Alligators and Crocodiles!: Strange and Wonderful
Grade 2–5—From the gentle care a mother alligator gives her hatchlings to their important role in food chains, crocodilians are treated with respect in this introductory look at the world's largest reptiles. Written in a conversational style without chapters or headings, the book provides brief descriptions of 21 species along with habitat information and drawn-to-scale illustrations. The text also discusses common characteristics of crocodilians, how to differentiate between a crocodile and an alligator, hunting and eating habits, and their movement on land and in the water. Information on nesting patterns, vocalizations, and the important role crocodilians had in several ancient civilizations is also included. There is one minor error: the text says that "the next six pages show 14 species," but they actually show 21. The concluding pages look at the dangers and challenges these animals face in the modern world and provide conservation suggestions, the names of related groups, and an excellent Web site. Finely detailed, realistic watercolors fill nearly every page, and labeled insets highlight facts from the text. Children will appreciate this book's thorough treatment, but the lack of an index may hamper its use for research. Pair it with a title such as Elaine Landau'sAlligators and Crocodiles(Enslow, 2007) for those who prefer photographs.—Carol S. Surges, McKinley Elementary School, Wauwatosa, WICopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.