ALA Booklist (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Reviewed with Jennifer Schofield's Animal Babies in Grasslands.PreS-K. These two Animal Babies titles showcase wildlife photography of a quality not often found in books for preschoolers. Covering seven animals from each featured habitat, the books pair portraits of the winsome baby animals with information styled as first-person commentary (When I feel hungry, I plunge my head under water and look for food) and a question (Who is my mommy?). The next spread answers the question both verbally (My mommy is a duck, and I am a duckling) and visually (a large image of mommy and baby together). Initially the question-and-answer setup feels a little forced, but kids will quickly get the idea; soon they'll be identifying the more exotic creatures (meerkats, capybaras) and shouting out the technical terms for the animals' young (cygnet, joey). The curiously shifting type size is distracting, and at times the text is imprecise, but the captivating photos and child-friendly format make this a sound choice for an armchair trip to the zoo.

Horn Book (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

"I have big ears and a long nose called a trunk.... Who is my mommy?" Not all of the questions (annotated answers appear on following pages) are this easy--featured animals include the capybara and the tapir--and kids will welcome the mix of familiar and not-so-familiar beasts sharing a habitat. The color photos, often in close-up, can be appreciated by all ages.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Four Animal Babies titles feature close-up photos of the different offspring in the wild along with a couple of clues, then ask the question, """"Who is my mommy?"""" Turning the page, readers get the photographic answer as well as a bit of information about the lives and habits of the creatures shown. One example in Animal Babies in Polar Lands shows a close-up with this clue """"I have flippers instead of legs. They help me swim very quickly in cold water"""" a flip of the page reveals a seal. The other titles: Animal Babies in Rain Forests; Animal Babies in Grasslands; and Animal Babies in Ponds and Rivers. (May)

School Library Journal (Wed Jul 06 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

PreS-K-In each volume, Schofield introduces seven animals from a particular habitat. The text accompanying a close-up photo of a baby animal gives clues to its identity and poses the question, "Who is my mommy?" The next spread reveals the answer and shows an equally engaging photo of mother and baby. Although most children won't be able to identify creatures such as an albatross (Polar), capybaras (Ponds), or tarsiers (Rain Forests) the first time through, they will be able to answer the question on rereading. The striking photographs will engage young browsers and are definitely the books' strongest feature. Among the volumes' puzzling aspects are random variations in the type size with no discernible pattern. Even more inexplicable is the use of a red-eyed tree frog in Ponds. These tropical frogs are definitely photogenic, but because they spend most of their lives well above the water, their inclusion is somewhat misleading. The other two books are serviceable additions.-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.