From the series Animals of the Forest
Great Gray Owls
Reading Level Grades 1-2Interest Level Grades K – 3Copyright 2020
Reviewed
From the series Animals of the Forest
Reading Level Grades 1-2Interest Level Grades K – 3Copyright 2020
ReviewedGreat gray owls can rotate their heads 280 degrees! This unique skill is one of many adaptations outlined in this low-level title about great gray owls. Simple text and beautiful photos combine to offer readers an inside look at how these forest flyers were made for the forest. Added features offer information such as range, conservation status, life span, and diet.
This series provides basic overviews of forest species, spotlighting physical features and behaviors. In Great Gray Owls, for example, the text describes the qualities of the bird’s face, ears, eyes, head, and feathers. A sentence or two explains how each attribute helps the animal. Sentences are simple and direct; advanced words, such as plumage and asymmetrical, are boldfaced and defined in the glossary. Though the animals all inhabit forests, the content covers the creatures themselves, rather than the biome. Most spreads include two photographs with distinct oval or rectangular borders. These are clear and useful, though not always exciting. Multiple images highlight specific attributes or actions; occasional close-up insets spotlight features like claws or fur. An endangered status graph, diet samples, and a range map are included. Some readers may wish for a bit more specificity. Readers learn that white-tailed deer, great gray owls, moose, and raccoons all avoid predators, but no animals that prey upon them are identified. However, the tight focus presents a consistent and accessible number of facts for kids who are just starting to learn to read. VERDICT Decent additions for younger nonfiction collections, especially where subject coverage is needed.
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