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Review by Lisa A. Wroble
Teaching concepts and early language skills is important, and repetition is the key to much of this learning, but finding books that appeal to kids and the adults who have to read them over and over is a chore. It was recently made easier in five books about exotic animals, reptiles, fish, birds and insects created for the World Wildlife Fund.
A series of three board books includes ten images each to teach the concepts of colors and patterns. "Colors" uses sharp, detailed photography of species both familiar, like the brown bear, and exotic, like the purple macaw and blue butterfly, to teach ten basic colors. Text is simple and color coded with the name of the color in larger type than the species.
"Spots" teaches the pattern of spots using photos of species including the usual cheetah and giraffe, as well as the unusual blue-spotted frog and a ladybug. "Stripes" includes animals with stripes on body, tail or legs, as well as a snake and angel fish to teach this pattern. The images in all three board books have enough detail to encourage repeat readings and additional learning discussions. You can count the animals in each image; point out objects like beak, eyes, ears, grass, fern; name the colors of the animals in the pattern books and point out the stripes on the fish in the colors book.
Two additional picture books are designed to teach early reading skills to a slightly older child. It is difficult to do an ABC book well. Choosing a theme that has not been overdone and will hold a child's interest is a challenge. World Wildlife Fund succeeds with "Animal ABC's" using 26 intriguing images to teach each letter of the alphabet. The vivid photography includes many close-up shots to captivate young children. The crab and sea urchin are especially startling. The colors are bright and the poses of some animals, such as the fox and the panda, are adorable.
Using 24 images "Mothers & Babies" shows the bond between mothers and their offspring in the wild. Large text is brief, naming the species and the term used for the young. The terms -- calves, cubs, chicks, pups and babies -- repeat often enough for first readers to recognize and gain confidence with their reading skills. Photos show the animals at play and at rest. This unique book may also be used to talk with children about trust and communication between adults and their young ones. As with the other books in the series, the photos are clear and colorful. I never tired of looking at the photos in any of the books, a plus because they are sure to be requested again and again by young listeners.
Lisa A. Wroble is an author and librarian in Plymouth, Michigan.
©1997, ProMotion, inc.
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