Gr 4 Up-Looking outside one's window can give students an appreciation for nature, and this volume greatly widens the view. Detailed data panels provide a snapshot of the size, diet, status, and habitat of each species. The book begins with information on animal habitats and then shifts the focus to species in more than 40 ecoregions. Vibrant, full-color images illuminate the pages, with each spread including one to four animals. Fascinating facts are presented in larger fonts and add intrigue to the topics; readers will learn that, for instance, every wolf has a unique howl. The maps will enhance geography lessons, with material on places such as Tornado Alley and Shark Bay. Climate charts and graphs reinforce chart reading skills and correlate to mathematics lessons. The last section, "The Animal Kingdom," discusses mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibian, fish, and invertebrates. For each branch, there is a brief overview of anatomy and reproduction and a classification chart.

Starred Review Starting with a general overview of 4 animal habitats rests, grasslands, extreme environments, and aquatic environments is work then provides examples from a selection of habitats for each of the continents. The animals, from aardvarks to African gorillas, are emblematic of each habitat. Many example animals could be called charismatic megafauna, though there are also beautiful insects, amphibians, fish, reptiles, large and small birds, and mammals throughout. Beautifully illustrated with handsome photographs, charts, tables, maps, and graphics, the book tells the story of each selected animal for the 7 continents and 42 terrestrial and aquatic habitats. More species are briefly described in "The Animal Kingdom" section, near the end of the volume, which provides examples from the 22 orders of mammals, 29 bird orders, 4 reptile orders, and 3 amphibian orders. Fish are not recognized as a group of vertebrates and have 3 main classes. Invertebrates are also classified in 30 phyla rather than a single one. A chart at the beginning of each section indicates the number of species in each order, class, or phylum. The table of contents has a small editing error in pagination for the end material, but this is an important, gorgeous, accessible introduction to hundreds of species and their habitats throughout the world at a very small price, and it belongs in all public and school libraries.