Ultimate Mammalpedia (National Geographic Kids)
★★★★
As is standard with National Geographic publications, the photographs in Ultimate Mammalpedia are stunning. In the first few pages alone, readers will be greeted by a smiling Meerkcat, an African Lion baring its teeth, a Humpback Whale emerging from the water, and a Brown Bear readying to catch a fish midair. An identifying label accompanies each animal photograph. This non-fiction title can be read from beginning to end by animal enthusiasts or used as a reference to look up specific animals.
The first chapter includes basic information about mammals including such things as where they live and how they eat. Later chapters focus on a particular group of mammals: meat-eating (carnivores), hoofed (ungulates), mammals with pockets (marsupials), toothy mammals (rodents), oceangoing mammals (marine), monkeys and more (primates), and mammal oddities. Each chapter includes an All About section, special features of this group, extinct animals in the selected category, and animal profiles (these include fact boxes with scientific names, group names, size, weight, and eats).
Throughout the text, page numbers are included when mammals are referenced outside of their profiles. This makes finding more information about a particular animal easier, but there is also an extensive index in the backmatter. That’s Fact-tastic asides provide lesser known information related to the featured animals. While most words that would be unfamiliar to the target audience are explained in context, the words included in the glossary are not bolded in the text. It could have been helpful to include asides for these new animal-related terms.
Backmatter includes an interview with a mammologist, a limited glossary, a find out more section that includes recommended books, websites (cleverly described instead of including URLs since URLs are often not static), movies & TV, and places to visit, as well as an index and photo credits.
4 STARS - RECOMMENDED
This is a standard National Geographic Kids reference book that will be much loved by animal enthusiasts.
Reviewed by Melissa A.