DANGER ON THE AFRICAN GRASSLAND

A rhino, wounded by a bullet, makes a painful escape with her calf; she collapses at one point, but finally makes it to a water hole. Not outstanding as story, but the book fulfills its function of drawing attention to this endangered animal's plight with a smoothly written text and appealing, carefully detailed illustrations that are both handsome and informative. This team's Danger on the Arctic Ice, simultaneously published in the new ``Animals in Danger'' series, describes a baby harp seal's escape from hunters. (Picture book. 5-9)