School Library Journal Review

Gr 5-8-Warhol methodically tackles each biome to include examples from around the world. He identifies essential characteristics of the chaparral and scrub, desert, and tundra, including various subcategories, such as hot, temperate, and coastal deserts. Adaptations by plants and animals are discussed and several pages are devoted to specific places where the biome occurs. In Tundra, the author includes not only arctic and alpine regions but also Antarctica, often excluded from such discussions. The page layout has a traditional textbook look, with good-quality photos and an occasional map for visual variety. Devoted ecologists might read an entire volume, but the books probably will serve mainly as report resources. Warhol also provides a lengthy bibliography of print and electronic resources that he used. He includes Web sites produced by groups ranging from a sixth-grade class to science museums. Consider purchasing where demand exists for report materials at a more advanced and detailed level than the "Biomes and Habitats" series (Watts).-Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State University, Mankato (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.