Pythons

These basic reptile introductions offer judiciously selected facts coupled with strong visual content to appeal to early readers. Spare text offers a couple of sentences per page, with simple vocabulary. One or two features of each animal are highlighted over multiple pages. In Horned Toads, for example, defense against predators is the main topic; Crocodiles covers hunting and babies. The tight focus is supported by vivid, well-chosen photographs. The text of Komodo Dragon, for example, basically lists its physical features, but the dynamic images, many of which expand beyond a single page, convey the uniqueness of the animal in ways that young readers will absorb and remember. A captioned photograph closes each book, highlighting a few body parts and adding a bit more information. VERDICT Bare-bones material paired with strong visual appeal makes this set an excellent choice for beginners; older readers will want more content.