Duck: 9 (See How They Grow) - Hardcover

K-Gr. 3. Do ducks have teeth? How many seeds does a pumpkin have? Prereaders and older children will find the answers to these and other simple questions about animal and plant growth in this exceptionally fine series. The high-quality, vivid color photos will immediately attract kids, and many of the pictures appear life-size. The photos don't always give a sense of scale, but they usually provide enough context to avoid confusing even young children. The information is set down on bright white pages in extralarge, well-spaced type, making it easy to read, and the concepts are very clearly explained. Some content-specific words (fertilized, pollen, etc.) are printed in boldface and then redefined in a glossary. These word choices are well thought out, a big change from many series where boldface terms often seem arbitrarily chosen. Chapter heads, in even larger type than the main text, are made to order for the very young; each one adds a piece to a "story-within-a-story" that can be read on its own. A visual reprise of photos in the book makes up a "Life Cycle" page, giving children a chance to review what they have learned--for reinforcement or fun. A great way to introduce science in the classroom and out. Stephanie Zvirin
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