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A book about animals remains a child's favorite tale. Emotions that are sometimes difficult for people to express can be easily transferred to an animal hero and made universally appealing and identifiable. Here is a group of new books about animals - as well as some informative books about those behemoths from the past, those pesky dinosaurs. For ages 3-8 Mustang Canyon Written by Jonathan London; illustrated by Daniel San Souci (Candlewick Press, 30 pages, hardcover, $15.99) Little Pinto is a newborn colt, part of a herd of wild mustangs living in a Southwest desert. The herd goes about its daily business when suddenly a small plane veers into the canyon. It is herding the wild mustangs; the herd panics and during the run Little Pinto falls into the river. He is saved by his mother and rejoins the herd, but only after a desperate struggle. Stunningly illustrated in watercolor and pencil, the book is an homage to the wild horses that helped define the West. A glossary defines horse terms and colors and gives a brief history of the animals. Any child who enjoyed the animated film "Spirit" would be captivated. Little Elephant Thunderfoot Written by Sally Grindley; illustrated by John Butler (Peachtree Publishing; 28 pages, hardcover, $15.95) Here is another book about a young animal finding its way in its family. This time, the newborn, noisy elephant is named Thunderfoot by a loving grandmother, Wise Old One. In elephant herds, it is the eldest female who leads the others, finding food and keeping the group together. But one day, Wise Old One is shot by poachers and dies; the herd is left mourning, confused and on its own. How will the animals survive? The illustrations are lovingly painted, capturing the expressiveness of the animals. A glossary gives additional information about elephants and their status as an endangered species. Firemouse Written and illustrated by Nina Barbaresi (Alfred A. Knopf, 32 pages, hardcover, $12.95) This adorable little book, featuring Mack the mouse and his transformation into a Brooklyn firefighter, was first published in 1987. However, Knopf has reissued the book in the wake of Sept. 11; the author-illustrator Nina Barbaresi used Brooklyn's Squad One fire station as the model for her book. Eight firefighters from the station perished at the World Trade Center and the book is dedicated to their memory. Mack and his mouse friends are drawn with wonderful expressiveness; the details of firefighting also are well done. Given most children's natural interest in firefighters and the courage of that profession, this is a natural. Harry the Dirty Dog Written by Gene Zion; illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham (HarperCollins, 28 pages, hardcover, $15.99) The collaboration between Gene Zion and two-time Caldecott Honor winner Margaret Bloy Graham was fruitful: Their creation, Harry, grew to become a beloved character and starred in a number of sequels - including "No Roses for Harry" and "Harry by the Sea." Zion died in 1975; HarperCollins has reissued Zion and Graham's first collaboration (first published in 1956) with new color illustrations by Graham. It gives Harry a fresher look, though the incorrigible mutt still gets into the same situations that leave him filthy. Children love this book, and many parents will remember reading it themselves as children. That creates a doubly pleasurable experience. Roar! Written and illustrated by Tor Freeman (Candlewick Press, 24 pages, hardcover, $14.99) Lotte is a little girl with a big imagination. The animal books she reads open up a world of pretend for her, sometimes to her mother's consternation. She is forever pretending to be one sort of animal or another, until her mother convinces her in this way: It's best to just be yourself. With cute illustrations in acrylic, watercolor and colored pencil, many children and parents will relate to Lotte - and a young child's exquisite gift of imagination. For ages 8-12 Uncover T. Rex Written by Dennis Schatz (Silver Dolphin Books, $18.95) This is more than a book - it's more like a three-dimensional learning experience about that most fearsome of dinosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex. The cardboard pages are full of various facts about the anatomy of the creatures, including the skeletal, cardiopulmonary and digestive systems. As each page is turned, the various body parts, rendered in colored plastic, are revealed. It's a clever idea, and one that is sure to catch the fancy of any dino-loving youngster. The Illustrated Wildlife Encyclopedia: Living in the Wild Consultant, Michael Chinery (Southwater Publishers, 255 pages, paperback, $24.99) This is a thorough, wonderful reference book about animals living in the wild. Among the topics covered are animal habitats, how animals hunt for food, how they communicate and how they procreate. The text is straightforward and easy to read. But it's the full-color photographs that are the stunners: This is National Geographic quality material, capturing animals in their elements. Some of the hunting photographs are on the bloody side, which might be a consideration for sensitive children. Dinosaur Field Guide Written by Thomas R. Holtz Jr. and Michael Brett-Surman, illustrated by Robert Walters (Random House Children's Books, 160 pages, paperback, $10.99) This informative, thoroughly entertaining dinosaur guide is the product of an unusual group: The Jurassic Park Institute, an educational program established by Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment, makers, of course, of the hugely popular "Jurassic Park" movie franchise. The background may be commercial, but the book is quite useful. It comes recommended by the National Science Teachers Association. The book is well-organized, with a standard "field guide" format, followed by maps, a glossary of terms and a list of great websites - many of them natural history museums - for dinosaur fanciers. |
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