American Alligators

September 1, 2012

Gr 1-3-Excellent-quality photography makes these books good choices for introducing young readers to animals that they might not see in the wild. The texts describe where the creatures live, what they eat, their young, and their predators. Written with short sentences in very simple terms, the books are accessible challenges for children beginning to read on their own. The photographs capture the natural environments and are well matched to the texts. The information is factual and basic. A world map shows where these animals can be found and another shows specifically where in North America they live. Photographs depict actual shots of the animals eating, such as the coyote with a mouse in its mouth or the alligator with a bird in its mouth. Each book describes how the animals stay safe and which ones they try to avoid (including humans).-Cynde Suite, Bartow County Library System, Adairsville, GA

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