The Life Cycle of a Crayfish.

Anne Hutchings is a public-school teacher and librarian in Ajax,
Ontario.

The well-designed format used in other titles in the Life Cycle series is repeated in these volumes dealing with salmon, crayfish, and beaver. Each two-page spread focuses on a different topic. Text is kept to a minimum. The print is large and easy to read. Key terms appear in bold print and are defined in the text or appear in the glossary. Colourful borders, photographs, and drawings with informative captions and sidebars abound. A table of contents and an index make it easy to locate information.

All three books begin with basic information: What is a salmon? What is a crayfish? and What is a beaver? In each, a list of closely related animals follows. Habitat, anatomy, life cycle, reproduction, homes, food, and enemies are discussed in detail.

Each book includes a section on threats to the particular animal. For example, salmon, crayfish, and beaver alike suffer from the destruction of their natural habitats. Water pollution is a constant threat. Salmon populations suffer from overfishing. Native species of crayfish often die when new species are introduced into areas where they don’t naturally live. A section containing suggestions for ways in which we can get involved and help concludes each volume.

The attractive design and ease of use make these Life Cycle books appealing and accessible to late primary and junior grade readers. All three of these fine books would be valuable additions to school and public library collections. Highly recommended.