What's the Difference?: 10 Animal Look-alikes

Christine Linge MacDonald, a past director of the Toronto & District
Parent Co-operative Preschool Corporation and a freelance writer, is an
elementary school teacher in Whitby, Ontario.

While the authors of this book accurately predict that “curious kids
will love discovering the many differences between pairs of animals that
we frequently confuse,” it is equally likely that most adults will
relish the knowledge contained in it. How satisfying it would be to
enlighten one’s companions about the true differences between
alligators and crocodiles, turtles and tortoises, or porpoises and
dolphins. While this book has an obvious place in the classroom, where
species distinctions are regularly examined, it would be irresistible to
the casual reader at home, evoking many mumbled comments like, “I
didn’t know that!”

Ten pairs of animals, each treated in a two-page spread, are described
in scientific terms accessible to primary-grade readers. Vlasta van
Kampen’s full-color illustrations carefully and attractively depict
the subtle differences between the look-alike animals. While the authors
have included a specialized glossary explaining the differences between
mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and insects, a world map to help
readers place the animals on the planet (thus further differentiating
the species) would have been a welcome addition. Recommended.