These bilingual books provide beginning readers (both Spanish-speaking and those learning Spanish) with an easy-to-read basic introduction to the titular zoo animal. Each double-page spread features one or two sentences of uninspired text (in both English and Spanish) and a full-page photograph. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

K-Gr 2-Short, kid-friendly titles give some basic facts about bears, elephants, and penguins. Statements are given in large print on the top of the verso, with the Spanish translation on the bottom. The facing page presents an attractive, well-composed color photograph. The brief bilingual indexes are accurate, and the list of books for extended learning is useful. Libraries will do better with series such as "Eyewitness Juniors" (Knopf) or such single titles as Mary Hoffman's El elefante (1992; o.p.) and El oso (1989; o.p., both Multilibro) or Lynn M. Stone's Pingeinos (Rourke, 1994) for more in-depth treatments of the life cycle of these animals. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.