVES |
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REVIEWS:
BOOKLIST, Stephanie Zvirin.
Gr. 4-6. The photos (and even the text) won’t do much to change the reputation of animals such as the vulture and the rat, but there’s no denying they’ll draw a crowd and a chorus of "Gross." The pictures are…
Gr. 4-6. The photos (and even the text) won't do much to change the reputation of animals such as the vulture and the rat, but there's no denying they'll draw a crowd and a chorus of "Gross." The pictures are fine, large, and in full color, as fascinating as they are repulsive and scary: the yawning jaws of a shark; a hyena consuming bloody food; a wasp enlarged bigger than a human fist, stinging a grasshopper. Simon puts forward some interesting facts and dispels a few myths about these 20 unlovable subjects, but report writers won't find enough material here, nor are there notes to lead curious kids on to more information. There's no question this will look great on display, but it will serve kids best when it's presented with more fact-rich natural histories.
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KIRKUS REVIEWS
Prolific science-writer Simon provides a brief portrait of 24 animals he says nobody loves, noting in his introduction: "You may never love a rattlesnake, a cockroach, or an octopus-but this book may help you begin to understand and respect them…
Prolific science-writer Simon provides a brief portrait of 24 animals he says nobody loves, noting in his introduction: "You may never love a rattlesnake, a cockroach, or an octopus-but this book may help you begin to understand and respect them for what they are." Included are the shark, bat, grizzly bear, cobra, spider, cockroach, piranha, and 14 other animals. Each gets a double-paged spread and a glossy, full-color photograph. The text provides odd facts and brief information, though without sources. For example, "In India, alone, cobras are reported to kill thousands of people each year, more than sharks all over the world do in fifty years." Or in discussing the vulture's powerful eyesight: "They can sometimes spot a dying animal forty miles away." Sometimes he gives advice: "If the bear is close or does see you, remain calm. Do not run. Instead, stand tall or back away slowly and wave your hands and speak loudly." Despite his introduction, Simon seldom notes the value of these disliked animals. For example, vultures and hyenas are extremely useful decomposers. While the eyeballs-to-eyeballs cover of a tarantula in full color will keep readers reaching for the title, it is useful for browsing rather than research. No index or sources.
(Nonfiction. 10-12)
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE, Susan Hepler
In an introduction to twenty animals with bad reputations, Seymour Simon asks readers to examine our prejudices and biases. You may never love a rattlesnake or a cockroach but perhaps you can understand and appreciate them for what they are.…
In an introduction to twenty animals with bad reputations, Seymour Simon asks readers to examine our prejudices and biases. You may never love a rattlesnake or a cockroach but perhaps you can understand and appreciate them for what they are. Simon's short takes on bats, octopuses, spiders, hyenas, fire ants and the like consist of two or three paragraphs about appearances, behaviors, habitats, reasons for the bad reputations and some facts or anecdotes. Simon does not follow any format but comments about aspects that interest him, which provides the reader with interesting facts but not enough information for use in report writing. Photographs are dramatic and appropriately gory when discussing buzzards or hyenas, for instance, and are clear in color and well focused. Occasionally one wishes for a label—is that a black widow spider or some other? What kind of bat is it that can carry off a mouse? These quibbles aside, Simon's book will feed some fears and allay others—yes, piranhas can strip a body in seconds, says Simon—and may spur children to seek further information. There is no index or endmatter to support the learner but the ending question asks readers if they've changed their minds about any animals as a result of this information and why—a good discussion starter and one worthy of continued consideration.
Ages 8 to 10
