Animals Called Fish

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

In the late 1990s, Bobbie Kalman published a series called The Science
of Living Things, which included such titles as What Is a Bird?, What Is
a Mammal?, What Is an Amphibian?, and What Is a Reptile? This series
appears to parallel that one, but with a lower reading level, simplified
descriptions, and more focus on variety. The texts cover all of the
basic information about animal physiology, feeding, habitat, and
diversity. Most of the books close with an activity.

These books are co-authored by a variety of people, and as a result,
the writing varies. Most are written at the Grade 1–2 level at which
Crabtree has listed them, but in some, both the conceptual level and the
language seem to be at a preschool level. For example, in Birds of All
Kinds, migration is described in the following terms, but the word
“migration” is never introduced: “When the cold weather comes in
autumn, most of these birds fly to warm places. The warm places are far
away. The birds stay in these warm places for winter. They fly back home
in spring.” The indexes use both pictures and words, again appealing
to very early readers.

As with all Kalman books, the design and artwork are appealing.
Excellent drawings and stock photography fill up more than half of the
pages. Colours in both the illustrations and headings are eyecatching.

This is a good curriculum support set for the early grades and
complements the other Crabtree nature series. Highly recommended.