POLAR BEARS AND PENGUINS

A set of comparisons presents new and pre-readers with elementary pointers on both the poles and differences between animals.

Photos of polar bears and of penguins on alternating spreads or pages with a few accompanying lines of simply phrased observations highlight differences between the two creatures—“Polar bears are covered in fur. / Penguins are covered in feathers”—as well as their respective Arctic and Antarctic habitats. A wordier section offering supplementary material that is also available on the publisher’s website follows, featuring additional facts about seasons and animal behavior, a true/false quiz (with answers provided) and a matching game. Though the aforementioned quiz rather unfairly covers material not previously presented, and one “photo” is actually a collage with northern lights clumsily Photoshopped in behind a polar bear, the overall approach will at least lay some groundwork for later geographical and animal study.

A utilitarian, if not quite seamless, introduction to several natural history subjects, it will do till something more artful comes along.