November 1, 2015
Gr 4-6-Cookie-cutter introductions to ecosystems include predictable chapters on climate and weather, plants, animals, people and the future. Ocean deviates by examining factors such as depth and water currents and offers the most thorough explanation of food chains. Diagrams of food webs in the other volumes lack labels for the plants and animals depicted, and only some mention them in the captions. Stock photos often have generic captions that don't identify locations of plants or animals. The color scheme (orange type on light green or white backgrounds) makes many captions hard to read. Discussion of people in the desert focuses on Phoenix, AZ, and notes that "traditional desert cultures were nomadic," implying that no one lives that way anymore. Writing and research prompts at the end of chapters underscore the series' pedagogic slant. VERDICT The set may provide starting points for research but won't generate much enthusiasm for the subjects.
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