Killer Whales and Other Frozen World Wonders (Amazing Science) - Softcover

Gr 4-6-- Factual smorgasbords that offer interesting tidbits of information, but not enough to satisfy report writers. Each title consists of 28 short, unconnected chapters that discuss aspects of the subject; a full-page watercolor appears opposite a single page of text in each chapter. Killer Whales focuses mainly on the Arctic and Antarctic regions and covers the topography and climate, the discoveries of the poles, volcanic activity in Iceland, hazards posed by avalanches and blizzards, living conditions of Arctic peoples (Inuits and Lapps), and descriptions of the areas' assorted flora and fauna. Saber-Toothed Cats is devoted to a survey of prehistoric plants and animals, dating from the Paleozoic to the Cenozoic eras. The majority of chapters deal with the physical characteristics and probable diet (deduced from fossil records) of three different species. Included are varieties of primitive fish, the first amphibians, giant birds, dire wolves, and woolly mammoths. Both texts are clearly written and accurate for the most part. However, the amount of data given on any one topic is minimal. The lack of organization is another handicap. The illustrations are mediocre; the paintings of humans are crudely done. Sandak's Arctic and Antarctic (Watts, 1987) is a competent introduction to the polar regions; Arnold's Trapped in Tar (Clarion, 1987) discusses some of the same prehistoric animals in greater depth; and The Macmillan Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals (Macmillan, 1988) is a better resource for those studying prehistoric animal species. --Karey Wehner, San Francisco Public Library

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