RAISING A FAMILY

Dramatic full-color photos of animals do not compensate for the poorly executed concepts and awkwardly written, imprecise text of this entry in the Nature's Secrets series. Sections on fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, etc., follow a problematic opening; without a definition of the word ``care,'' children will find the first sentences confusing and alarming: ``Most of the many thousands of different animals do not care for their young. Of the few that do look after their babies, many give only a very basic form of care, while for others, especially birds and mammals, a lot more care is needed to make sure the children grow up to be adults.'' The page on fish provides puzzling information. The text states that most fish do not care for their young. ``However, some fish do not behave this way.'' The examples include a stickleback and African mouthbreeder who nurture the young before hatching and after; a trout that lays eggs, then leaves; and a Mexican swordtail who gives birth to live young, without indication of whether care follows. The emphasis is frequently on birth and hatching, and not on ``raising'' families at all. A glossary is provided, but without some of the important words (``imprinting'') found in the text; other words are ill- definedfor example, ``generation'' is explained as ``the next group of developing insects.'' (glossary, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 5-8)