Providing basic information about their subjects, the books in the Amazing Animals series let the illustrations do most of the talking d the crisply reproduced, plus-size photos that fill the page speak loud and clear. At the end, though, each book provides a revealing story about the animals in question that helps liven up the otherwise relatively dry recitation of general facts about physiology, behaviors, eating habits, habitats, and life spans. In Gorillas, an African story answers the arguably accurate question, "Why do gorillas do nothing but eat and sleep all day long?" Legend has it that they tried to help after a flood but goofed up so badly that they quit doing just about everything ever since. The books' easy-reading text will be a boon to both beginning and struggling readers, and the beautiful photos are inviting enough to linger over. The one-page back matter lists two websites and two books to help with further inquiry.

Vivid photographs providing up-close views of the daily lives and behavior of the title mammals are the highlights of these slim volumes. Minimal texts touch on habitat, appearance, diet, and offspring, and supply a folk-story answer to a question about each creature (e.g., "How did camels get their humps?" "Why do zebras not have horns?"). Reading list, websites. Ind.

Gr 1-3 In her familiar, winning style, Gibbons introduces wild gorillas. Through detailed watercolor illustrations, she takes readers to Africa to explore the habitat and diet of the western lowland, eastern lowland, and mountain gorillas. Physical descriptions are included, along with a look at a typical day in the life of these creatures. Readers will enjoy examining the many inset diagrams and maps that accompany the informational text, and they're sure to find Gibbons's "extras," like the skeletal view of a gorilla's jaw, fascinating. The "More About Gorillas" section gives additional trivia along with a list of websites to visit. An accessible addition to wildlife collections. Cathie Bashaw Morton, Millbrook Central School District, NY