Alligator

K-Gr 2—This series is mix of positives and negatives. On the plus side, the books are informative, not badly organized, and have reasonably decent photographs that include close-ups and action shots. On the negative, Turnbull seems to have a penchant for avoiding the use of numbers, which could prove confusing for readers. The animals' sizes are often described with odd comparisons. For example, "The biggest alligators weigh about the same as a racehorse." This is an interesting fact, but does nothing to inform students, who probably have no idea how much a racehorse itself weighs. Though these titles contain plenty of facts about these creatures, the sometimes-graphic descriptions and depictions of how they attack and devour their prey might be disturbing to the targeted readership. For example, one photo shows polar bear cubs covered in blood, and another features a tiger tucking into a bloody carcass. In each volume, the glossary includes only three or four words, the index is negligible, and the single website listed is ephemeral.