Big Cats

Lisa Arsenault is an elementary-school teacher in Ajax, Ontario.

These books are companion pieces. Big Cats provides information on
lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars; Little Cats looks at smaller cats,
wild as well as domestic. Both volumes follow the same format. General
information on the cat family appears in the first chapters, and
specific species are dealt with in the later chapters. Both conclude
with sections on endangered felines, a glossary, an index, and details
about the photographs.

The information is presented with young children in mind. Basic facts
are outlined in short, simple sentences, and key words are highlighted
in boldfaced type. Information on each species

is limited, however. The superb photographs—obviously carefully chosen
for their visual impact and for maximum effectiveness in illustrating
the author’s points—will be the main attraction for children.

Though these books, in general, complement each other, there is some
repetition of information. The sections on baby cats and mammals include
virtually the same data in both books, and a chart on the cat family
tree appears in both. Despite this reservation, these are books that a
cat lover would prize, and they contain enough information for
comparisons to be made between big and little cats and between the
various species by classroom teachers at the primary level. Recommended.