A Dead Log

Dave Jenkinson is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba and the author of the “Portraits” section of Emergency Librarian.

Each of the books in the Small Worlds series introduces readers in
Grades 3 through 6 to the microcosm of life that may be found in or
around a particular feature of nature, be it a single tree in a tropical
rain forest, a lone saguaro cactus standing in a dessert, a fallen tree
in a broadleaf forest, a large rock found on the prairies, or pools of
fresh or salt water. Printed on glossy paper, the books are all
profusely illustrated with captioned, full-color (and sometimes
full-page) photographs (color drawings are used on occasion to
illustrate a point).

The material in each book is logically organized. For example, A Rain
Forest Tree basically utilizes a top-down approach, beginning with the
life found in the tree’s highest reaches and working down to the
jungle’s floor. The writing is generally lively, and boxed sections
are used to feature information (such as the reproductive cycle of
fungi) that would have interrupted the flow of the main text.
“Fantastic Facts” sections provide the trivia so loved by many young
readers. The books conclude with suggestions for applying new learning.
A Dead Log, for instance, explains how to construct a viewing jar for
examining insects, while A Saguaro Cactus encourages readers to make
“[their] own miniature dessert.”

No rationale is provided for the terms found in either the glossary or
the index, both of which may be considered incomplete. That said, the
Small World books should stimulate young readers to look more closely at
their immediate world. Recommended.