River Otter at Autumn Lane - a Smithsonian's Backyard Book (Mini book)
Reviewed with Courtney Granet Raff'sGiant of the Sea.PreS-Gr. 2. Published in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institute, these two fictional picture books use attractive photo-realistic paintings to bring wildlife close-up. Both books follow a mother as she feeds, plays with, and protects her young, and the images show the animals' habitats from their viewpoint. InOtter,Leeper's cross-section paintings imagine the animals' cozy underground burrow and the riverbed where they dive for crayfish. InSperm Whale,Gould paints the whales in Hawaiian waters, capturing the splashing and sleek underwater movement, the swift power of the whale seizing a squid, and then the panic when a killer whale arrives. Both texts easily blend plenty of animal facts into the readable stories, butOtteris particularly graceful, with lush descriptions and repetitive sounds. Appealing, instructive titles for at-home read-alouds or classroom use.Gillian EngbergCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved