Hippos (Nature Watch)

Sally Walker is the author of "Written in ""Bone", " ""Fossil Fish Found Alive", and "Secrets of a Civil War Submarine", which was awarded a Sibert Medal. She lives in Illinois.

Grade 2-5?Walker introduces young readers to the common and the pygmy hippopotamuses. The book gives much of the same information as similar offerings on the subject for this age range such as physical characteristics, life cycle, and communication. However, this title distinguishes itself in that it compares and contrasts the two species, giving specific reasons for their similarities and differences. For example, the common hippo's eyes are on top of its head because it spends most of the time in the water, while the pygmy hippo has eyes on the side of its head because it lives mostly in the forest. The clear, full-color photographs and illustrations do an excellent job of representing the text. Words that are included in the glossary are in boldface. The last chapter addresses the importance of hippos to their environment and how their extinction could alter the ecosystem in which they live. An excellent addition.?Michele Snyder, Chappaqua Public Library, NY
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