Bee or Wasp?

Engaging animal comparisons are presented in a question-and-answer format. Text provides simple facts about the two animals. Readers examine the accompanying photograph, then try to identify it based on the words and image: “A frog has webbed feet. A toad does not. Which is this?” (Frog or Toad?). The accompanying photograph shows a frog with its webbed hind feet in clear view.

Answers appear in smaller print, upside down, at the bottom of the page. Sentence length and structure are generally appropriate for early readers; harder ­vocabulary words, such as “rosette” in ­Cheetah or ­Leopard? and “fringe” in Alligator or Crocodile? are defined in a picture glossary. ­Eye-catching photos do an excellent job of showing the physical features highlighted within the text. A closing “See and Compare” spread shows both animals with captions to identify key physical features, reinforcing the earlier learning.

VERDICT: Visually appealing books that successfully foster observation skills and animal knowledge.