ANIMALS AT WORK

With dozens of specific examples (unfortunately, more than Stephens actually depicts), Kaner (Animal Defenses, not reviewed, etc.) shows how animals, mostly smaller ones, “work”—building housing, gathering and storing food, attracting a mate, and protecting their young. Starting with a comparison between human and animal for each function, she then gathers animals in groups to compare further. Painted illustrations bring many of the creatures, from honeybee and nursery web spider to weaverbird and otter, into eye-catching close-up. Kaner adds boxed summaries, plus simple quizzes and demonstrations to her easy-reading discourse. It’s standard assignment fare, but budding naturalists will be fascinated by the array of nests and burrows, traps and courting stages, tricks and tools. (index) (Nonfiction. 7-9)