Sarah Walker (1)

The Eye Wonder series educates children on a variety of nonfiction topics through a clever combination of photographs, illustrations and pictures, small text blurbs, and side bars. This entry in the series is all about dinosaurs, a subject sure to please most children. The book is divided by topic, rather like mini-chapters, where each one is introduced with a title and occupies a two-page spread. Subjects range from the types of dinosaurs and their skeletons and skin, to fossils and how archaeologists find and preserve dinosaur remains. The text is equally balanced with a variety of illustrations. Most of these are computer generated interpretations of what the dinosaurs may have looked like, although a liberal use of photographs are included when available, such as in the sections about dinosaur bones and museums.

I enjoy these books, and moreover, I appreciate the way they teach on educational topics in a manner that is easy for children to approach and understand. The book covers a wealth of information without overwhelming the young reader. My daughters, as young as they still are, delight in poring over it and others in the series, and the dinosaur one is a special favorite. The only aspect that bothers me is the heavy use of computer generated images in this particular book. I would have preferred more photographs of skeleton or sketches of assumed dinosaurs, but I believe the format is more appealing to children, so I understand why editors chose that route. Aside from this small quibble, the book is well-produced and attractive, and sure to interest the kids.… (mehr)

Children are fondly interested in animals, and this book is a treasure, filled with fascinating facts about predatory cats, and beautiful photographs to illustrate every topic. The book begins with an introduction, an overview of what the big cats all have in common, and then moves to focus on the biggest species of the hunter cats, such as the lion, tiger, and leopard. After that, the book spends time on details about typical activities of big cats. It ends with a section on caring for these wild animals.

I learned quite a few new facts about wild cats. For instance, I didn't know that snow leopards were so rare, or that pumas could jump so far. I never realized that leopards actually eat their meals in a tree. I was never bored reading, either. Every new spread is gorgeous, and the text is cleverly disseminated so that it doesn't ever feel overwhelming. Children will like it, the pictures will draw them in, and they can read at their own reading level to glean the information. Younger readers might just look at the pictures and the big paragraph, while older or more advanced children can read the sidebars and smaller text. Honestly, even as an adult I prefer reading my nonfiction in this format. It's so much fun.

The DK Eye Wonder series is a fantastic collection of nonfiction books that feature various scientific subjects. Every two page spread features amazing photography - sometimes, I literally say 'wow' out loud - and information delivered in small and easily digested bits. A topic paragraph is in bold print, smaller paragraphs are scattered around the two pages, with catchy titles, and more information is contained in sidebars with a list of facts or a cartoon and little known details. I love this series. Nurture your child's interest in nonfiction with this book, and others like it.… (mehr)