04/01/2021
Gr 1–3—These easy-to-read titles serve more as introductions to pets than actual care guides. A couple sentences per page describe animal features and the basic supplies required, in a style that's not always smooth: "Turtles like to be warm. Tanks have heat lamps." (Turtles). Clear photos provide visual reference to the pet's environment. Lizards and Rabbits include at least one image of a child with the pet; Turtles and Hermit Crabs do not. The animal photos are appealing and feature a good variety of types. Captioned photos at the end give a visual review of the necessary pet supplies. Kids won't learn enough to know how to take care of the animal, but the books provide a visual preview of what pet ownership might be like. VERDICT Visually attrractive to young prospective pet owners, with limited practical use.
