Editorial Review

Well-organized presentations highlight the key differences between similar types of animals. Separate six-page chapters introduce relevant features and behaviors of each creature, like the hare’s long legs and the fish-carrying abilities of a puffin. Closing chapters point out the contrasting qualities as well as similarities, while a final spread presents opposing photographs of each animal with captions to visually highlight the differences. Full-page images on each spread usually do a good job of depicting the relevant information from the text. While some featured pairs (such as lizards and salamanders) have more pronounced differences than other similar animals (like llamas and alpacas), the text and pictures still effectively convey information. The complexities of animal classification are appropriately used only when needed for clarity. VERDICT Clear and accessible introductions with consistent focus on the series topic.