Deer, Moose, Elk, and Caribou

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

The deer family comprises a number of animals the reader might not
realize are deer, including the moose. In fact, any animal with antlers
is a member of the deer family. Interesting facts such as this abound in
the pages of this book. The young reader will learn, for instance, that
less than a week after it is born a baby deer can run faster than a
human, and that adult deer can travel as fast as cars on city streets.

This excellent research source for students aged 5 to 10 covers such
topics as deer habitation, food, how deer are born and develop to
adulthood, and patterns of migration. The table of contents and index
are easy to access. There is a compendium of deer signs (for the amateur
tracker, perhaps?) and a glossary of significant words pertaining to the
subject. Particularly important facts are boxed and distinguished with a
symbolic representation of a deer on the pages where they appear.

The beautiful, full-color illustrations add to the book’s research
value and attractive presentation. The deer are depicted in a variety of
poses and against varying backgrounds. Every hair appears as an
individualized brushstroke—you can “feel” the softness of the fur.
A labelled model indicates how a deer’s body is built to protect it
from predators.

Highly recommended for primary/junior-division students, particularly
those engaged in researching the topic of deer.