Gr 3-5-Dazzling full-color close-ups of over 15 arachnids-including a freeze-frame series of a jumping spider hurtling across the gap between two blades of grass-provide eye-catching visuals from cover to cover. The chatty text accompanying these spiffy shots is generic information printed on colored pages, with dominant factoids set in larger, more colorful type-e.g., "Fishing spiders rest at the water's edge with one foot on the surface." The excellent author's note is a great introduction to the minutiae of a nature cameraman at work, providing a sense of real-time research to the entire book. While more simplistic than Seymour Simon's equally attractive Spiders (HarperCollins 2003), this title is an attention-grabber and, paired with Michael Elsohn Ross's Spiderology (Carolrhoda 2000), it might have kids poking into basements and peering into leaf litter to observe these fascinating arachnids caught in mid-skitter by Bishop's sensitive lens.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

The second book in Bishop's inviting beginning-readers series on animals covers the same topic as Nic Bishop Frogs (2008) but offers a smaller format, shorter sentences, and simpler words. While the discussion here includes general information about frogs, their life cycle, and their varied habitats throughout the world, it also points out the amazing physical adaptations that enable particular species to survive. A typical double-page spread presents a striking color photo of a frog, accompanied by two or three short lines of text. The photo-illustrator of the Sibert Award winning Kakapo Rescue (2010) and one of the few writer/illustrators of children's science books with a PhD, Bishop reprises most of the amazing photos from the original frog book in this volume. A fine starting place for preschoolers curious about frogs as well as junior naturalists who are learning to read.

This informative book covers anatomical, behavioral, and reproductive facts. On each spread, one of the sentences is in larger type, serving as a highlight of main ideas and a pointer to the accompanying captioned photograph--the real star of the show. The pictures are stunningly crisp and beautifully reproduced. At book's end, Bishop explains the extensive work involved in his nature photography. Glos., ind.

Gliding frogs, glass frogs, growling grass frogs—who knew there were so many frogs in the world? Stupendous photographs combine with a genuinely enthusiastic text to open readers' eyes to this lowly amphibian like nothing has before. Gorgeous full-bleed photos present ordinary garden toads and wood frogs with as much affection and admiration as their more exotic counterparts, golden eyes, glistening skin and all captured with incredible clarity. The text is a series of happy factlets that, when finished, provide a surprisingly thorough overview of frog physiology and behavior. In their detail, these tidbits go straight to kids' interests—one African bullfrog downed 17 young cobras! A gliding frog can soar for 50 feet! Tadpoles absorb their tails as food! The beautiful design picks up on the frogs' colors, a boldly indigo text box complementing a dart poison frog and a comfortable brown one, the spadefoot toad. A chatty author's note gives insight into both Bishop's enthusiasm and the painstaking techniques behind the spectacular images; a glossary and index complete the superlative whole. (Nonfiction. 4-8)