April 1, 2022
Grades K-2 In this volume from the Spot the Differences series (8 titles), most double-page spreads are divided into text and illustration areas, with the larger devoted to an attractive photo of a wolf or a coyote. The remaining space features a solid-color background and a few brief, large-print sentences that will help young readers figure out which one is shown by making anatomical comparisons referencing the two animals, then challenging kids to decide which one appears in the photo. The answer appears several inches below, printed upside down in small type. Despite the clues provided, it's sometimes hard to tell one animal from the other, even when both are shown. Still, considering that many beginning readers enjoy guessing games and animal facts, these brightly illustrated books will probably find an audience.
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April 1, 2022
K-Gr 2-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.
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