LIFE IN THE DARK: How Animals Survive
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Children who are really interested in pursuing the subjects of bat sonar, bioluminescence or the physiology of vision, for example, will find fuller and more fascinating introductions elsewhere; for those everyday school reports, however, Simon offers a quick survey of some common nocturnal animals' habits and equipment, along with a few relevant anecdotes for diversion -- for example, the fighting opossum in Manhattan, the migratory birds observed from the Empire State Building, and the dramatic backyard discovery of moths' peculiar defensive reaction to high pitched squeaks. Wheatley's mostly gray drawings make the whole look duller than it is.