First animal encyclopedia by Anita Gameri

Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781408842522.
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Animals. Non fiction. An attractively bound large hard back book presents information about a range of animals sure to whet the appetites of younger readers. The opening double page explains what is meant by some specific terms. It explains how scientists have divided all animals into specific groups such as reptiles, birds and mammals, each group having something in common. It then explains how these are further divided into vertebrates and invertebrates with a reference to warm and cool blooded animals. All is done succinctly and uses magnificent photographic illustrations to make the point.  After that chapters on each double page give explanations of various animal groups, large and small, mammals, animals at the poles and so on, then it concentrates on various attributes, like surviving or regions where the animals live. It seems an unusual mix of topics, but I am sure that younger readers will love to dip in and out of this handsomely illustrated book, as I did, letting the page fall open, and gobbling up what is presented. A sound index will help children learn the significance of using that tool to gain more information, and the large glossary expands on the knowledge given in the text. A box on the last page contains references to other books and websites, adding to its usefulness in the classroom.
Fran Knight