Monday, March 17, 2014

Two About Penguins

Scholastic Discover More: Penguins. Penny Arlon. 2012. Scholastic. 80 pages. [Source: Review copy]

I believe this is the first book I've read in Scholastic's Discover More series, but, it won't be my last. In this short nonfiction book, young readers learn a lot about various kinds of penguins: rockhopper penguins, Fiordland penguins, snares penguins, African penguins, erect-crested penguins, chinstrap penguins, Humboldt penguins, Magellanic penguins, Adelie penguins, royal penguins, macaroni penguins, yellow-eyed penguins, gentoo penguins, king penguins, and emperor penguins. Included, of course, is much about their habitats: where they live, how they live, the dangers they face, the breeding and raising of their young, etc. This book is packed with photographs, and packed with rich I-didn't-know that facts! This book is so appealing, a good example of how nonfiction text can be appealing to readers of all ages.

I love the use of color photographs! I love the captions, fact boxes, table of contents, glossary, and index. Every two-page spread could potentially be read on its own making this one great for browsing.

Scholastic Discover More: Penguins Stickerbook. 2014. Scholastic. 16 pages. [Source: Review copy]

An interactive nonfiction sticker book focusing on penguins. Readers will, in addition to sticking stickers and reading jokes, learn basic facts about penguins: where they live, how they live, what they eat, what eats them, the penguin life cycle. There are plenty of photographs, plenty of stickers, plenty of facts, a few games, and a few jokes. For example, it includes "Top 10 Swimming Facts" in which readers learn among other things that: "penguins can hold their breath underwater for 18 minutes; penguins spend 75% of their lives in water; penguins will swim up to 185 miles round-trip in search of a good meal."
© 2014 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

1 comment:

Suko said...

These books sound entertaining and informative. That penguins may travel 185 miles (round-trip) in search of a good meal is certainly remarkable!