This illustrated scrapbook of pond observations could serve as a model for young environmentalists, if it weren't compromised by an overly busy format--each layout features a primary illustration, a border with labeled plant or animal sketches, simulated clippings, handwritten notes, and definitions. Some of the illustrations and clippings about wildlife contain useful details, while others just contribute to the information clutter.

A bilingual anthology of 15 traditional folktales, myths, and legends, each from a different Latin American culture. The collection includes a few familiar stories such as "Juan Bobo," the Puerto Rican tale of a son who dresses the family pig in his mother's finest clothes. Most of the tales are less well known to U.S. audiences, such as "The Crocodile Man," the Colombian story of a man who transforms himself into a crocodile to be with the woman he loves. Told in simple language and in abbreviated form, these selections are easy for beginning storytellers to learn. Experienced tellers will find them useful when time restraints preclude the telling of longer tales. Average-quality, full-page sketches, reproduced in shades of charcoal, introduce each of the stories, and smaller designs, which appear to be scratchboard, follow each selection. Source notes in English are appended.-Denise E. Agosto, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.